The film industry is abuzz with the announcement of the 2024 Oscar nominations, and among the standout nominees is ‘To Kill a Tiger’, a powerful and impactful documentary directed by Delhi-born Nisha Pahuja. Earning a nomination in the Best Feature Documentary category, the film presents a profound narrative of legal battle and human resilience in rural India.
Upon hearing about the nomination, Pahuja expressed her overwhelming joy to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. I was over the moon. Yeah, I just couldn’t believe it.” She acknowledges the significant role her film has to play, commenting on its intent to address critical issues and drive societal change, particularly in the realm of gender justice and the aftermath of sexual violence.
The documentary tells the story of Ranjit, a farmer in Jharkhand, India, who embarks on a courageous quest for justice for his daughter, Kiran. At just 13 years of age, Kiran endured a horrific act of sexual violence at the hands of three men back in 2017. Nisha Pahuja’s film captures not only the legal challenges faced but also the personal journey of a father and daughter in a society where such supportive paternal actions are often scarce.
Extending beyond Ranjit and Kiran’s personal ordeal, the director aims to cast a spotlight on a broader issue – the dire need for improved legal justice for survivors of rape and sexual violence worldwide. She points out the disparity in conviction rates for accused rapists in the U.S. and the UK compared to India, stressing the urgent need to confront and change pervasive attitudes of victim shaming and toxic masculinity.
Pahuja’s ambitions for the film are to leverage its international attention to challenge and transform patriarchal practices and mindsets, ultimately advocating for more men to actively stand against sexual violence. Her passion for this cause resonates through her choice to take both Ranjit and Kiran as her guests to the Academy Awards, emphasizing their central role in the film’s narrative and its achievements.
Prior to this Academy recognition, ‘To Kill a Tiger’ has already made waves on the festival circuit. It secured the title of Best Canadian Film at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival and triumphed with the best doc award at the Palm Springs Film Festival. The film is a testament to Pahuja’s filmmaking prowess, following her Emmy-nominated work in ‘The World Before Her’, as well as ‘Bollywood Bound’ and the three-part series ‘Diamond Road’.
The significance of this nomination is further punctuated by the current status of Kiran, who was a child survivor of gang rape during the events documented in the film and is now nearly 20 years old. Now in a better place in life, Pahuja shared Kiran’s excitement and emotion regarding the documentary and its recognition.
‘To Kill a Tiger’ was released theatrically in October 2023 at the Film Forum in New York before reaching a wider audience in major cities. The documentary is a production by Notice Pictures and a co-production with the National Film Board of Canada, combining creative forces to bring this moving story to the screen.
As the 2024 Oscars approach, ‘To Kill a Tiger’ not only stands as a testament to Pahuja’s directorial talent and dedication but also serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action for gender justice advocates across the globe. It successfully brings to light the struggles of survivors and the ongoing fight against societal prejudices, proving itself as a work that indeed has much to do in the world.
