“And so it goes with God" - Life of Pi

A visual 3D extravaganza, a special effect marvel, that was Life of Pi for me till the last 10 minutes of the movie. Then, there was an outpour of philosophies, which made me think, and even lose a days’ sleep.

Pi, the central character had told 2 stories, one, a totally incredible and unbelievable one, and the other, a completely reasonable one. We are asked to choose an option, about which story we would prefer to believe - the story where he sailed across with animals, tamed a hungry tiger, got into a carnivorous island, or the one in which humans kill each other because of anger and hunger? Do we believe in a make-belief world, even if it is completely illogical? If so, what makes us think like that? Is it the struggle to preserve the “sanctity of the human world”, attributing the animosity to other creatures? Probably, we would like to hear a story where tiger and hyena kills, rather than humans killing. Even if it defies all logic, we might prefer the story which is colorful, funny, and more than anything else, which shows us hope, hope in humanity, hope that there indeed is light at the end of the tunnel.

However, I was not satisfied; I kept on saying to myself that the maker of Brokeback Mountain would imply something even deeper. What intrigued me was if the tiger was actually Pi (in the second version of the story), who was Pi in it? There is a scene in the movie, where Pi is shown as getting angry, after he sees the Orangutan getting killed by the hyena. Immediately after this scene, the tiger pounces on the hyena and kills it. Interestingly, this is the first scene where the tiger is shown in the boat. (In the second story, it is revealed that Pi’s mom was killed by the cook, and in his anger, Pi killed the cook)

It makes sense when you think that the tiger was just a manifestation of Pi, probably a manifestation of the animal instincts in Pi. The tiger (his animal instincts) wanted to kill and consume Pi, but he kept away from it. He kept on hiding from it, and escaping it, until he finds a way to tame it. He lets the tiger go inside the boat (probably, bury deep inside his conscience), and learns to live with it. Even if it was this tiger (primal instincts in him) that keeps him alive, gives him hope, and helps him hold together,  when he learns to live with it, he makes sure that, it does not overwhelm his goodness.

They reach an island together, probably a symbolic representation of religion. Religion shows you a shade when you are tired, food when you are hungry. You have the option be like the colony of Meerkats obeying all the aspects of the island (religion), hiding yourself at night when it turns carnivorous. It is interesting to note that Meerkats are usually found in deserts and they are burrowing animals. In addition to making the first story totally unbelievable, this might have something to do with the fact that Meerkats are not at all intended to stay in the island. The fact remains that, eventually, the whole group of Meerkets will be engulfed and that island will cease to exist. The island may not necessarily be religion itself, it could represent any such concept which on the surface seems nice and green, but actually is just floating around without any direction, waiting to take you in. Pi decides to move on, as he was not willing to lead a half life, which would eventually take him in.

Finally, he reaches the Mexican shores, where he sees the tiger (animal instincts in him) for the last time. The primal side is buried deep inside his subconscious now, and he never has to take it out again, as he is with his fellow human beings.

So, what is "And so it goes with God"? To be frank, I am still in the process of figuring it out. The only link I can form with god is what I mentioned initially. Even if it is totally unreasonable, and illogical, many people believe in god, as they associate a hope with it. It makes us dream, dream for betterment, better humanity, better life, and what not! Yes, even being an atheist, I would prefer the first story over the second, because it talks about the same hope and love, which is what I believe as "god".

I am sure there are many more subtle meanings conveyed in the movie, like the name “Pi”, an infinite number, which probably implies that it is not the story of a single person, but about the “infinite life” that exists in the world. Waiting for watching the movie a second time now :-)