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Telling story toughest: Ang Lee

DESPITE THE SLICK special effects, creation of a fake tiger and shooting underwater, the toughest part of making Life of Pi was telling the story, director Ang Lee said.

Lee, who is in Mumbai to promote his latest project, said it was the hardest movie he had ever shot.

“The book makes a philosophical point about theology and zoology. It examines illusions. To me that is the hardest. How do you create illusion, especially with so much money?” Lee (pictured with cast members Suraj Sharma, Tabu and Irrfan Khan) said at a press conference. “I’ll be honest with you, I have been very stressed for the last four years,” he added.

The film, a fantasy tale about a boy stranded in the middle of the ocean in a boat with a tiger, has had encouraging early reviews, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “exceptionally beautiful”.

The largely Indian cast, including lead actor Suraj Sharma and the Indian setting of the film is likely to appeal to Indian movie-goers, now increasingly enamoured with Hollywood. Lee and his cast are kicking off international promotions for the film in India. “India is a spiritual place,” Lee said. “To me it was a profound experience, but on the surface it has to be fun, adventurous and illusive.”

The film will open the International Film Festival of India on November 20.