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The shortlist of films for the Oscars 2024 was revealed on Thursday. India’s official entry, the Malayalam film ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’, did not make it to the final 15 in the international feature film category. However, a documentary on the Jharkhand gang rape case, ‘To Kill A Tiger’, is still in the running for the Best Documentary award.
The Story of ‘To Kill A Tiger’
‘To Kill A Tiger’, directed by Nisha Pahuja, a filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada, is a gripping account of the horrific gang rape of a 13-year-old girl in Jharkhand, and the subsequent struggle of her parents to seek justice. The film exposes the rampant rape culture and the silencing of women in India, where many people blame the victims for inviting the crime
The film, which was shot entirely in India, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2022, where it won the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Feature Film. It also boasts of a stellar team of executive producers, including Dev Patel, Mindy Kaling, and Rupi Kaur, who are well-known celebrities of Indian origin.
The official synopsis of the film reads, ‘To Kill a Tiger charts the emotional journey of an ordinary man facing extraordinary circumstances. When his 13-year-old daughter is gang-raped by four men, Ranjit Singh embarks on a quest for justice that pits him against the very system meant to protect him.’
The film also follows the unnamed girl and her father, Ranjit, as they defy the social stigma and fight for their rights.
India’s Oscar Drought Continues
India’s hopes of winning an Oscar in the international feature film category, formerly known as the best foreign language film category, were dashed once again, as the Malayalam survival drama ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’, directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, failed to impress the Academy voters. The film, which depicts the lives of a group of people trapped in a forest fire, was selected as India’s entry from among 27 submissions, including ‘The Disciple’, ‘Sherni’, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’, and ‘Nayattu’. However, it could not compete with films from countries like the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and Finland.
India has never won an Oscar in this category, and the last Indian film to be nominated was ‘Lagaan’ in 2002.
A Comparison of Two Indian Films for the Oscars 2024
India’s diversity and complexity are reflected in two films competing for the Oscars 2024: ‘To Kill A Tiger’ and ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’. The former is a documentary about a gang-raped girl and her father’s fight for justice in Jharkhand, revealing the oppression and violence against women in India. The latter is a survival drama about people trapped in a forest fire in Kerala during the 2018 floods, showing the compassion and solidarity of the people in India.
Both films are based on true events and are powerful and poignant, but they differ in their themes and styles. ‘To Kill A Tiger’ challenges the status quo and demands a social change, using a realistic and raw approach. Using a stunning and dramatic style, ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero’ shows the resilience and confidence of India in facing any disaster.
The Road to the Oscars
The final nominations for the Oscars 2024 will be announced on January 23, 2024, and the Oscars will be held on March 10. ‘To Kill A Tiger’ is a strong contender in the Best Documentary category, and has received critical acclaim and audience appreciation. The film is a powerful and poignant portrayal of a father-daughter duo who refuse to give up in the face of adversity.
