Life of Pi (film)

2023-03-17T21:44:31Z

2601:2C2:701:2E90:456:1117:60F9:6598:

{{short description|2012 film by Ang Lee}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Life of Pi
| image = Life of Pi 2012 Poster.jpg
| alt = A young man and a tiger in a boat at sea
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ang Lee]]
| producer = {{plainlist|
* Gil Netter
* Ang Lee
* [[David Womark]]
}}
| writer =
| screenplay = [[David Magee]]
| story =
| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Life of Pi]]''|[[Yann Martel]]}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Suraj Sharma]]
* [[Irrfan Khan]]
* [[Rafe Spall]]
* [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]]
* [[Adil Hussain]]
* [[Gérard Depardieu]]
}}
| narrator =
| music = [[Mychael Danna]]
| cinematography = [[Claudio Miranda]]
| editing = [[Tim Squyres]]
| studio = {{plainlist|
* [[Fox 2000 Pictures]]
* [[RatPac-Dune Entertainment|Dune Entertainment]]
* [[Ingenious Media]]
* Haishang Films
}}
| distributor = [[20th Century Fox]]
| released = {{Film date|2012|09|28|[[New York Film Festival|NYFF]]|2012|11|21|United States}}
| runtime = 127 minutes
| country =
{{plainlist|
* United States
* United Kingdom
* Taiwan
}}
| language = {{plainlist|
* [[English language|English]]
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
* [[Hindi]]
}}
| budget = $120 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Life-of-Pi|title=Life of Pi (2012) - Financial Information|website=The Numbers}}</ref>
| gross = $609 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2640217601/|title=Life of Pi|website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref>
}}

'''''Life of Pi''''' is a 2012 [[adventure drama film|adventure-drama]] film directed and produced by [[Ang Lee]] and written by [[David Magee]]. Based on [[Yann Martel]]'s 2001 novel [[Life of Pi|of the same name]], it stars [[Suraj Sharma]], [[Irrfan Khan]], [[Rafe Spall]], [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] and [[Adil Hussain]] in lead roles. The storyline revolves around two survivors of a shipwreck who are on a [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboat]] stranded in the [[Pacific Ocean]] for 227 days. One is a sixteen-year-old Indian boy named Pi Patel ([[Suraj Sharma]]) and the other is a ferocious [[Bengal tiger]] named Richard Parker.

The film began development shortly after the release of the book and would see directors [[M. Night Shyamalan]], [[Alfonso Cuarón]] and [[Jean-Pierre Jeunet]] involved at various stages before the hiring of Lee. Filming was split between [[India]], [[Taiwan]] and [[Montreal]] in 2011, with [[Rhythm and Hues Studios|Rhythm & Hues Studios (R&H)]] handling the visual effects work.

The film had its [[premiere|worldwide premiere]] as the opening film of the 50th [[New York Film Festival]] at both the [[Walter Reade Theater]] and [[Alice Tully Hall]] in [[New York City]] on September 28, 2012. It was theatrically released in the U.S. on November 21 by [[20th Century Fox]]. ''Life of Pi'' became a commercial success, having grossed over $609 million. Critics praised Lee's direction, the screenplay, the editing, the music, the sound design and especially the effects and the cinematography. It was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Picture – Drama]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]], and won for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]]. At the [[85th Academy Awards]] it had eleven nominations, including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]], and won four, including [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for Ang Lee.

==Plot==
In Canada, a young writer meets middle-aged Pi Patel. The writer has been told that Pi's life story would be a good subject for a book. Pi tells the writer the following story about his life:

Pi's father names him Piscine Molitor Patel after [[Piscine Molitor]], a famous swimming pool in France. In secondary school in [[Pondicherry]], he adopts the Greek letter "[[Pi]]" as his nickname to avoid bullying. He is raised in a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] family, but at 12 years old, he is introduced to [[Catholic Christianity|Christianity]] and then [[Islam]], and decides to follow all three religions as he "just wants to love God". His mother supports his desire to grow, but his rationalist father tries to secularize him. Pi's family owns a zoo, and Pi takes interest in the animals, especially a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After Pi gets dangerously close to Richard Parker, his father forces him to witness the tiger killing a goat.

When Pi is 16, his father announces that due to "[[The Emergency (India)|The Emergency]]", they must move to Canada, where he intends to settle and sell the animals. The family books passage with the animals on a Japanese freighter. During a storm, the ship [[Shipwrecking|founders]] while Pi is on deck. He struggles to find his family, but a crewman throws him into a lifeboat. A freed zebra jumps onto the boat with him, breaking its leg. The ship sinks into the [[Mariana Trench]], drowning his family. Pi briefly sees what appears to be a survivor, but it turns out to be Richard Parker.

After the storm, Pi awakens in the lifeboat with the zebra and is joined by an orangutan. A spotted hyena emerges from under a [[tarpaulin]], forcing Pi to retreat to the end of the boat. The hyena kills the zebra and later the orangutan. Richard Parker comes out from under the tarpaulin, killing the hyena before retreating back to cover for several days.

Pi fashions a small raft from flotation vests which he tethers to the lifeboat to be safe from Richard Parker. Despite his moral code against killing, he begins fishing, enabling him to sustain the tiger. When the tiger jumps into the sea to hunt for fish and then swims toward Pi, Pi considers letting him drown, but ultimately helps him back into the boat. One night, a humpback whale destroys the raft and its supplies. Pi trains Richard Parker to accept him in the boat and realizes that caring for the tiger is helping to keep himself alive.

Weeks later, they encounter a floating island. It is a lush jungle of edible plants, freshwater pools and a large population of [[meerkat]]s, enabling Pi and Richard Parker to eat and drink and regain strength. At night, the island transforms into a hostile environment. Richard Parker retreats to the lifeboat while Pi and the meerkats sleep in the trees; the water pools turn acidic. Pi deduces that the island is carnivorous after finding a human tooth embedded in a flower.

Pi and Richard Parker leave the island, eventually reaching [[Mexico]] after over 200 days at sea. Pi is heartbroken that Richard Parker does not acknowledge him before disappearing into the jungle. Pi is rescued and brought to a hospital. Insurance agents for the Japanese freighter company interview him, but do not believe his story and ask what really happened. He tells a different story, in which the animals are replaced by humans: his mother for the orangutan, an amiable sailor for the zebra, and the ship's brutish cook for the hyena. The cook kills the sailor and feeds on his flesh. He then kills Pi's mother, after which Pi kills him and uses his remains as food and fish bait. The insurance agents are dissatisfied with this story, but leave without questioning Pi further.

When the writer recognizes the parallels between the two stories, Pi says that it does not matter which story is true because his family died either way. He asks which story the author prefers, and the author chooses the first, to which Pi replies, "and so it goes with God". Glancing at a copy of the insurance report, the writer reads that Pi survived his adventure "in the company of an adult Bengal tiger."

