Wikipedia

To Kill a Tiger

To Kill a Tiger is a 2022 Hindi-language Canadian documentary film, directed by Nisha Pahuja.[1] The film centres on a family in Jharkhand, India, who are campaigning for justice after their teenage daughter was brutally raped.[2]

To Kill a Tiger
Directed byNisha Pahuja
Written byNisha Pahuja
Produced byDavid Oppenheim
Nisha Pahuja
Cornelia Principe
CinematographyMrinal Desai
Edited byDave Kazala
Mike Munn
Music byJonathan Goldsmith
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix[a]
Release date
  • September 10, 2022 (2022-09-10) (TIFF)
Running time
127 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageHindi

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022.[3] The film had its American premiere at the Lighthouse International Film Festival in June 2023.[4] It was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 96th Academy Awards.[5]

Release

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To Kill a Tiger was originally released in select theaters in the United States without a distributor on October 20, 2023, followed by a re-release on February 9, 2024. In August 2023, Creators Faire reported that Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling signed on as executive producers; other executive producers also include Deepa Mehta, Rupi Kaur and Atul Gawande.[6] In February 2024, Netflix acquired worldwide distribution rights to the documentary, planning to release the documentary on their platform as soon as possible, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas joining the film as an executive producer.[7] On March 8, 2024, Pahuja announced that the film would be made available globally on Netflix two days later, coinciding with the 96th Academy Awards.[8]

Critical response

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The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2022.[9]

While western publications heavily praised the documentary, Indian journalist and film critic Anna M.M. Vetticad, writing for Himal Southasian, offered a critical counter-perspective. Vetticad argued that international coverage overlooked a significant legal and ethical oversight in the film's production. She criticized the framing of Western media—such as The New York Times characterizing India's strict survivor privacy laws as a "shroud of shame"—stating that these legal protections are instead a vital "shield" meant to protect sexual violence survivors from systemic societal stigmatization and media exploitation in a deeply patriarchal society.[10]

Janet Smith of Stir praised the film, writing that Pahuja "offers the viewer remarkable access to village life, not just in the modest home where Ranjit’s family make roti on an open fire, but in the fields where they herd goats and collect water from a pump. The camera finds quiet details, like Ranjit’s daughter carefully weaving ribbons into her hair. Women and men insist that the community, not the criminal court, should solve the issue with a forced marriage—to remove the “stain on her”. The men become increasingly hostile—to the family, and eventually to the film crew itself."[11]

Andrew Parker of TheGATE.ca wrote that "as a highly detailed and personal work that can point people in a direction where they could learn more about the subject and make a larger impact, To Kill a Tiger has an undeniable and unshakable power. It is one of those documentaries where anyone who watches it won’t be the same person by the end as they were when it started."[12]

James Mackin of CityNews rated the film four stars, writing that "To Kill A Tiger is about accomplishing an insurmountable problem. The odds are stacked against them, the nation’s culture opposes their desire for justice. But Ranjit and his family persevere, and are able to remain in the village. This documentary is an incredibly emotional showcase that is absolutely worth a watch."[13]

Thom Ernst of Northern Stars wrote that "told with immense compassion and bravery, To Kill a Tiger is Pahuja’s best film and one of the best documentaries at this year’s festival."[14] The film has also garnered the attention of comedian and producer Mindy Kaling, who called the film a "triumph" and that "everyone should see it!" [15]

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Following the film's international prominence and Academy Award nomination, legal and ethical questions were raised regarding its compliance with Indian child protection statutes. In an investigative review for Himal Southasian, critic Anna M.M. Vetticad noted that the documentary largely escaped scrutiny for potential violations of the country's child-protection laws during its production.[10]

The film features footage of the rape survivor captured while she was still a minor, revealing her face and identifying details. Under Section 23 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, there is an absolute prohibition against disclosing any information that could reveal the identity of a minor child rape survivor, unless explicit permission is granted by a competent Special Court in the interest of the child. Speaking to the publication, Supreme Court of India Senior Advocate Rebecca Mammen John questioned whether the filmmaker had obtained the legally required Special Court authorization prior to filming. John further noted that any later waivers of privacy signed by the survivor as an adult would not retroactively legitimize or validate filming that took place while she was legally a minor if proper judicial processes were bypassed at the time.[10]

Awards

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Toronto International Film Festival 2022 Best Canadian Film To Kill a Tiger Won [16]
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival 2022 Inspiring Voices and Perspectives Won [17]
Canadian Screen Awards 2023 Best Feature Length Documentary Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe, David Oppenheim, Anita Lee, Atul Gawande Won [18]
Best Editing in a Documentary Mike Munn and Dave Kazala Won
Best Original Music in a Documentary Jonathan Goldsmith Won
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023 Best Documentary To Kill a Tiger Won [19]
Salem Film Fest 2023 Special Jury Award Won [20]
Michael Sullivan Award for Documentary Journalism Won
Canadian Cinema Editors Awards 2023 Best Editing in Feature Documentary Mike Munn and Dave Kazala Won [21]
Lighthouse International Film Festival 2023 Audience Award for Best Documentary To Kill a Tiger Won [22]
Honey Levine Audience Choice Award Won
Doc Aviv- Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival 2023 Beyond the Screen Award Won [23]
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2023 Best International Documentary Feature Won [24]
New York Indian Film Festival 2023 Best Documentary Won [25]
Directors Guild of Canada 2023 Allan King Award for Best Documentary Won [26]
IDA Documentary Awards 2023 Best Original Music Score Jonathan Goldsmith Nominated [27]
Best Writing Nisha Pahuja Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2024 Best Documentary Nisha Pahuja Won [28]
Best Canadian Film Nominated [29]
Best Director of a Canadian Film Nominated
Best Canadian Documentary Nominated
Academy Awards March 10, 2024 Best Documentary Feature Film Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim Nominated [30]

