(This blog will be better appreciated by those who have seen the movie or read the book 'Life of Pi'.)
Many of us who have seen the movie "Life of PI" has taken it on the lines of Avatar or some another movie with special effects, bizarre story and wonderful graphics. Its true that the movie fulfills all the three conditions but I will try to present an another angle to it.
I found it very interesting that movie starts with a perspective of religion from an innocent boy's(PI's) eyes. I realized it while watching movie that what meaning might religion deliver to kids ? What kind of questions and curiosity might religion create in the minds of small children ? For adults, generally, religion is something very vague phenomenon which we have never questioned but has always revered and followed. Our minds have become accustomed to see religion like a set path to be followed without deviation. We as an adults have chosen our path. But for a children of age 8-9 who still has not chosen any path what they might be feeling about all the religions ? Which path will they choose given a choice. This dilemma has been very well articulated in the movie.
The character of mother played by Tabu, gives the space and time to the kid for selecting his path of faith but on the other hand the father is adamant about developing scientific attitude and nothing else. The boy tries to follow all the religions at the same time and still he is at a greater peace then to be forced for selecting any one. He observes that all the religions are appealing to his soul. He is attracted towards all of them simultaneously because of the divinity in them. He starts practicing praying in all religion still finds solace in it. Until his father forces him to select a particular path and not to be in such confused state.
It raises an important question, should we restrict ourselves to any one religion ? and if yes then, why ? All the religions are essentially to manifest the divinity of the human being and for practicing of the core human values which makes us humans and not animals. World over we have developed new religions because the older ones got distorted with time. But still all religions remain same at the core. The child in life of pi tries to show this sameness. The father represents the practical world which never believes in the earthly religion.
When the same child is stranded in mid-sea in a lifeboat and miraculously survives, tells the story and circumstances of his survival, which becomes the subject of the film. We are shown two versions of stories. One in which there is Zebra, Hyena, Orangutan, Tiger and a boy on small boat and still the boy and Tiger successfully survives the sea – together for several days. The other version which is said to us in very brief, tells us that the mother, the child, Sailor cook & Buddhist were the ones who were on the sea. The whole story recounted in the first version about animals draws parallels from the second story. It goes on to say that there was no such tiger but the boy itself was the tiger on the boat. (The mother was Orangutan, Sailor was Zebra and the Hyena was the cook.)
After listening to the both the accounts the interviewer asks Ifran khan (the grown up kid), that which story he likes ? Irfan Khan beautifully replies: it is not that which story is better, matters. In both the stories the boy's family dies, the ship sinks and he is the only survival. What happens at he beginning and at the end remains the same in both the stories. Its only the process of survival where there is some fiction. But this fiction, this imagination, this creativity, this mental composition of looking at the things is what gives strength to the stranded boy for surviving in mid-sea. The interviewer confesses that he likes the story with animals in it and to this Irfan replies with the most beautifully written dialogue “it also goes with the gods “
What is the meaning of this line ? My interpretation says that life of every individual is also like the person stranded in mid-sea. There are two ways to approach and look at it. One is purely in form of science and facts. Other is through religion, faith and beliefs. The religion and faith in it makes our life bearable. It gives us small meanings,joys,reasons and strengths. It gives us emotions, endurance power to overcome and ability to wait.
The tiger in the movie was never there, just like our gods. But still the imaginations of someone mightier, someone accompanying us, someone like a friend, someone fearful is what keeps us alive. The tiger gave meaning to the life of boy which otherwise could have died because of disorientation and loneliness (I don't know right word for this). Sometimes the gods and religion in our life keeps us busy and involved which makes us believe that life is worth living or at least doesn't lead us to question the fruitfulness of the life. Not everyone is capable of living a life of intense meaning and impact. Some of us are stranded in mid-sea of life because of unexpected accidents and for such people the imagination of Richard Parker the tiger on our life boat gives meaning and helps us land to the coast.
Hence it is said...”same goes with the gods”. God/religion is also a phenomenon like The tiger on Life boat. 'Not there' but still if we believe 'it is there' then it makes life interesting, meaningful in our eyes and helps us survive the rough and unforgiving sea of Life which requires deep faith in oneself to cross it alive. If you can't believe in yourself (the pure science / facts way, which is tough to believe) then its better to believe in Richard Parker-The Tiger in your Life boat (Religion and God, easy & interesting to believe).