== Cast ==
{{castlist|
* [[Suraj Sharma]] as Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, age 16/17
** [[Irrfan Khan]] as Pi Patel, adult
** Gautam Belur as Pi Patel, age 5
** [[Ayush Tandon]] as Pi Patel, age 11/12
* [[Rafe Spall]] as [[Yann Martel|The Writer]]
* [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] as Gita Patel, Pi's mother
* [[Adil Hussain]] as Santosh Patel, Pi's father
* Ayan Khan as Ravi Patel, Pi's older brother, age 7
* Mohamed Abbas Khaleeli as Ravi, age 13/14
* Vibish Sivakumar as Ravi, age 18/19
* [[Andrea Di Stefano]] as the Priest
* Shravanthi Sainath as Anandi, Pi's adolescent girlfriend
* [[Gérard Depardieu]] as the Cook
* Wang Po-chieh as Sailor
* [[Jag Huang]] as Sailor
* [[Mythili Prakash]] as Pi's wife
* Raj Patel as Ravi Patel, Pi's son (named in honor of Pi's brother)
* Hadiqa Hamid as Adita Patel, Pi's daughter
* Elie Alouf as Francis "Mamaji" Adirubasamy
}}

==Production==

===Development===
{{quote box|quote=I wanted to use water because the film is talking about faith, and it contains fish, life and every emotion for Pi. And air is God, heaven and something spiritual and death. That's how I see it. I believe the thing we call faith or God is our emotional attachment to the unknown. I'm Chinese; I believe in the Taoist Buddha. We don't talk about a deity, which is very much like this book; we're not talking about religion but God in the abstract sense, something to overpower you.|source=—Ang Lee, on the use of water and the spiritual element of ''Life of Pi'', November 17, 2012.<ref name=Chicago>{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121117/PEOPLE/121119978|title=Ang Lee: Of water and Pi|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=November 17, 2012|access-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130030532/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20121117%2FPEOPLE%2F121119978|archive-date=January 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>|width=35%|align=right}}

The project had numerous directors and writers attached, and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' credited [[Fox 2000 Pictures]] executive Elizabeth Gabler with keeping the project active.<ref name="Blow">{{cite news |last1=Zeitchik |first1=Steven |last2=Horn |first2=John |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/05/life-of-pi-ang-lee-movie-trouble.html |title='Life of Pi' suffers another blow |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608050140/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/05/life-of-pi-ang-lee-movie-trouble.html |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2003 Gabler acquired the project to adapt ''Life of Pi'' into a film. She hired screenwriter Dean Georgaris to write a screenplay.

The following October, Fox 2000 announced a partnership with [[M. Night Shyamalan]] to direct the film. Shyamalan was attracted to the novel particularly because its main character also comes from [[Pondicherry]] in India. The partners anticipated for Shyamalan to direct the film adaptation after completing ''[[The Village (2004 film)|The Village]]''. He also replaced Georgaris as the screenwriter, writing a new screenplay for the film.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brodesser |first1=Claude |last2=McNary |first2=Dave |url=http://stage.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117893693 |title='Pi' in sky at Fox 2000 |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 8, 2003 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720200830/http://stage.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117893693 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ultimately, Shyamalan chose to film ''[[Lady in the Water]]'' after ''The Village''; he said later, "I was hesitant [to direct] because the book has kind of a twist ending. And I was concerned that as soon as you put my name on it, everybody would have a different experience."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schwartz |first=Missy |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1190527,00.html |title='Water' Bearer |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 3, 2006 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725234935/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1190527,00.html |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2005, Fox 2000 entered talks with [[Alfonso Cuarón]] to direct.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Brodesser |first=Claude |url=http://stage.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117920378 |title=Inside Move: New baker for Fox's 'Pi' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=March 31, 2005 |access-date=June 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720200902/http://stage.variety.com/index.asp?layout=awardcentral&jump=news&articleid=VR1117920378 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cuarón decided to direct ''[[Children of Men]]'' instead, and in October 2005, Fox 2000 hired [[Jean-Pierre Jeunet]] to direct the film. Jeunet began writing the screenplay with Guillaume Laurant, and filming was scheduled to begin in mid-2006, partially in India.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Fleming |first=Michael |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117931447 |title=Jeunet gets piece of 'Pi' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 23, 2005 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229020402/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117931447/ |archive-date=December 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jeunet eventually left the project.<ref>{{cite web |title='Micmacs' Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet on the End of His 'Life of Pi' |date=February 26, 2010 |url=https://bbook.com/film/micmacs-director-jean-pierre-jeunet-on-the-end-of-his-life-of-pi/ |publisher=[[BlackBook]] |access-date=15 October 2020}}</ref>

In February 2009, Fox 2000 Pictures hired Ang Lee to direct the film.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Fleming |first=Michael |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000240 |title=Ang Lee circles 'Life of Pi' film |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 17, 2009 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229014147/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000240/ |archive-date=December 29, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2010, Lee and the producer Gil Netter proposed a reported budget of US$120 million, at which the studio balked, placing the project's development on hold for a short time.<ref name="Blow" /> David Magee was hired to write the screenplay, as Lee began to spend several months looking for someone to cast as Pi. Lee stated that water was a major inspiration behind making the film in 3-D: "I thought this was a pretty impossible movie to make technically. It's so expensive for what it is. You sort of have to disguise a philosophical book as an adventure story. I thought of 3-D half a year before 'Avatar' was on the screen. I thought water, with its transparency and reflection, the way it comes out to you in 3-D, would create a new theatrical experience and maybe the audience or the studio would open up their minds a little bit to accept something different."<ref name="Chicago" /> Following the premiere of the film, Lee stated that his desire to take risks and chances helped with his direction, saying "In a strange way it did feel like we're the vessels, we have to surrender to movie god. We have to let things happen. I just had this feeling, I'll follow this kid to wherever this movie takes me. I saw the movie start to unravel in front of me."<ref>{{cite web|work=CNN|title=Best News: Ang Lee surrenders to 'Movie Gods'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VndAxkVtABs|date=December 21, 2012|access-date=March 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801073618/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VndAxkVtABs|archive-date=August 1, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Pre-production and casting===
[[File:Suraj Sharma 2012 (Straighten Crop).jpg|thumb|left|170px|[[Suraj Sharma]] was selected to portray the 16-year-old Pi.]]
After 3,000 young men auditioned for the film's lead, in October 2010 Lee cast [[Suraj Sharma]], a 17-year-old student and an acting newcomer.<ref name="Indian">{{cite journal |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026333 |title=Indian teen newcomer gets 'Life of Pi' lead |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108100439/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026333 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon receiving the role, Sharma underwent extensive training in ocean survival, as well as in yoga and meditation practices to prepare for the part.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patches|first=Matt|title='Life of Pi' Newcomer Suraj Sharma Reveals Ang Lee's Acting Boot Camp|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/Life_of_Pi_Suraj_Sharma_Interview_Ang_Lee_Bootcamp/44768800|website=[[Hollywood.com]]|access-date=November 25, 2012|date=November 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128002748/http://www.hollywood.com/news/Life_of_Pi_Suraj_Sharma_Interview_Ang_Lee_Bootcamp/44768800|archive-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Two months after Sharma was cast, it was announced that [[Gérard Depardieu]] would play the role of the Cook, [[Irrfan Khan]] would play the adult Pi, and [[Adil Hussain]] would play Pi's father, while [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] was in talks to play the role of Pi's mother.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fischer|first=Russ|title=Gerard Depardieu and Irrfan Khan Cast in Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi'|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/gerard-depardieu-irrfan-khan-ang-lee-life-pi/|website=Slash Film|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110212639/http://www.slashfilm.com/gerard-depardieu-irrfan-khan-ang-lee-life-pi/|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

