Mindy Kaling, Dev Patel co-produced documentary “To Kill a Tiger” acclaimed

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Highly acclaimed Indian American actors Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel are set to be executive producers for the documentary “To Kill a Tiger.”  The two have expressed their excitement to work with director Nisha Pahuja on the groundbreaking film, according to a Variety article.

“To Kill a Tiger” follows the emotional story of Jharkhand farmer Ranjit as he fights for justice for his 13-year-old daughter who was a victim of gang rape.

The director and writer Nisha Pahuja told Variety, “Gender equity and justice within India have been central to my work over the past decade. With ‘To Kill a Tiger,’ I encountered a story that simply had to be told because of the bravery, honesty, and resilience of the family at the heart of it.”

Pahuja went on to thank Mindy Kaling and Dev Patel’s “belief in this film and its capacity to empower and serve as a catalyst for change, while building on the work of many activists and organizations.”

Kaling, who is known for roles such as Kelly Kapoor on NBC’s The Office, has expanded her career into creating and executive producing shows and movies such as The Mindy Project, Never Have I Ever, and most recently HBO Max’s Velma.

“I feel so lucky to be part of this remarkable film by the gifted filmmaker, Nisha Pahuja. The story is heart-wrenching but triumphant, and stays with you long after you’ve seen it,” Kaling is quoted saying in Variety. “‘To Kill a Tiger’ shows you not only the power of a father’s love but the strength of a young woman who faced the unimaginable, and chose to fight.” She also tweeted that the film is “a triumph” and “Everyone should see it.”

Aseem Chhabra, author and director of New York Indian Film Festival, which had the movie in its roster this year, described ‘To Kill a Tiger,’ as “@NishaPahuja’s powerful exploration of a father’s determination to get justice for his 13-yr-old daughter who was gang raped.“

Dev Patel, who is famous for roles such as Jamal Malik in Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire and as Saroo Brierley in biographical film Lion, told Deadline it was one of the most important films in modern Indian history. “A David and Goliath story to the highest extent, ‘To Kill a Tiger’ is not only a rallying cry to dismantle the patriarchal system, but also an inspiring anthem about the unwavering courage, resilience and undeniable power of women,” Patel said.

The film was awarded “Best Documentary” at the 2023 Palm Springs Film Festival according to Deadline.  Alongside Kaling and Patel, Andy Cohen, Anita Lee, Deepa Mehta, Andrew Dragoumis, Shivani Rawat, Atul Gawande, and Samarth Sahni are listed as Executive Producers for the documentary in the Variety article.

Indiewire’s Anne Thompson lists “To Kill a Tiger” as a predicted contender for “Best Documentary Feature” for the 2024 Oscars.