Author of ‘Life of Pi’ Yann Martel, director Ang Lee to get national awards

PUDUCHERRY: The Union government has decided to present national awards to Hollywood director Ang Lee and Canadian author Yann Martel for promoting the Union territory of Puducherry and Kerala as major tourist destinations.
Ang Lee’s film, ‘The Life of Pi’, was shot in Puducherry and Munnar in Kerala. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel.
Puducherry tourism secretary W V R Murthy told TOI that the Union tourism ministry has conveyed its decision to the Puducherry government and suggested that the territorial administration honour the director and writer on its behalf for popularising the Union territory in the global arena.
“We received an official communication from the Union tourism ministry announcing its decision to honour the director and writer. The ministry also suggested that the Puducherry government honour them on our behalf,” said Murthy.
The movie, which is set in Puducherry, narrates the ordeal of a young Indian boy, the lone survivor of a ship wreck, sharing a life boat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a tiger. The movie has introduced the the Union territory to a global audience. Ang Lee and his crew were in Puducherry for more than two months in 2011. The film was shot at various locations in Puducherry, including landmarks like the Holy Rosary Church, Muthialpet, Calve College and the botanical garden among other prominent places in the territory, before moving to Munnar.
The Union tourism ministry confers national awards on artists and organisations that promote India as a tourist destination. The ministry along with the information and broadcasting ministry has launched a campaign to showcase films shot in India at international film festivals to promote India as a filming destination.