The Intricate Color Story of “Life of Pi”
Colors in movies don’t just have to be about visuals; they can be integral to the story itself.
Take Life of Pi. At first glance, you might think it’s simply a survival tale, but dig deeper, and you’ll find that colors play a crucial role in conveying themes and emotions, particularly around religion and identity.
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Religion and Faith
In Life of Pi, the journey of the protagonist, Pi, is intertwined with his exploration of different religions.
In both Life of Pi and in this one … it happens to be religious faith, but I mean faith in a broader sense, too — any kind of faith, whether it’s in a person, in a political movement, even a sports team, whatever.
Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi
As a child exposed to Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, Pi struggles to find his own path.
The film uses colors to signify these religious experiences:
- Saffron (Orange): In Hinduism, saffron represents purity, spirituality, and the quest for knowledge. Early scenes in the film, bathed in saffron hues, depict Pi’s childhood and his Hindu upbringing. This color symbolizes his initial phase of self-discovery and spiritual curiosity.
- White and Blue: When Pi is dared by his brother to visit a local church, the scenes are dominated by white and blue. White is associated with Christianity (in India). These scenes highlight Pi’s exploration of Christianity and its teachings.
- Green: Green is traditionally associated with Islam. The film subtly incorporates this color in various scenes, emphasizing Pi’s exploration of the Islamic faith.
Interestingly, these colors correspond to the colors of the Indian flag, symbolizing the diversity and religious coexistence in India:
Saffron/Orange
Navy Blue
White
India Green
The other two colors
Black/Gray
Black signifies despair, sadness, and the testing of faith. After the ship sinks, Pi is thrust into a world dominated by dark, foreboding tones. This period of Pi’s life is marked by tragedy and intense struggle, representing the darkest moments of his journey.
Brown
Brown represents the warmth and nostalgia of Pi’s memories, his family life, and his youth. It bookends the story, appearing in scenes of Pi’s past and present, connecting his experiences across time.
Interestingly, his father wears brown, grey and black. However, his mother initially wears colorful clothes. Later (as you can see above), she does wear shades of black and gray.
The Journey at Sea
The film’s use of color during Pi’s journey at sea reflects his emotional and spiritual transformation:
Orange (Saffron)
When Pi starts his journey on the lifeboat, saffron symbolizes self-realization and the beginning of his faith. Saffron is about survival and confronting many gods to find one’s own path.
Also notice the use of a mirror-like sea by Ang Lee. Pi is looking inward, as in self-reflection.
Blue
The endless blue of the ocean and sky during Pi’s ordeal signifies coexistence and faith in the tiger, Richard Parker. Blue represents the calm after the storm and the beauty and power of faith.
In this case it is also faith in others.
The bioluminescent sea and the blue whale symbolize the splendor and mystery of faith. It is deep, and rewarding, to have faith in your fellow humans.
White
As Pi and the tiger endure hardship together, white symbolizes suffering, purity, and the shared struggle.
This phase represents the idea of enduring trials together, akin to Jesus’s suffering for humanity. It is also represented by Pi’s kneeling posture on the boat during the lighting storm, the ray of light shining through, and so on. These are all clearly Christian symbols.
Green
The green island they find represents temptation and false sanctuary. It’s a place where they must overcome temptation and move on, symbolizing the need to continue their faith journey.
I relate this to Islam, which is a faith that eschews temptation. Islam demands total allegiance to Allah. When Pi resists the temptation of the island, he is rewarded immediately by being saved.
However, there could also be a second story (among many others I’m sure), hidden from plain sight.
Symbolism and National Identity
Life of Pi could mirror India’s journey through the process of independence.
The earlier rulers (Mughals, Indian kings, and the British) leave the boat, symbolizing the end of foreign dominance. The animals could be placeholders for these foreign rulers.
Pi’s journey can be seen as a metaphor for India finding its own path, with the colors of the Indian flag representing the nation’s religious and cultural diversity.
Just as Pi and the tiger must learn to coexist, the various religions in India must find common ground. The departure of Richard Parker can be interpreted as the partition of India, signifying the division of brothers based on religious grounds.
After all, a tiger and a human can hardly coexist. Pi believes they can, but reality is a lot more unforgiving.
The colors of the Indian flag have a direct connection even in this interpretation of the story. In fact, the navy blue color is from the Ashok chakra, a symbol directly related to the Dharamchakra from Buddhism. One could argue that the colors of the Indian flag are in fact, the four primary religions of India (there are many others, too).
As you can imagine, the color story of Life of Pi is a complex and layered narrative where each color holds significant symbolic meaning.
From the rich saffron of Hinduism to the pure white of Christianity and the peaceful green of Islam, Ang Lee’s interpretation uses colors to explore themes of faith, identity, and coexistence.
I think he had to think about of the box to do justice to the Booker-prize-winning novel. It had to be a visually stunning and thematically profound tale to resonate deeply.
To continue learning about the power of color, watch this:
