Studio Activity: a short video on Film Analysis & narrative frames

Comparative analysis of the narrative frames in "Life of Pi," "Slumdog Millionaire," and Nithilan Saminathan's "Maharaja."

Hello. This blog is the part of studio activity of the unit An Introduction to the film studies by Dilip Sir. In this blog  comparative analysis will be made of the narrative frames in "Life of Pi," "Slumdog Millionaire," and Nithilan Saminathan's "Majaraja." 

Teacher's blog  Befor diving into the movies let us briefly understand what is frame narrative. 

Life of Pi:

Life of Pi (2012) is an adventure-drama film directed by Ang Lee, based on Yann Martel's novel. The film stars Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel, with Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu, and Adil Hussain in supporting roles. The story follows Pi, a 16-year-old Indian boy stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat for 227 days with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The film's development saw several directors before Ang Lee was hired, with filming taking place in India, Taiwan, and Montreal in 2011. The visual effects were handled by Rhythm & Hues Studios. It premiered at the 50th New York Film Festival and was released in the U.S. on November 21, 2012. It grossed over $609 million and received acclaim for its direction, screenplay, editing, music, sound design, effects, and cinematography. It won several awards, including four Oscars, with Ang Lee winning Best Director. Themes - Survival and the human spirit - Faith and the nature of storytelling - The coexistence of belief and reason The film is a blend of visually stunning effects and profound storytelling, exploring the depths of human resilience and the power of narrative.

"Life of Pi" uses a storytelling technique where the narrative isn't linear. This means it doesn't follow a straight path from beginning to end. Instead, it moves back and forth between different times. At first, Pi Patel, the protagonist, tells a story about how he survived a shipwreck with a tiger named Richard Parker. However, before diving into this adventure, he talks about his parents and his early life. The film also switches between the present, where Pi recounts his tale to an author, and the past, which makes it difficult to tell what really happened and what might be imagined. The movie incorporates symbols (like the tiger and the lifeboat), religious questions, and philosophical ideas to engage viewers and provoke thought about belief, survival, and truth.

Pi tells the story of how he survived with Richard Parker but did not directly jump to that. Instead, he began by telling his parents' story. After 15 minutes, the shift occurs to the childhood story, which begins chronologically. It is at exactly 22:32 that the adventure story begins, where Pi, as an unreliable narrator, retells his story. From 35:48 to 01:48:30, the main narrative of the movie takes place. The past is made more complex through the use of montage, zooms, and wide angles. Essentially, the film employs two timelines: one from Pi's life and the other from the present, where the author is asking questions.

Slumdog Millionaire:

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) is a British drama film directed by Danny Boyle, based on Vikas Swarup's novel *Q & A*. Starring Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, the story follows an 18-year-old from the Juhu slums of Mumbai who appears on *Kaun Banega Crorepati* (the Indian version of *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?*). Jamal surprises everyone by correctly answering every question and is accused of cheating. He recounts his life story to the police, explaining how his experiences provided him with the answers.

Themes:

- The power of destiny and fate

- Survival and resilience amidst adversity

- Love and hope transcending harsh realities

"Slumdog Millionaire" uses a frame narrative, which means it tells the main story through a different, overarching structure. In this case, the main story is set around a game show where Jamal Malik answers questions to win money. Each question he answers correctly leads to a flashback of an important moment in his life, showing how he came to know the answers. This method helps connect Jamal’s past experiences with his present situation on the game show. The movie highlights themes such as love, struggle, and destiny. It also touches on socio-political issues, including the portrayal of foreigners and the depiction of India, offering a “feel-good” narrative while reflecting on social realities.

A new level of reality and suspense is added to the story in "Slumdog Millionaire" through the police questioning frame. Jamal Malik is held and questioned by the authorities on suspicion of cheating following his unlikely run on the game program "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" As Jamal recounts how he knew the answers to each question, the interrogation sessions reveal his backstory through a series of flashbacks. The distrust and harsh treatment Jamal received from the police officers underscores the system's widespread violence and corruption, as well as the obstacles he has had to overcome.