Canadian actor [[Rajiv Surendra]], who had played a small part in ''[[Mean Girls]]'', was one of the auditioners for the role of Pi. In 2016, he published ''The Elephants in My Backyard'', a memoir of his failed campaign to win the part.<ref name=surendra>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/memoir-by-rajiv-surendra-traces-actors-parallels-with-life-of-pi/article32930166/ "Memoir by Rajiv Surendra traces actor's parallels with Life of Pi"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113140331/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/memoir-by-rajiv-surendra-traces-actors-parallels-with-life-of-pi/article32930166/ |date=January 13, 2017 }}. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 18, 2016.</ref> In an interview with [[Deccan Chronicle]] in 2017, American actor [[Naren Weiss]] revealed that he too unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Pi.<ref name=weiss>[http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/220617/shuttling-between-worlds.html/ "Shuttling between worlds"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622140829/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/220617/shuttling-between-worlds.html |date=June 22, 2017 }}. ''[[Deccan Chronicle]]'', June 22, 2017.</ref>

In April 2011, it was announced that [[Tobey Maguire]] would be joining the film in the role originally referred to as "a reporter."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Tobey Maguire Joins 'Life of Pi' Cast|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tobey-maguire-joins-life-pi-176597|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=April 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928025835/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tobey-maguire-joins-life-pi-176597|archive-date=September 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in September 2012, it was announced that Lee had cut Maguire from the film. He justified the cut by stating that he did it "to be consistent with the other casting choices made for the film, I decided to go with an entirely international cast."<ref name="Maguire"/> Like [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]], Lee described Maguire's presence also as "too jarringly recognizable." He reshot the scenes with [[Rafe Spall]] in the role of the book's actual author.<ref name="Maguire">{{cite web |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/news/tobey-maguire-cut-from-ang-lee-s-life-of-pi |title=Tobey Maguire cut from Ang Lee's ''Life of Pi'' |first=George |last=Wales |date=September 6, 2012 |work=[[Total Film]] |access-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909002102/http://www.totalfilm.com/news/tobey-maguire-cut-from-ang-lee-s-life-of-pi |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] for the film began on January 18, 2011, in [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] at the Holy Rosary Church in [[Muthialpet]]. Filming continued in Puducherry until January 31 and moved to other parts of India, including [[Munnar]] in [[Kerala]], as well as [[Taiwan]]. The crew filmed in Taiwan for five and a half months in [[Taipei Zoo]], an airport in [[Taichung]], and [[Kenting National Park]], located in [[Pingtung County]] where Lee was born.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/entertainment/20121120/34652623/|title=李安30億打造《奇幻漂流》掐預算導演兼伙夫|website=appledaily.com.tw|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=December 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129122422/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/entertainment/20121120/34652623/|archive-date=November 29, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ang Lee begins shooting in Pondy, Life of Pi' comes alive|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-19/india/28357265_1_ang-lee-pi-yann-martel|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=January 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531082016/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-19/india/28357265_1_ang-lee-pi-yann-martel|archive-date=May 31, 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ocean scenes of the film were shot at a giant wave tank built by the crew in an abandoned airport.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caro|first=Mark|title=A perilous journey for 'Life of Pi' director Ang Lee|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-16/entertainment/sc-mov-1114-ang-lee-life-pi-20121117_1_ang-lee-pi-yann-martel|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=November 22, 2012|date=November 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123195052/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-16/entertainment/sc-mov-1114-ang-lee-life-pi-20121117_1_ang-lee-pi-yann-martel|archive-date=November 23, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The tank is known as the world's largest self-generating wave tank, with a capacity of 1.7 million gallons.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Life of Pi|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/468652/about-life-of-pi/|work=News Desk|access-date=November 25, 2012|date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122090232/http://tribune.com.pk/story/468652/about-life-of-pi/|archive-date=November 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> With production scheduled to last two and a half months at the tank, cinematographer [[Claudio Miranda]] assisted in the tank's design in order to get the most out of it for lighting, explaining, "We knew we were going to be inside there shooting for 2.5 months, so it was worth it to be able to do anything we want. On all these kind of scenes, we had an idea of what the weather would be like. In that tank, I can create storm clouds, nightfall. We had curtains that I can block out [light], doors to open and let in real sunlight," Miranda says. "So lighting-wise, [the movie] had a big [[ebb and flow]]."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bierly|first=Mandi|title=Oscar-nominated cinematographers explain how they envelop you in the story|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/24/oscars-cinematography-life-of-pi/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=February 24, 2013|date=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225052607/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/24/oscars-cinematography-life-of-pi/|archive-date=February 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> After photography was completed in Taiwan, production moved back to India and concluded in [[Montreal]] into early 2012.<ref name="Indian" />

