At no point in To Kill a Tiger, do we doubt its large heart to follow a tribal family in the interiors of Jharkhand when they navigate a harrowing phase of their 13-year-old daughter’s life. Ranjit, Kiran’s loving father could never reject his daughter’s plea to bring the culprits to justice. She was gang raped by three boys in the neighbourhood whom she trusted as friends and agreed to chill and dance a little longer at a wedding function. Around midnight she somehow reached home and stumbled before her parents. Ranjit and his wife realize one among them is his nephew. He files a POCSO case the next morning.

Nisha Pahuja’s documentary relentlessly follows Kiran’s family, villagers, and NGOs involved in the case until the landmark judgment was passed in 2018. The close-knit community of villagers suggests one of the rapists marry Kiran to cover the shame. Workers of Srijan Foundation, an NGO that actively stood by Kiran and her family, question this odd solution and educate the locals to be fair to a minor girl grew up around them. Everybody including the women in the area seems to ignore Kiran’s plight or her family’s fight for justice. They are gender biased and never want this stigma to be in the limelight. The crew of To Kill a Tiger also faces some volatile situations while shooting.

Ranjit’s resilience is inspirational. He is calm and determined. A bold and beautiful Kiran faces the court holding her head high, Unfortunately, the pre-shots might look like she is at a picnic spot. The rapists with no remorse get a jail term of 25 years in the final verdict. Justice is God. More rape cases are reported from Jharkhand now shaking the prevailing myths. The title To Kill a Tiger depends on an anecdote from Ranjit where he proved one is enough to kill a tiger.

To Kill a Tiger runs on a reporting format. Its integrity is not fine-tuned. Poor shots and lazy editing exhaust its viewers. Though well-intended, this lengthy docu-feature film fails to impress and create an impact. I felt it didn’t come from a pro.