To Kill a Tiger

It's a documentary on the pursuit of justice for the gang rape of a 13-year-girl in rural Jharkhand, India in 2017. It follows the efforts of Kiran's (a pseudonym) father, Ranjit, to pursue a criminal conviction of the three local teenagers who raped her, including her first cousin. The family receives considerable support from the Srijan Foundation, a non-profit NGO established in 2001 to work directly with local communities on poverty and gender justice. The Foundation appeared to facilitate the remarkable filming by Nisha Pajuja.

What is most remarkable in the film is the scenes in which village members, both male and female, try to blame the victim and the victim's family and insist that Kiran should marry one of the rapists and that the village conflict should be settled within the village. The society's honor culture insists this is the only way to remove the "stain" on Kiran's family. Ranjit appears to waver under pressure from time to time. Still, Kiran's persistence and Srijan Foundation's encouragement allow what seems to be an apparent victory, though appeals of the verdict were still outstanding in 2022.

"To Kill a Tiger" presents an important issue. I do wonder about some documentary ethics. Did the villagers give informed consent to the filming of their sometimes inflammatory statements? What was the impact of the camera's presence on what people said? The village leader's comments after the conviction seemed made-for-camera. And we don't really know the long-term impact of Kiran's family after the cameras have left. These questions nag at me despite a powerful presentation.

This is a documentary about a 13 year old girl who was gang-raped by three men.

The father wants to have legal action against the rapists who live in the same village. Most in the villagers are opposed to this - and do not want to have outside investigators involved. Their solution is for the girl to marry one of the rapists and get on with her life. Such is the moral code in rural India.

The girl and her family are having none of this and get assistance from a gender rights group in India. They pursue the case and assist the family in getting legal processes against the three rapists. Eventually they do succeed, despite many obstacles in the girl's community.

This is harrowing film showing us the many road-blocks that exist in India for gender equality.

After watching 'To Kill a Tiger,' I am both moved and outraged. The documentary showcases not just the bravery and persistence of Ranjit and his family in seeking justice but also casts a harsh light on the broader failings of Indian society and its political framework. It is distressing to see a community and its leaders perpetuate and condone such regressive attitudes towards sexual assault, prioritizing reputation over human dignity and justice. The film does an exemplary job of laying bare the systemic issues that allow such injustices to persist, questioning the role of societal norms and political complicity in the oppression of the vulnerable. While it is a tribute to one family's unyielding spirit, it also serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for cultural and political reforms in India. 'To Kill a Tiger' is not only a documentary; it's a call to action, challenging viewers to reflect on their own values and the societal structures that either uphold or undermine justice. Essential viewing for those who advocate for a more equitable and humane world.

The movie is set in a small sleepy village in Jharkhand near Ranchi. One morning the villagers wake up to the shocking news that a 13 year old girl of the village has been brutally raped by three boys of the village. The father who is a poor farmer decides to pursue the case legally to get justice for his daughter. Most of the villagers specially women folk want to hush up the case and get the girl married to one of the boys. This is however not acceptable to the girl, the mother and the father. A local NGO and the state agencies turn counselors and advisors.

Director Nisha Pahuja has certainly made an outstanding documentary feature which missed getting an Oscar. The entire legal process of getting justice has many obstacles and the movie shows this with great detail and sensitivity. Through the many artistically framed close ups we get to see and feel the helplessness, anger and agony of the girl and her parents. There are many moving sequences particularly how she is made to memorise her statement by the father and the coolness with which she gets ready for the D day. Really some good story telling which keeps you riveted. The movie throws up some uncomfortable questions and tends to shake up the viewer.

It is heartening to see that 26 producers ( including some well known celebrities) have chipped in to support this timely ,topical and Oscar worthy project which has a universal appeal. It needs to be seen by all.

We've seen people lose their minds over the term 'rape culture'. Most question how there could ever be a culture where rape isn't frowned upon. 'Does anyone really think rape is okay? People just exaggerate' they say. Well, Nisha Pahuja's "To Kill a Tiger" single-handedly shuts that question down with a thoroughly documented case of an entire culture's willful obliviousness to rape.

Powerful and unrelenting in its messaging, the movie follows the case of a father seeking justice for the gang rape of his 13-year old daughter - a rather unique situation where a father in rural India is willing to stand by his daughter's search for justice, instead of marrying her off to one of her three rapists (as we're told, is custom in the village). Not only does it lay bare the mental and societal toll on the family having to fight against their own townsfolk, but it also highlights the dire need for education and societal change.

It is a movie that tackles that which we know to be obvious and drills it further into our heads as to why it needs to be obvious in contrast to the many who don't think it so. Intense, resolute and most importantly educational, "To Kill a Tiger" is a documentary that needs to be seen by as many people as possible.