===Post-production===
The lead [[visual effects]] company for ''Life of Pi'' was [[Rhythm and Hues Studios|Rhythm & Hues Studios (R&H)]]. 3D effects for the film were created by a team of R&H artists in Los Angeles, [[Mumbai]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Vancouver]] and [[Kaohsiung]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/a-glimpse-of-rhythm-hues-asian-facilities-work-on-ang-lees-masterpiece-life-of-pi|title=A Glimpse of Rhythm & Hues (Asian Facilities) Work on Ang Lee's Masterpiece, 'Life of Pi.'|website=animationxpress.com|access-date=January 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106183329/http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/a-glimpse-of-rhythm-hues-asian-facilities-work-on-ang-lees-masterpiece-life-of-pi|archive-date=January 6, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cgtantra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=671&Itemid=40|title=Making of Life of Pi: In Conversation with R&H|website=cgtantra.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609110654/http://www.cgtantra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=671&Itemid=40|archive-date=June 9, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=r&h4>{{cite news|url=http://www.awn.com/news/technology/rhythm-hues-taps-nvidia-life-pi|title=Rhythm & Hues Taps NVIDIA Technology for Life of Pi|website=awn.com|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=November 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203043818/http://www.awn.com/news/technology/rhythm-hues-taps-nvidia-life-pi|archive-date=December 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=r&h1>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/movies/creating-a-tiger-for-life-of-pi.html|title=A First Mate Bares His Fangs: Creating a Tiger for 'Life of Pi'|work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 2012|access-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223120736/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/movies/creating-a-tiger-for-life-of-pi.html|archive-date=December 23, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=soar>{{cite web|url=http://www.cgw.com/Press-Center/Web-Exclusives/2012/Rhythm-Hues-Makes-Skies-Soar.aspx|title=Rhythm & Hues Makes Skies Soar|website=cgw.com|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=December 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072240/http://www.cgw.com/Press-Center/Web-Exclusives/2012/Rhythm-Hues-Makes-Skies-Soar.aspx|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F1%2F12%2Fnation%2F12566824&sec=nation|title=Malaysian team behind special effects for Life of Pi and Snow White movies|work=The Star|location=Malaysia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112002746/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2013%2F1%2F12%2Fnation%2F12566824&sec=nation|archive-date=January 12, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The R&H VFX supervisor [[Bill Westenhofer]] said that discussions of the project began with Ang Lee in August 2009.<ref name=magic>{{cite news|url=http://graphics.latimes.com/storyboard-life-pi/?fb_comment_id=fbc_284814658308730_1265197_285327338257462#fca73fa8|title='Life of Pi's' digital magic|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223130610/http://graphics.latimes.com/storyboard-life-pi/?fb_comment_id=fbc_284814658308730_1265197_285327338257462#fca73fa8|archive-date=December 23, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=r&h5>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BrD_v5Vt70|title=Life of Pi's Stunning Effects|website=[[The Daily (News Corporation)|The Daily]]|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826144625/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BrD_v5Vt70|archive-date=August 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Westenhofer noted that Lee "knew we had done the lion in the first [[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|Narnia movie]]. He asked, 'Does a digital character look more or less real in 3D?' We looked at each other and thought that was a pretty good question."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Willman |first1=Chris |title=How 'Life of Pi' Animators Visualized Ang Lee's Blank Slate |date=December 11, 2012 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/wrap-awards-screening-how-aslans-digital-creators-went-lions-tigers-and-pi-oh-my-68851/ |publisher=[[TheWrap]] |access-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222011908/https://www.thewrap.com/wrap-awards-screening-how-aslans-digital-creators-went-lions-tigers-and-pi-oh-my-68851/ |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also stated that during these meetings, Lee said, "'I look forward to making art with you.' This was really for me one of the most rewarding things I've worked on and the first chance to really combine art with [[Visual effects|VFX]]. Every shot was artistic exploration, to make the ocean a character and make it interesting we had to strive to make it as visually stunning as possible."<ref name=r&h3>{{cite web|url=http://www.fxguide.com/featured/life-of-pi/|title=Life of Pi: a tiger's tale|website=fxguide.com|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=November 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130020024/http://www.fxguide.com/featured/life-of-pi/|archive-date=November 30, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Rhythm & Hues spent a year on [[research and development]], " building upon its already vast knowledge of [[Computer-generated imagery|CG animation]]" to develop the tiger.<ref name=var>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2012/scene/news/vfx-team-dares-to-take-tiger-by-the-tail-1118063581/|title=Vfx team dares to take tiger by the tail|work=Variety|date=December 15, 2012}}</ref> The [[British Film Institute]]'s ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' magazine suggested that, "''Life of Pi'' can be seen as the film Rhythm & Hues has been building up to all these years, by taking things they learned from each production from ''Cats & Dogs'' to ''Yogi Bear'', integrating their animals in different situations and environments, pushing them to do more, and understanding how all of this can succeed both visually and dramatically."<ref name=BFI>{{cite news|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/video-essay-animal-menagerie-rhythm-hues|title=Video essay: The animal menagerie of Rhythm and Hues|work=[[British Film Institute]]'s [[Sight & Sound]] magazine|date=December 21, 2012|access-date=December 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104012811/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/features/video-essay-animal-menagerie-rhythm-hues|archive-date=January 4, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Artist Abdul Rahman in the Malaysian branch underscored the global nature of the effects process, saying that "the special thing about ''Life of Pi'' is that it was the first time we did something called remote rendering, where we engaged our cloud infrastructure in Taiwan called CAVE (Cloud Animation and Visual Effects)."<ref name="r&h2">{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/tech/local-touch-to-life-of-pi-1.176645|title=Local touch to Life Of Pi|work=New Straits Times|date=November 26, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402173620/http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/tech/local-touch-to-life-of-pi-1.176645|archive-date=April 2, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Additional visual effects studios that worked on the film include [[Moving Picture Company|MPC]], [[Garson Yu|yU+co]], Buf, Crazy Horse Effects, Look Effects, Christov Effects, Lola VFX, Reliance Mediaworks, and Stereo D.<ref name="r&h3" />

==Music==
{{main|Life of Pi (soundtrack)}}

The film's [[Film score|musical score]] was composed by [[Mychael Danna]], who previously wrote the music to Lee's films ''[[The Ice Storm (film)|The Ice Storm]]'' and ''[[Ride with the Devil (film)|Ride with the Devil]]''. A [[soundtrack album]] of the music was released by [[Sony Classical Records]] on 16 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title='Life of Pi' Soundtrack Details|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/10/14/life-of-pi-soundtrack-details/|work=Film Music Reporter|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=October 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017232556/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2012/10/14/life-of-pi-soundtrack-details/|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The album features the track "[[Pi's Lullaby]]", which was co-written by Danna and [[Bombay Jayashri]], who performs the song in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Original Motion Picture Soundtrack of Life of Pi Available November 19, 2012 |url=http://sony.mediaroom.com/2012-10-25-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack-of-Life-of-Pi-Available-November-19-2012,1 |publisher=Sony Newsroom |access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>

