Canadian author Yann Martel talks about his Booker Prize winning novel, Life of Pi, a fantastical and philosophical tale of a boy stranded on a boat with a tiger, the power of faith, and how stories help us make sense of the world. 

What happens when a boy, a Bengal tiger, and the vast Pacific Ocean become an unlikely story of survival and faith? Canadian author Yann Martel revisits his Booker Prize-winning novel, Life of Pi and discusses what it may look like if written today. Pi would be in his sixties - how might he tell his story with the wisdom that comes with age? This is The Next Edition of one of literature's most beloved stories.

Foreword: Yann talks about how his novel has been received. He discusses the debates readers have between the two endings, and if there’s a “right” one. 

Epigraph: Once a hardcore rationalist, a trip to India opened Yann to faith and spirituality. In this episode, he reflects on the novel’s origins, imagines how Pi’s story might shape up in today’s world, and expresses increasing concerns about the rise of materialism and makes a quiet case for holding on to faith.

Author’s Note: Winning the prestigious Booker Prize helped Yann connect with readers across the globe. He talks about keeping Life of Pi alive through its many iterations – on the screen, on stage and in translations. 

Epilogue: What's next? Can technology nurture creativity? What different formats is Yann experimenting with in his writing? And, will Pi return to India someday? 

Featured Clips in this episode:

Life of Pi (2012), directed by Ang Lee

Credits: 

Host: Mallika Kapur is an award-winning journalist and seasoned interviewer with over two decades of experience in television and live journalism. Across three countries and various impactful roles at CNN and Bloomberg, she has reported on major global events, including the London train bombings, the Indian Ocean tsunami and the Mumbai terror attacks. She also moderates news making panels at global forums, leading insightful conversations with the world’s top figures in business and culture.

Reach out on Instagram and LinkedIn

This is a Maed In India Production

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Sound Designer & Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni

Producers: Rachna Sukuru, Meghna Gulati

Sound Engineer: Nihar Temkar

Artwork: Alika Gupta

Welcome to The Next Edition, a show that dives headfirst into the glorious creative mess that lies behind every masterpiece.

In this season, writers, journalists, filmmakers, newsmakers and artists revisit their most iconic works and reveal how they would reimagine it, if they were given a chance. 

Because a story is never truly done.