Manorama Hortus to host 'Life of Pi' author Yann Martel

Acclaimed novelist Yann Martel, best known for his famous tale Life of Pi — the story of a boy and a tiger stranded together in the Pacific — would be a featured guest at Manorama Hortus, Kerala’s premier festival celebrating literature and culture. The latest edition of the fest will be held at Subhash Park, Kochi, from November 27 to 30 and will feature an exciting lineup of sessions, performances and literary interactions.

Martel’s Life of Pi created history in global publishing, selling over 1.5 crore copies worldwide. The novel recounts the extraordinary 227-day survival journey of 16-year-old Pi Patel and a Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker after a shipwreck. The book won the Man Booker Prize in 2002, and the story found new life when it was adapted into the Oscar-winning film Life of Pi (2012), directed by Ang Lee.

Featuring an array of Indian actors that included Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu and Adil Hussain, the film bagged four Oscar Awards. The fact that parts of Pi Patel’s childhood scenes were filmed in Munnar brought the story even closer to Kerala audiences.

As part of the cultural fest, the movie Life of Pi will be screened at the Manorama Hortus venue on November 28, followed by an interactive session with Yann Martel.

In addition to Life of Pi, Martel’s other acclaimed works include 'The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios', 'Beatrice and Virgil', 'The High Mountains of Portugal' and '101 Letters to a Prime Minister'.

How to Register
Those wishing to participate in the Manorama Hortus festival can now register online at www.manoramahortus.com. Entry is free for students.