==Distribution==
===Marketing===
Due to the film's holiday release, ''Life of Pi''{{'}}s financial success was uncertain. Dorothy Pomerantz of ''[[Forbes]]'' said, "It looks like chances are very slim that the film will earn back its production and marketing costs let alone turn a profit."<ref name="pomerantz">{{cite news|last=Pomerantz|first=Dorothy|title=Why I Hope 'Life of Pi' Will Succeed at the Box Office (Even Though I Know It Won't)|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2012/11/20/why-i-hope-life-of-pi-will-succeed-at-the-box-office-even-though-i-know-it-wont/|work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128081140/http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2012/11/20/why-i-hope-life-of-pi-will-succeed-at-the-box-office-even-though-i-know-it-wont/|archive-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Pomerantz attributed this to the fact that film was not led by a big name star and faced other winter blockbusters.<ref name="pomerantz" /> John Horn and Ben Fritz of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' compared the film to [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'', a large-budget 3D film that opened during the 2011 Thanksgiving week. They said that ''Life of Pi'' could have ended up like ''Hugo'' by "failing to connect with moviegoers" and become a "financial failure."<ref>{{cite news|last=Horn|first=John|title='Life of Pi' a huge gamble for 20th Century Fox|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-life-of-pi-tough-sell-20121119,0,5088507.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 20, 2012|author2=Fritz, Ben|date=November 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119201509/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-life-of-pi-tough-sell-20121119,0,5088507.story|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Similar speculation had been made by other news sources.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cunningham |first1=Todd |title='Life of Pi,' 'Rise of Guardians' Debut, but It's Still 'Twilight' Time |date=November 20, 2012 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/life-pi-and-rise-guardians-debut-its-still-twilight-time-box-office-65851/ |publisher=[[TheWrap]] |access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Grady|title=Box office preview: 'Breaking Dawn' headed for Thanksgiving win|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/showbiz/movies/box-office-preview-ew/|work=CNN|access-date=November 21, 2012|date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103110653/http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/21/showbiz/movies/box-office-preview-ew/|archive-date=November 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Whether or not [[Hurricane Sandy]] would affect the film's publicity was also a question. Because the film includes a massive storm, it was speculated that the recent storm might result in lower box office revenue due to the unintentional overtones of Sandy's devastation. A Fox spokesperson made note that there were no plans to change the film's marketing approach.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|title=Hurricane Sandy: 'Life of Pi's' unfortunate coincidence|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-hurricane-sandy-life-of-pis-unfortunate-coincidence-20121030,0,2238759.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 21, 2012|date=October 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121043956/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-hurricane-sandy-life-of-pis-unfortunate-coincidence-20121030,0,2238759.story|archive-date=November 21, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the marketing campaign for ''Life of Pi'', the film was promoted as "the next ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]''" in [[Trailer (promotion)|trailers]] and [[TV spots]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Subers|first=Ray|title=Forecast: 'Guardians,' 'Pi' Target Family Audiences Over Thanksgiving|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3572&p=.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=November 22, 2012|date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127171955/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3572&p=.htm|archive-date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[James Cameron]], the director of ''Avatar'', later became the subject of two featurettes that focus on the film's 3D and [[computer-generated imagery]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|title=Two New Featurettes for Ang Lee's Life of Pi Focus on the 3D and Creating a CG Tiger|url=https://collider.com/life-of-pi-featurettes/211798/|website=Collider.com|access-date=November 23, 2012|date=November 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119050023/http://collider.com/life-of-pi-featurettes/211798|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the original novel was re-released in a movie tie-in edition.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ahearn|first=Victoria|title=Man Booker judges still proud of honouring Yann Martel's Life of Pi|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Booker+judges+still+proud+honouring+Yann+Martel+Life/7602471/story.html|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|access-date=November 25, 2012|date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105041525/http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Booker+judges+still+proud+honouring+Yann+Martel+Life/7602471/story.html|archive-date=January 5, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> This was later followed by the release of ''The Making of Life of Pi: A Film, a Journey'', a book by Jean-Christophe Castelli that details how ''Life of Pi'' was brought to the big screen.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Making of Life of Pi: A Film, a Journey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xoR5tgAACAAJ|via=Google Books|access-date=November 25, 2012|date=October 30, 2012|isbn=9780062114136|last1=Castelli|first1=Jean-Christophe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619141125/http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Making_of_Life_of_Pi.html?id=xoR5tgAACAAJ|archive-date=June 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Theatrical release===
''Life of Pi'' had a [[wide release]] in the United States on November 21, 2012, in both traditional and [[3D film|3D]] viewing formats. It was originally scheduled to be released on December 14, 2012, but when ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'' was announced for the same release date, ''Life of Pi'' was postponed a week. It was then shifted a month in advance.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-moves-back-one-193993 |title='Life of Pi' Moves Back One Week to Avoid 'Hobbit' Film |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=June 1, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513072458/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-moves-back-one-193993 |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Home media===
''Life of Pi'' was released on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]], and [[Blu-ray 3D]] in North America, on March 12, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/5774/Life-of-Pi-2012.html|title=Life of Pi Blu-ray and DVD, January 29, 2013|website=dvdsreleasedates.com|access-date=January 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729133402/http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/5774/Life-of-Pi-2012.html|archive-date=July 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's 2D Blu-ray release contains many special features, including a one-hour making-of special entitled ''A Filmmaker's Epic Journey'' and two featurettes focusing on the film's visual effects, as well as two behind-the-scene looks at [[storyboard]]ing and [[Filmmaking#Pre-production|pre-production]] artwork. In addition, the film's 3D Blu-ray release contains five deleted scenes and a featurette entitled ''VFX Progressions'' that takes a look at what was shot and how it evolved to be what was rendered on screen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Broadwater|first=Casey|title=Life of Pi 3D Blu-ray Review: The Rime of the South-Asian Mariner|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-of-Pi-3D-Blu-ray/60865/#Review|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=March 17, 2013|date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323201247/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-of-Pi-3D-Blu-ray/60865/#Review|archive-date=March 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was later released on 4K Blu-ray and [[digital copy]] on March 8, 2016.<ref>{{Citation|title=Life of Pi 4K Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-of-Pi-4K-Blu-ray/140434/|access-date=2017-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721152958/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-of-Pi-4K-Blu-ray/140434/|archive-date=July 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, it was the eighth best-selling film of 2013 on physical [[home video]] formats.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2014.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook 2014 |date=2014 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |pages=124 |access-date=25 April 2022 }}</ref>

==Reception==

===Box office===
{{As of|2013|5|8|df=US}}, ''Life of Pi'' had grossed US$124,772,844 in North America, and US$484,029,542 in other countries, for a worldwide total of US$609,006,177.<ref name="bom">{{cite web|title=Life of Pi|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lifeofpi.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=August 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731034422/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lifeofpi.htm|archive-date=July 31, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> During its opening on the extended Thanksgiving weekend, the film debuted in 2,902 theaters throughout the United States and Canada and grossed US$30,573,101.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekend Box Office Results for Thanksgiving, November 21–25, 2012|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/thanksgiving/?yr=2012|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=November 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129101320/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/thanksgiving/?yr=2012|archive-date=November 29, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On the Chinese mainland, from November 22 to December 24,<ref>{{cite news|title=少年派下线国内票房5.7亿|url=http://ent.qq.com/a/20121226/000104.htm|access-date=December 26, 2012|newspaper=ent.qq.com|date=December 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002064955/http://ent.qq.com/a/20121226/000104.htm|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> the film topped the box office for three weeks,<ref>{{cite news|title=少年派三连冠破四亿|url=http://news.mtime.com/2012/12/11/1502996.html|access-date=December 11, 2012|newspaper=news.mtime.com|date=December 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214071849/http://news.mtime.com/2012/12/11/1502996.html|archive-date=December 14, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and grossed over US$91 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Box Office Milestone: 'Life of Pi' Crosses $500 million worldwide|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-crosses-500-million-414944?AP|access-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 24, 2013|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103232523/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-crosses-500-million-414944?AP|archive-date=November 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2013|1|24|df=US}}, it had also topped the box office for three weeks in Australia and Chile,<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia Box Office Index|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/intl/australia/?yr=2013&p=.htm|access-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=January 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122084501/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/australia/?yr=2013&p=.htm|archive-date=January 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Chile Box Office Index|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/chile/|access-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=January 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202183255/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/chile/|archive-date=February 2, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and four weeks in Mexico<ref>{{cite news|title=Mexico Box Office Index|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/mexico/|access-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=January 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130202726/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/mexico/|archive-date=January 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and Peru.<ref>{{cite news|title=Peru Box Office Index|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/peru/|access-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=January 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114223614/http://boxofficemojo.com/intl/peru/|archive-date=January 14, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The film became the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year in India,<ref>{{cite news|last=Bhushan|first=Nyay|title='Life of Pi' Becomes 2012's Highest-Grossing Hollywood Release in India|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-becomes-2012s-highest-411231|access-date=January 11, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115195436/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-becomes-2012s-highest-411231|archive-date=January 15, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ang Lee's Life of Pi top Hollywood Grosser of 2012 in India|url=http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/ang-lees-life-of-pi-top-hollywood-grosser-of-2012-in-india/index.htm|access-date=January 11, 2013|website=bollywoodtrade.com|date=January 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303022016/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/ang-lees-life-of-pi-top-hollywood-grosser-of-2012-in-india/index.htm|archive-date=March 3, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and was the tenth highest-grossing Hollywood release in the country.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-becomes-2012s-highest-411231 | title='Life of Pi' Becomes 2012's Highest-Grossing Hollywood Release in India | access-date=March 9, 2013 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Nyay | last=Bhushan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315173834/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-becomes-2012s-highest-411231 | archive-date=March 15, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Life of Pi'' has earned HK$45,058,653 (US$5.8 million) at the Hong Kong box office, making it the highest grossing Ang Lee film in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://thehkneo.com/blog/?p=2757|title= Life of Pi Hong Kong Box Office|date= February 24, 2013|access-date= February 28, 2013|work= HK Neo Reviews|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130117140332/http://thehkneo.com/blog/?p=2757|archive-date= January 17, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref> In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it grossed {{£|28.7 million|long=no}} ({{US$|{{To USD|28.7|GBR|year=2012}} million}}) by February 2013. At the annual 2012 UK and Ireland box office, it was the year's eighth highest-grossing film, third highest-grossing [[3D film]], highest-grossing [[adventure film]], and highest-grossing [[PG (British Board of Film Classification)|PG-rated]] film.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2013.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook 2013 |date=2013 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |pages=24, 28, 38, 48 |access-date=25 April 2022 }}</ref>