This storytelling technique not only makes the tension higher but also gives Jamal's amazing adventure a more genuine feel. The questioning sequences give the story's more fantastical components a harsh, grounded context, which heightens the impact and plausibility of Jamal's eventual victory.

Maharaja:

Maharaja  is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action thriller filmdirected by Nithilan Swaminathan, who co-wrote the script with Raam Murali. A barber seeks vengeance after his home is burglarized, cryptically telling police his "lakshmi" has been taken, leaving them uncertain if it's a person or object. His quest to recover the elusive "lakshmi" unfolds. However, this film is all about "Art of editing."

"Maharaja" is an Indian Tamil film known for its complex and non-linear storytelling. It features a barber who seeks revenge after his home is robbed, with the central mystery revolving around a seemingly insignificant object—a trash can. The film jumps between different timelines and storylines, making the plot intricate and sometimes confusing. By using these non-linear techniques, it creates suspense and keeps the audience guessing. The violence depicted in the film emphasizes the antagonists' brutality, while the editing style pieces together various plot points. The final scenes tie everything together, revealing hidden connections and resolving earlier ambiguities. This style of storytelling makes the film engaging but also challenging to follow.

Past Actions:

The Burglary: The film reveals flashbacks of the barber's home being burglarized, showcasing the moments leading up to and following the theft of the "lakshmi."

Life Before the Incident: Through flashbacks, the movie depicts the barber's peaceful life before the burglary, highlighting his relationships and daily routines, providing context for his emotional turmoil.

Clues and Encounters: Past interactions and events where the barber encounters various individuals who may be connected to the burglary are shown, building the backstory and laying the groundwork for the present-day investigation.

Present Actions:

Reporting to the Police: In the present, the barber reports the burglary to the police, cryptically mentioning the loss of his "lakshmi," setting off the investigation.

The Quest for Vengeance: The barber's relentless pursuit to find those responsible for the burglary and recover his "lakshmi" unfolds in real-time, paralleling the flashbacks.

Piecing Together Clues: The present-day scenes show the barber piecing together clues, meeting with suspects, and revisiting locations tied to his past to track down the stolen "lakshmi."

-"Maharaja" uses a fragmented timeline to build suspense and complexity, with a focus on revenge and symbolic elements.

Each film uses these techniques to enhance storytelling, but "Maharaja" is the most intricate, making it the hardest to follow due to its multiple overlapping storylines and timelines.

These three movies tell complex stories in different ways. They're about surviving tough times, being strong, and the human spirit. "Life of Pi" is about faith and imagination. "Slumdog Millionaire" shows poor people chasing dreams and love. "Maharaja" is about getting even and making things right. All use clever ways to tell stories, like showing past events. They take viewers to new worlds and make them feel many emotions.

     This parallel narrative structure creates a compelling and layered story, maintaining suspense and gradually uncovering the full picture of the barber's quest and the true mystery  of "lakshmi."

      In this segment, the narrative structure becomes clearer. The actual story starts with Shelva's past at 44:32. It begins with the burglary scene, followed by the birthday party at 01:17:17, which further propels the story before the accident. From the accident, the narrative shifts to the present with Jothi's story from 07:00 to 18:06. The focus then moves to the camp of Jothi's daughter and culminates in the climax involving rape and violence against Jothi at 01:52:58.At this point, Shelva’s story reconnects with the main plot. Prior to this, the storyline lacks clarity. 

     The significance of the police station visit becomes apparent at 22:08, leading to the investigation of the killing of the first member of Shelva's team, the creation of the dustbin, the exposure of Nallashiva, and the final confrontation between Maharaja and Shelva.

     The key revelation at 02:15:14 is that Jothi is actually Shelva's daughter, Ammu, marking the peak of the story and leading to another flashback. The film concludes with Shelva's death. Viewed linearly, the story may seem straightforward, but its true impact lies in its non-linear storytelling

Conclusion:

All three movies—"Life of Pi," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "Maharaja"—employ non-linear narratives, but in different ways:

"Life of Pi mixes past and present, blending reality with imagination to explore deeper themes and the nature of truth.

- "Slumdog Millionaire" connects past experiences with present events through the game show format, using flashbacks to explain how Jamal’s life has led him to his current situation.