Many of us who have seen the movie "Life of PI" has taken it on the lines of Avatar or some another movie with special effects, bizarre story and wonderful graphics. Its true that the movie fulfills all the three conditions but I will try to present an another angle to it.
I found it very interesting that movie starts with a perspective of religion from an innocent boy's(PI's) eyes. I realized it while watching movie that what meaning might religion deliver to kids ? What kind of questions and curiosity might religion create in the minds of small children ? For adults, generally, religion is something very vague phenomenon which we have never questioned but has always revered and followed. Our minds have become accustomed to see religion like a set path to be followed without deviation. We as an adults have chosen our path. But for a children of age 8-9 who still has not chosen any path what they might be feeling about all the religions ? Which path will they choose given a choice. This dilemma has been very well articulated in the movie.
The character of mother played by Tabu, gives the space and time to the kid for selecting his path of faith but on the other hand the father is adamant about developing scientific attitude and nothing else. The boy tries to follow all the religions at the same time and still he is at a greater peace then to be forced for selecting any one. He observes that all the religions are appealing to his soul. He is attracted towards all of them simultaneously because of the divinity in them. He starts practicing praying in all religion still finds solace in it. Until his father forces him to select a particular path and not to be in such confused state.
It raises an important question, should we restrict ourselves to any one religion ? and if yes then, why ? All the religions are essentially to manifest the divinity of the human being and for practicing of the core human values which makes us humans and not animals. World over we have developed new religions because the older ones got distorted with time. But still all religions remain same at the core. The child in life of pi tries to show this sameness. The father represents the practical world which never believes in the earthly religion.
When the same child is stranded in mid-sea in a lifeboat and miraculously survives, tells the story and circumstances of his survival, which becomes the subject of the film. We are shown two versions of stories. One in which there is Zebra, Hyena, Orangutan, Tiger and a boy on small boat and still the boy and Tiger successfully survives the sea – together for several days. The other version which is said to us in very brief, tells us that the mother, the child, Sailor cook & Buddhist were the ones who were on the sea. The whole story recounted in the first version about animals draws parallels from the second story. It goes on to say that there was no such tiger but the boy itself was the tiger on the boat. (The mother was Orangutan, Sailor was Zebra and the Hyena was the cook.)
After listening to the both the accounts the interviewer asks Ifran khan (the grown up kid), that which story he likes ? Irfan Khan beautifully replies: it is not that which story is better, matters. In both the stories the boy's family dies, the ship sinks and he is the only survival. What happens at he beginning and at the end remains the same in both the stories. Its only the process of survival where there is some fiction. But this fiction, this imagination, this creativity, this mental composition of looking at the things is what gives strength to the stranded boy for surviving in mid-sea. The interviewer confesses that he likes the story with animals in it and to this Irfan replies with the most beautifully written dialogue “it also goes with the gods “
What is the meaning of this line ? My interpretation says that life of every individual is also like the person stranded in mid-sea. There are two ways to approach and look at it. One is purely in form of science and facts. Other is through religion, faith and beliefs. The religion and faith in it makes our life bearable. It gives us small meanings,joys,reasons and strengths. It gives us emotions, endurance power to overcome and ability to wait.
The tiger in the movie was never there, just like our gods. But still the imaginations of someone mightier, someone accompanying us, someone like a friend, someone fearful is what keeps us alive. The tiger gave meaning to the life of boy which otherwise could have died because of disorientation and loneliness (I don't know right word for this). Sometimes the gods and religion in our life keeps us busy and involved which makes us believe that life is worth living or at least doesn't lead us to question the fruitfulness of the life. Not everyone is capable of living a life of intense meaning and impact. Some of us are stranded in mid-sea of life because of unexpected accidents and for such people the imagination of Richard Parker the tiger on our life boat gives meaning and helps us land to the coast.
Hence it is said...”same goes with the gods”. God/religion is also a phenomenon like The tiger on Life boat. 'Not there' but still if we believe 'it is there' then it makes life interesting, meaningful in our eyes and helps us survive the rough and unforgiving sea of Life which requires deep faith in oneself to cross it alive. If you can't believe in yourself (the pure science / facts way, which is tough to believe) then its better to believe in Richard Parker-The Tiger in your Life boat (Religion and God, easy & interesting to believe).