===Critical response===
''Life of Pi'' has an 86% approval rating on the review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 253 reviews with an average rating of 7.90/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A 3D adaptation of a supposedly "unfilmable" book, Ang Lee's ''Life of Pi'' achieves the near impossible – it's an astonishing technical achievement that's also emotionally rewarding."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life-of-pi/|title=Life of Pi|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709200250/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life-of-pi/|archive-date=July 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has an average score of 79 out of 100, based on 44 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/life-of-pi|title=Life of Pi Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=January 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117051447/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/life-of-pi|archive-date=January 17, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |title=Box office: 'Breaking Dawn' tops record Thanksgiving weekend |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/11/25/box-office-report-breaking-dawn-lincoln-skyfall-life-of-pi/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave ''Life of Pi'' four stars out of four, referring to it as "a miraculous achievement of storytelling and a landmark of visual mastery" as well as "one of the best films of the year".<ref name="ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=November 20, 2012|title=Life of Pi|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/life-of-pi-2012|url-status=live|access-date=November 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122213338/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20121120%2FREVIEWS%2F121129995|archive-date=November 22, 2012}}</ref> He particularly praised the film's use of 3D that he described as "deepen[ing] the film's sense of places and events".<ref name="ebert" /> Similarly, [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' highlighted the use of 3D in the film suggesting that "like ''[[Hugo (film)|Hugo]]'', from [[Martin Scorsese]], ''Life of Pi'' puts 3D in the hands of a worldclass film artist. (Ang) Lee uses 3D with the delicacy and lyricism of a poet. You don't just watch this movie, you live it."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Travers|first=Peter|title=Life of Pi|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/life-of-pi-20121120|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 21, 2012|date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127222324/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/life-of-pi-20121120|archive-date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Parmita Borah of ''[[Eastern Fare]]'' says, "There is this one scene in particular where the entire ocean is covered with jelly fish which makes you feel like 'this is what heaven must look like'."<ref>{{cite web|last=Borah |first=Parmita |title=Life of Pi – a fascinating story |url=http://www.efi-news.com/2012/11/life-of-pi-fascinating-story-movie.html |website=EF News International |access-date=November 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101005406/http://www.efi-news.com/2012/11/life-of-pi-fascinating-story-movie.html |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref>

The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' critic Betsy Sharkey referred to the film as a "masterpiece," stating that:

<blockquote>There is always a poetic aesthetic that Lee brings to his best work – the brutal martial arts ballet of ''[[Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon]]'' or the homophobic hatred against the backcountry grandeur of ''[[Brokeback Mountain]],'' which would win him an Oscar for directing in 2006. In ''Life of Pi,'' certainly given its technological achievements, the filmmaker has raised the bar. Not since [[James Cameron]]'s breathtaking blue ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' in 2009 has 3-D had such impact.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sharkey|first=Betsy|title=Review: 'Life of Pi' is a masterpiece by Ang Lee|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-life-of-pi-review-ang-lee-20121121,0,902072.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 24, 2012|date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123225312/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-life-of-pi-review-ang-lee-20121121,0,902072.story|archive-date=November 23, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

In an interview with the ''Los Angeles Times'', Cameron himself highlighted the film's use of 3D, noting that

<blockquote>''Life of Pi'' breaks the paradigm that 3-D has to be some big, action fantasy spectacle, superhero movie ... The movie is visually amazing, inventive, and it works on you in ways you're not really aware of. It takes you on a journey, and unless you've read the book – which I hadn't – you have no idea where that journey is going. It does what good 3-D is supposed to do, which is, it allows you to forget you're watching a 3-D movie.<ref name="camint">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-james-cameron-life-pi-3d-20121101,0,4843429.story|title=James Cameron: 'Life of Pi' 'breaks the paradigm' of 3-D movies|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 2, 2012|first=Rebecca|last=Keegan|date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105065038/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-james-cameron-life-pi-3d-20121101,0,4843429.story|archive-date=November 5, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:Yann martel 2007-10-25 Seattle WA USA.jpg|thumb|right|170px|[[Yann Martel]], author of the book ''Life of Pi'', gave positive feedback upon seeing the film.]]
According to French journalist Marjolaine Gout, the film is "a philosophical tale where [[Noah's Ark]] metamorphoses into ''[[The Raft of the Medusa]]''". She adds that it is "a visual masterpiece" in which "Ang Lee proves, once again, his talent as a universal storyteller".<ref name="gout">{{cite web|last=Gout|first=Marjolaine|title=Review: 'Life of Pi' by Ang Lee|url=http://www.ecranlarge.com/movie_review-read-31425-172491.php|website=Ecran Large|access-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref> She also writes about the visual poetry of the movie reminding viewers of the works of classical painters and the symbolism of [[kolam]]s. The film got 8 out of 10 stars, the readers gave 7 stars.<ref name="gout" />

The novel's author, [[Yann Martel]], found the film to be a "delightful" adaptation, saying,

<blockquote>I'm happy it works so well as a film. Even if the ending is not as ambiguous as the book's, the possibility that there might be another version of Pi's story comes at you unexpectedly and raises the same important questions about truth, perception and belief.<ref>{{cite news|last=Quill|first=Greg|title=Yann Martel on Life of Pi: Author gives 3D movie by Ang Lee thumbs up|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/1292021--yann-martel-on-life-of-pi-author-gives-3d-movie-by-ang-lee-thumbs-up|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=November 25, 2012|date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128094805/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/1292021--yann-martel-on-life-of-pi-author-gives-3d-movie-by-ang-lee-thumbs-up|archive-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

