When Oscar-winning director Lee Ang made Life of Pi, little, did he know that it would have been so impactful on the world? Based on the novel by Yann Martel, the movie was a real delight! A true visual spectacle in every sense, the movie scored a true 10 in almost all sectors.
It includes the amazing acting by the cast, unbelievably good cinematography, and hyper-realistic computer-generated images. While it’s a different experience reading the book, the film is much more than that. And for those who haven’t yet done so, it’s high time! This ‘coming of age’ adventurous tale is notable and teaches us numerous valuable life lessons. So, it is no wonder that it deserves a mention!
Realism
Once Pi knew that his family sunk with the ship, he kept weeping inconsolably. Despite his grief, he ensured that he adjusted to the new realities that kept coming his way. Survival was the challenge, and he did all he could to stay alive.
Staying grounded is a trait that we must master. There is no harm in dreaming big or making the most of our imagination. But not at the expense of forgetting the brutalities of everyday situations.
Resilience
Pi was the epitome of resilience. He reflected that in almost all his actions, at every stage of life. So whether he was a kid or became a proud father, there were adversities like being tormented, harassed, teased, and so on.
His name was odd, no doubt, but no matter how tumultuous the situations were, he had to withstand all. Life is not going to be a joyride, but gritting our teeth and moving on with life is the motto. Besides, the saying goes- tough times don’t last, but tough people do.
Religion
Pi was a polytheist. Naturally, most of his beliefs wouldn’t be in tandem with ours. What stands great is his set of ‘universal morals.’ The strength that he depicted at every stage, was mostly because of his values that kept him sturdy when most others would crumble.
It’s important to have something that we would have strong faith in, for that would see us through in both the good and bad times. At least, that helps us get the guidance and comfort and battle through the storms.
Reflection
One of the best companions that Pi had was his journal. He often scribbled through his notebook and wrote detailed accounts of his life experiences. Even when some of the most adverse circumstances happened, he stayed calm and patient. This routine became part and parcel of his life, and eventually, he became busy with it.
This activity is a key virtue when we need to reflect upon our actions. Maintaining a diary or a blog is a healthy activity, but sometimes it just acts as a relief when we ponder the encounters we’ve had. In doing so, we get to analyze where we made mistakes. It blesses us with all the powers and shows us for goals that lie ahead of us.
Reciprocity
With Richard Parker, Pi developed an uncanny and a tad uneasy ‘friendship.’ It’s amazing when we recollect how the tiger helped him in all possible ways to dispatch the hyena. Then at the end moments, Pi even fed him fishes! The bond they develop over time was simply out of the world.
Most saints and experts preach the importance of the reciprocity principle, but strangely, not many know that applying this in real life is a universal act. Almost any negotiation that you do with another party, think how the other party might gain out of it. But not demeaning yourself in the process. Situations can turn dicey, but the outcomes will surely turn fruitful.
Rebounding
This is the most significant one when we think of ‘bouncing back to life.’ Pi lost most people, his tiger friend, family, wealth, and more, yet he did not lose the urge to come back to life.
So he got back into his usual form and somehow managed to live a happy life, in his newfound homeland. This is much similar to dealing with our emotional shackles, mental traumas, or any deformity. It teaches us that we should not act detrimental to our usual life course.