Notes

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  1. ↑ This documentary was originally given a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 20, 2023 without a distributor, followed by a re-release on February 9, 2024 following its nomination for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. After Netflix's acquisition of distribution rights to the documentary, it was released on the platform as a Netflix Original.

References

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  1. ↑ "Tanya Tagaq doc, Indigenous romance among Canadian titles added to TIFF slate". CityNews, August 10, 2022.
  2. ↑ Johanna Schneller, "Documentary details fight for justice against sexual violence in India". The Globe and Mail, February 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ Matthew Carey, "TIFF Announces Doc Lineup Highlighted By World Premiere Of Hillary And Chelsea Clinton-Executive Produced Film ‘In Her Hands’". Deadline Hollywood, August 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ "2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival: Documentaries and Narrative Features". New Jersey Stage, May 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Oscar-nominated documentary 'To Kill A Tiger' bought by Netflix". The New Indian Express. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  6. ↑ "Dev Patel and Mindy Kaling Sign on as Executive Producers of the Award-Winning Documentary TO KILL A TIGER". Creators Faire. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  7. ↑ Carry, Matthew (24 February 2024). "Double Dose Of Good News For 'To Kill A Tiger': Priyanka Chopra Jonas Boards Oscar-Nominated Doc As Netflix Prepares To Launch Film Globally". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Carey, Matthew (8 March 2024). "Academy Award-Nominated 'To Kill A Tiger' To Premiere On Netflix Oscar Sunday; Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling Praise Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Three Feature Docs Make Canada’s Top Ten". Point of View, December 8, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Vetticad, Anna M.M. (March 5, 2024). "To Kill a Tiger, the Oscars, India, rape and POCSO". Himal Southasian. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  11. ↑ Janet Smith, "To Kill a Tiger takes a powerful look at one father's fight against sexual violence in India, at VIFF till February 16". Stir, February 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Andrew Parker, "To Kill a Tiger Review: Only God Forgives". TheGATE.ca, February 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ James Mackin, "REVIEW: To Kill A Tiger, a refusal to ignore justice". CityNews, February 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ Staff (2022-09-11). "TIFF 2022 – Day Four". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  15. ↑ "Mindy Kaling endorses Toronto filmmaker Nisha Pahuja's doc at TIFF |". Shedoesthecity. 2022-09-06. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  16. ↑ Andrew Jeffrey, "TIFF ’22: “Black Ice,” “While We Watched” among award winners". RealScreen, September 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ "ONF – Les films TO KILL A TIGER, THE FLYING SAILOR et BILL REID REMEMBERS à l’honneur au Canada’s Top Ten". CTVM, December 9, 2022.
  18. ↑ Jackson Weaver, "To Kill a Tiger, We're All Gonna Die and BLK emerge as top winners at CSAs' opening night". CBC News, April 11, 2023.
  19. ↑ William Earl, "‘Saint Omer,’ ‘To Kill a Tiger’ Among Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Winners". Variety, January 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ Scott Souza, "'To Kill A Tiger' Wins Top Salem Film Fest 2023 Awards". Patch, April 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ Victoria Ahearn, "CCE Awards fete editors". Playback, May 29, 2023.
  22. ↑ Mellerup, Rick (June 14, 2023). "The 2023 Lighthouse International Film Festival Award Winners Are …". The SandPaper. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  23. ↑ Marko Stojiljković (May 19, 2023). "Kokomo City and Inbal Perlmutter: If You Let Me Go win big at the 25th Docaviv". Cineuropa. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  24. ↑ Margaux Sippell (May 29, 2023). "Mammoth Lakes Film Festival 2023 Winners Include Unicorn Boy and A Still Small Voice". Moviemaker. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  25. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel Board Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger". Point of View, August 15, 2023.
  26. ↑ Connie Thiessen, "‘Women Talking’ leads winners at 22nd annual DGC Awards". Broadcast Dialogue, October 22, 2023.
  27. ↑ Carey, Matthew (21 November 2023). "'Apolonia, Apolonia,' 'The Mother Of All Lies,' 'Milisuthando' Lead Way As IDA Documentary Awards Announces Nominees – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  28. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "'Oppenheimer' Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  29. ↑ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "BlackBerry, Seagrass lead VFCC’s Canadian nominees". Playback, January 23, 2024.
  30. ↑ Pat Mullen, "Canadian Doc To Kill a Tiger Among Oscar Nominees for Documentary". Point of View, January 23, 2024.
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