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Documentary

To Kill a Tiger (2023): Ratings & Plot

To Kill a Tiger (2023) movie poster

To Kill a Tiger is a 2023 documentary directed by Nisha Pahuja. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
award won
1
Echo Score
83
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To Kill a Tiger (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 5m (125 min)
Director
Nisha Pahuja
Genre
Documentary
Original language
Hindi
Studio
AC Films
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is To Kill a Tiger About?

The premise of To Kill a Tiger without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This documentary follows farmer Ranjit as he fights for justice after his 13-year-old daughter is brutally attacked by a gang. Defying deeply ingrained societal pressures and facing considerable obstacles, he sets out to hold the perpetrators accountable. The film explores the complexities of silence, shame, and the difficult pursuit of truth within a community struggling with ingrained traditions and systemic issues.

To Kill a Tiger Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • rape
  • 13 year old girl
  • gang rape
  • india
  • gang rape victim
  • rape survivor
  • child rape survivor
  • father daughter relationship
  • male violence
  • family honour
  • honor shame culture
  • crimes in india
+38 more
  • violence against a girl
  • indian village
  • sexual violence
  • violence against women and girls
  • crime documentary
  • rape victim
  • doing the right thing
  • ostracized
  • victim blaming
  • blaming the victim
  • reference to arranged marriage
  • reference to loss of virginity
  • journey
  • daughter
  • justice
  • animal in title
  • culture
  • village
  • farm
  • farmer
  • four word title
  • raped teenage girl
  • rural india
  • repeatedly raped
  • male on female gang rape
  • victim of crime
  • woman's honor
  • taboo subject
  • social documentary
  • female rape survivor
  • social taboo
  • womens rights
  • crime against a child
  • family relationships
  • violence against a child
  • family honor
  • crime against girl
  • jharkhand india
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Crew

The Director of To Kill a Tiger

Directed by Nisha Pahuja.

From the director

More from Nisha Pahuja

One more film directed by Nisha Pahuja: The World Before Her.

Full filmography
Ratings

To Kill a Tiger Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave To Kill a Tiger 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in art & craft (84) and weakest in story & flow (73).

83 /100

To Kill a Tiger Echo Score Breakdown

To Kill a Tiger delivers a compelling documentary experience that foregrounds the pursuit of justice in a rural Indian setting. Critics and viewers alike commend the film's clear narrative focus, strong visual presentation, and emotional resonance, though a few note occasional redundancy in pacing. The synthesis of personal testimony with broader social critique creates a lasting impression, positioning the work as both informative and moving, with high rewatch appeal for audiences interested in human rights storytelling.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 84

    In terms of art and craft, the film benefits from a measured direction and thoughtful cinematography that highlight colour, light, and composition. Reviewers note the director’s ability to capture tension and the documentary’s visual cohesion, despite minor comments about unnecessary prettiness. The overall production design supports the storytelling without distracting, resulting in a polished visual package.

  • Character & Emotion 82

    When it comes to character and emotion, the documentary presents nuanced performances from the father and daughter, creating an intimate emotional core. Critics describe the family as heroic and the interactions as resonant, while viewers recount feeling deeply moved by their resolve. The depth of personal testimony adds layers of empathy, though the format limits traditional acting, the emotional impact remains strong.

  • Story & Flow 73

    Regarding story and flow, the film offers a clear, compelling arc centered on the quest for justice, praised for originality and relevance. Some reviewers point to moments of intensity that may overwhelm and a slight redundancy in the second half, suggesting pacing could tighten. Nonetheless, the narrative remains coherent and engaging, balancing personal drama with broader societal commentary.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    In the sensory domain, the documentary’s soundtrack and sound design complement its visual style, with careful use of ambient sounds enhancing immersion. Critics highlight the effective use of colour and lighting while noting occasional musical excesses. Overall, the audio‑visual elements work together to reinforce mood and thematic weight without detracting from the documentary’s core message.

  • Rewatch Factor 82

    The rewatch factor is high, as the film’s inspiring narrative and powerful social relevance encourage repeat viewings. Viewers report lingering emotional impact and a desire to reflect on the issues presented. While some note minor presentation flaws, the enduring appeal of the family’s story and its broader call to action support strong replay value.

Plot

To Kill a Tiger Plot Summary

What happens in To Kill a Tiger from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a quaint village situated in Jharkhand, India, Ranjit awakens one day to discover that his 13-year-old daughter has yet to return from a family wedding. As the hours tick by, phone calls are made and a frantic search begins, only to conclude in a chilling manner when she stumbles home, deeply shaken. It soon comes to light that she has suffered a horrific assault in the woods at the hands of three men, individuals who are shockingly connected to the family. Ranjit and his wife report the crime to the police, leading to the swift arrest of the assailants.

Full summary

The whole story of To Kill a Tiger, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

To Kill a Tiger Awards & Nominations

To Kill a Tiger won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the TIFF 2022, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

To Kill a Tiger Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

Trailer
  • Featurette 'To Kill a Tiger' with Nisha Pahuja (director, writer, producer) | Academy Conversations
Quiz

How Well Do You Know To Kill a Tiger?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What event triggers the main conflict in 'To Kill a Tiger'?

Details

To Kill a Tiger Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Tuer un tigre” and “Matar a un tigre”.

Also known as
  • Tuer un tigre
  • Matar a un tigre
  • Att döda en tiger
  • Matar um Tigre
  • 虎を仕留めるために
  • Zabić tygrysa
  • Kaplanı Öldürmek
  • أريد قتل النمر
  • Για να Σκοτώσεις μια Τίγρη
  • Să omori un tigru
  • 호랑이를 잡기 위해
  • Убити тигра
+12 more
  • 屠虎
  • 無形惡虎:印度父親護女之戰
  • 无形恶虎:印度父亲护女之战
  • Ubiti tigra
  • Jak zabít tygra
  • Tiikerin tappamisesta
  • להרוג נמר
  • टू किल ए टाइगर
  • Egy apa harca az igazságért
  • Å drepe en tiger
  • เมื่อต้องฆ่าเสือ
  • Giết cọp trong hang

Seen To Kill a Tiger?

FAQ

To Kill a Tiger FAQ: Awards, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, ratings, awards, post-credit scenes and language of To Kill a Tiger, each answered in a sentence.

How long is To Kill a Tiger?

To Kill a Tiger runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).

When was To Kill a Tiger released?

To Kill a Tiger was released on October 20, 2023.

Who directed To Kill a Tiger?

To Kill a Tiger was directed by Nisha Pahuja.

More films by Nisha Pahuja

How is To Kill a Tiger rated?

To Kill a Tiger has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.

What awards did To Kill a Tiger win?

To Kill a Tiger won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Best Canadian Feature Film at the TIFF 2022.

Does To Kill a Tiger have a post-credit scene?

No. To Kill a Tiger has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is To Kill a Tiger in?

The original language of To Kill a Tiger is Hindi.

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