[[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' was critical of the film's narrative frame, arguing that "the movie invites you to believe in all kinds of marvelous things, but it also may cause you to doubt what you see with your own eyes – or even to wonder if, in the end, you have seen anything at all".<ref name="scott">{{cite news|last=Scott|first=A. O.|title=Plenty of Gods, but Just One Fellow Passenger|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/movies/life-of-pi-directed-by-ang-lee.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 12, 2013|date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111095038/http://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/movies/life-of-pi-directed-by-ang-lee.html|archive-date=January 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Scott further criticized the film for repressing the darker themes of the tale.<ref name="scott" /> Nick Schager of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' also panned the film, stating: "A stacked-deck theological inquiry filtered through a ''Titanic''-by-way-of–''Slumdog Millionaire'' narrative, ''Life of Pi'' manages occasional spiritual wonder through its 3-D visuals but otherwise sinks like a stone".<ref>{{cite web|last=Schager|first=Nick|title=Life of Pi Is the Story of How Important Life of Pi Is|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-11-21/film/life-of-pi-is-the-story-of-how-important-life-of-pi-is/|work=[[The Village Voice]]|access-date=November 21, 2012|date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127214612/http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-11-21/film/life-of-pi-is-the-story-of-how-important-life-of-pi-is/|archive-date=November 27, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, and states "despite some lovely images and those eyepopping effects, it is a shallow and self-important shaggy-dog story – or shaggy-tiger story ... It deserves every technical prize going."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/20/life-of-pi-review|title=Life of Pi – review|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=December 20, 2012|location=London|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314160402/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/20/life-of-pi-review|archive-date=March 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' selected the film as the third-best movie of 2012, as well as calling it the next ''Avatar.''<ref>{{cite news|last=Corliss|first=Richard|title=Top 10 Movies of 2012|url=http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,2000746118001_2130723,00.html|access-date=December 4, 2012|newspaper=Time|year=2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205081228/http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,2000746118001_2130723,00.html|archive-date=December 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film was noted for containing a "subtle, artistic warning" about the dangers of increased anthropogenic [[carbon dioxide emissions]] and [[ocean acidification]]. The scene of the acidic island Pi and Richard Parker encounter saw comparison to [[Castello Aragonese]] in the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] near [[Naples]] and Richard Parker's final dismissive departure representing the "not too pleasant face of [[Gaia hypothesis|Gaia]]."<ref>[[Thomas Faunce]] "Life of Pi's Acidic Island a Warning of Our Warming World. The Conversation. January 27, 2013 http://theconversation.edu.au/life-of-pis-acidic-island-a-warning-for-our-warming-world-11599 (accessed January 27, 2013).</ref>

===Accolades===
{{main|List of accolades received by Life of Pi}}
''Life of Pi'' was nominated for eleven [[85th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]] and won four (more than any other film from 2012): [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Ang Lee), [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] ([[Claudio Miranda]]), [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] ([[Bill Westenhofer]], [[Guillaume Rocheron]], [[Erik-Jan de Boer]] and [[Donald R. Elliott]]) and [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] ([[Mychael Danna]]).<ref name="Oscars 2013 winners">{{cite web|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees |title=Oscars – The Nominees |publisher=The Academy Awards of Motion Pictures and the Arts |access-date=February 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110203809/http://oscar.go.com/nominees |archive-date=January 10, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="full winners list for Oscars 2013">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/25/oscars-2013-full-list-winners |title=Oscars 2013: the full list of winners |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019105500/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/25/oscars-2013-full-list-winners |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brooks|first=Xan|title=Ang Lee wins best director Oscar for Life of Pi|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/25/ang-lee-best-director-oscar-life-of-pi|access-date=October 17, 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417081003/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/25/ang-lee-best-director-oscar-life-of-pi|archive-date=April 17, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It was nominated for three [[70th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]] and won for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]].<ref>{{cite news|title=2013 Golden Globe Nominations |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/ |access-date=December 21, 2012 |year=2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214105703/http://www.goldenglobes.org/2012/12/nominations-2013/ |archive-date=December 14, 2012 }}</ref>

===Controversies and animal abuse allegations===
[[File:Bombay_Jayashri,_Vani_Mahal_(Chennai),_December_2017.jpg|thumb|left|170px|An allegation was made that the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Oscar]] nominated song "Pi's Lullaby", performed and co-written by [[Bombay Jayashri]], used compositions by [[Irayimman Thampi]]. Jayashri denied the allegation.]]
Despite winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 2013 Academy Awards, [[Rhythm & Hues Studios]] (who provided most of the visual effects for the film) was forced to file for bankruptcy on February 11, 2013, citing unfair competition from subsidized and tax exempt foreign studios.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hart|first=Elly|title=Life In The Movie Business: An Inside Look At The VFX Crisis|url=http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/02/life-in-the-movie-business-an-inside-look-at-the-vfx-crisis/|website=Gizmodo Australia|access-date=March 5, 2013|date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304060001/http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/02/life-in-the-movie-business-an-inside-look-at-the-vfx-crisis/|archive-date=March 4, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> This sparked a demonstration of nearly 500 VFX artists who protested outside the 2013 Academy Awards.<ref>[VFX protest at Oscars: images from the picket line + audio interview http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/visualeffectsprotestatoscars/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225131223/http://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/visualeffectsprotestatoscars/ |date=February 25, 2013 }}]</ref> Inside, during the Oscars, when R&H visual effects supervisor [[Bill Westenhofer]] brought up R&H during his acceptance speech for ''[[Life of Pi]],'' the microphone was cut off.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartlaub |first=Peter |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2013/02/25/biggest-oscars-snub-a-shark-attack-on-the-vfx-industry/ |title=Biggest Oscars snub: A shark attack on the VFX industry | an SFGate.com blog |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829021929/http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2013/02/25/biggest-oscars-snub-a-shark-attack-on-the-vfx-industry/ |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> This started an uproar among many visual effects industry professionals, changing profile pictures on social media such as Facebook and Twitter to show the [[Chroma key|green key color]], in order to raise awareness for the issues the industry was facing.<ref>{{cite web |last=McWeeny |first=Drew |url=http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/the-visual-effects-community-sees-red-in-the-wake-of-oscar-protest-and-on-air-snub/2 |title=The visual effects community sees red in the wake of Oscar protest and on-air snub |website=HitFix.com |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017185232/http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/the-visual-effects-community-sees-red-in-the-wake-of-oscar-protest-and-on-air-snub/2 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, director [[Ang Lee]] was criticized by the protest leader for his failure to thank the effect industry, "Ang thanked the crew, the actors, his agent, his lawyer and the entire population of Taiwan right down to the team that built the wave-pool on the soundstage where Pi was shot, but failed to mention hundreds of artists who made not only the main character of the tiger, but replaced that pool, making it look like a real ocean for 80% of his movie."<ref name="guard">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/26/ang-lee-visual-effects-life-of-pi|title=Ang Lee under fire from visual effects artists over Life of Pi speech|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Andrew|last=Pulver|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218102416/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/26/ang-lee-visual-effects-life-of-pi|archive-date=December 18, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also criticized for earlier complaining about the costs of visual effects.<ref name=guard/><ref name="HR">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2013-vfx-artists-blast-424304|title=Oscars 2013: VFX Artists Blast 'Disgraceful' TV Moments|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Carolyn|last=Giardina|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616053945/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2013-vfx-artists-blast-424304|archive-date=June 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2014, Christina Lee Storm and Scott Leberecht released the [[documentary]] ''Life After Pi'' to YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lcB9u-9mVE|title=Life After Pi (Official Video)|website=YouTube|access-date=May 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529002844/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lcB9u-9mVE|archive-date=May 29, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The documentary details the role Rhythm & Hues played in ''Life of Pi'' as well as the consequent bankruptcy. Bill Westenhofer also discusses his experience at the Oscars as he accepted a Visual Effects award for Rhythm & Hues' work on ''Life of Pi''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2014/03/03/documentary-chronicles-bankruptcy-of-visual-effects-firm-rhythm-hues/|title=Documentary Chronicles Bankruptcy of Visual Effects Firm Rhythm & Hues|work=The Wall Street Journal| date=March 3, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113706/https://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2014/03/03/documentary-chronicles-bankruptcy-of-visual-effects-firm-rhythm-hues/|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live| last1=Stech | first1=Katy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/revealing-rhythm-hues-life-pi-682526|title=Revealing 'Rhythm & Hues: Life After Pi' Doc Exposes Grief, Anger and Troubled Business (Video)|work=The Hollywood Reporter| date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173550/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/revealing-rhythm-hues-life-pi-682526|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/life-pi-chronicles-collapse-rhythm-hues/|title=YouTube Documentary 'Life After Pi' Chronicles Collapse of Rhythm & Hues (Video)|website=TheWrap| date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220114850/https://www.thewrap.com/life-pi-chronicles-collapse-rhythm-hues/|archive-date=February 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-on-location-20140218,0,7566544.story|title='Life After Pi,' doc on fall of visual effects house, to debut|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422201156/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-on-location-20140218,0,7566544.story|archive-date=April 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

A trust named after [[Carnatic music]]ian [[Irayimman Thampi]] has accused [[Bombay Jayashri]]'s Oscar-nominated song "[[Pi's Lullaby]]" of not being an original composition.<ref name="business-standard.com">A Case of two lullabies, Business Standard dated March 16, 2013. http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/a-case-of-two-lullabies-113031500573_1.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318043054/http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/a-case-of-two-lullabies-113031500573_1.html |date=March 18, 2013 }}</ref> The trust has alleged that the first eight lines of the song is a word-by-word translation of composer Thampi's renowned lullaby in Malayalam "[[Omanathinkal Kidavo]]". Jayashri has denied the allegation.<ref name="business-standard.com"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/life-of-pi-is-bombay-jayashris-oscar-nominated-song-pis-lullaby-not-original/315535-8-67.html|title=Life of Pi: Is Bombay Jayashri's Oscar nominated song 'Pi's Lullaby' not original?|work=ibnlive.in.com|access-date=January 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116075627/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/life-of-pi-is-bombay-jayashris-oscar-nominated-song-pis-lullaby-not-original/315535-8-67.html|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/irayimman-thampi-trust-alleges-plagiarism/article4303751.ece|title=Irayimman Thampi Trust alleges plagiarism|work=The Hindu|access-date=January 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116154122/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/irayimman-thampi-trust-alleges-plagiarism/article4303751.ece|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2013 investigation by the Hollywood Reporter brought to light leaked emails suggesting that animals involved in the filming of ''Life of Pi'' had been mistreated during the filming despite the [[American Humane Association]]'s "No Animals Were Harmed" certification on the film.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Baum |first=Gary |date=November 25, 2013 |title=No Animals Were Harmed |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/ |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205131022/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/ |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Suebsaeng |first=Asawin |date=November 26, 2013 |title=Report: Actually, Animals May Have Been Harmed in the Making of That Film |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2013/11/american-humane-association-animals-harmed-films-hollywood |magazine=Mother Jones |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210172838/http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2013/11/american-humane-association-animals-harmed-films-hollywood |archive-date=February 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |date=November 27, 2013 |title=Life of Pi tiger nearly drowned on set, report alleges |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/27/life-of-pi-tiger-nearly-drowned-report-animals-hollywood |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131233308/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/27/life-of-pi-tiger-nearly-drowned-report-animals-hollywood |archive-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an April 7, 2011, AHA monitor, Gina Johnson, wrote that "last week we almost killed King", in reference to a tiger used for filming. The email goes on to suggest that the incident, in which the tiger apparently nearly drowned while filming a scene, would be "downplayed" in the official report to the AHA. Additionally, the exposé alleges that Johnson was involved in a [[Workplace relationships|romantic relationship]] with one of the film's producers, possibly representing a conflict of interest. ''Life of Pi'' director Ang Lee has described the animal abuse allegations as "an accident" in interviews. Following the publication of the Hollywood Reporter investigation, Gina Johnson resigned from her position with the AHA.<ref>{{cite magazine |author= |date=November 29, 2013 |title=Ang Lee on 'Life of Pi' Tiger Incident: 'It Was an Accident' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ang-lee-life-pi-tiger-660692 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210175324/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ang-lee-life-pi-tiger-660692 |archive-date=February 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Eby |first=Margaret |date=November 27, 2013 |title='Life of Pi' animal monitor resigns from American Humane Association after Hollywood Reporter exposé |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/life-pi-animal-monitor-resigns-american-humane-association-hollywood-reporter-expose-article-1.1531099 |newspaper=New York Daily News |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081256/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/life-pi-animal-monitor-resigns-american-humane-association-hollywood-reporter-expose-article-1.1531099 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

New animal welfare concerns were raised in 2015 when [[PETA]] released a video that showed ''Life of Pi'' animal trainer Michael Hackenberger swearing at and whipping a young tiger 19 times.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rahman |first=Abid |date=December 22, 2015 |title='Life of Pi' Tiger Trainer Allegedly Caught on Video Whipping Animal |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-trainer-allegedly-caught-850657 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210175429/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-trainer-allegedly-caught-850657 |archive-date=February 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2016, the [[Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] filed animal cruelty charges against Hackenberger based on the video evidence.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Stelloh |first=Tim |date=April 14, 2016 |title=Zoo Owner Whose Tiger Was in 'Life of Pi' Charged With Animal Cruelty |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zoo-owner-whose-tiger-was-life-pi-charged-animal-cruelty-n555691 |magazine=NBC |access-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075458/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zoo-owner-whose-tiger-was-life-pi-charged-animal-cruelty-n555691 |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Film|United States}}
* [[Survival film]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/life-of-pi}}
* {{IMDb title|0454876|Life of Pi}}
* {{AllRovi movie|481149|Life of Pi}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|life-of-pi|Life of Pi}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Life of Pi}}
* {{Mojo title|lifeofpi|Life of Pi}}

{{Ang Lee}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film 2011–2030}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Life Of Pi}}
[[Category:2012 3D films]]
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[[Category:BAFTA winners (films)]]
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Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Life of Pi (film)