India - Kingdom of the Tiger English Movie

India - Kingdom of the Tiger, the latest collaboration between the National Wildlife Federation and Primesco, is a unique production that pays tribute to both the fierce majesty of the Bengal tiger and the breathtaking country that is home to this fabled creature. We explore the fragile world of the endangered Bengal tiger through the eyes of the famed hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett and, as we fly over the blue-hazed Himalayan peaks and swoop down to the sacred Ganges River, we uncover the vibrant culture of the country that is home to this fabled creature.

India-Kingdom of the Tiger is a 40 minute 15/70 film that explores the story of the Bengal tiger and how its history and future are directly linked to this exotic land and her people. Journey across India, a breathtaking land shaped by a myriad of cultures, customs, and traditions. Inspired by the writings and experiences of Jim Corbett, a pioneer of Indian wildlife conservation, India - Kingdom of the Tiger is a glorious tribute to this magnificent land, and to its greatest ambassador - the mighty Bengal tiger.

Synopsis

India. 1946. JIM CORBETT, an English man, shows a group of guests some rare film footage he shot of a Bengal tiger in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas, where he was born. One of his guests asks him whether he actually killed the tiger. Corbett explains that he would never kill a tiger for sport. In a gentle, yet compelling voice, he begins to narrate the tale of his experiences in India, and his relationship with the Bengal tiger.

India. 1910. SHANTA and JAYA, two sisters, are working some distance apart in a terraced mountain field in the village of Mukteshwar. There is an eerie stillness that makes Shanta stop her work. ''What is it''' calls Jaya. But Shanta, frozen in fear, cannot reply. There is a flash of yellow and black. The blood drains from Jaya's face as she watches a tiger pounce on Shanta. There is a loud scream followed by silence.

Several days pass, and in a northern town far from Mukteshwar, we see a young Corbett standing in a train yard amidst cargo. An anxious messenger approaches him with a telegram. In it is a plea for Corbett to leave his duties with the Indian railways and travel to Mukteshwar, a remote village in the Kumaon Mountains, to save the villagers from being terrorized by a rogue tigress. Reluctantly, he agrees to accept the mission for the safety of the village.

As he travels across the country, Corbett's narrative evokes the rich history of India. From a caravan of camels moving across an arid landscape, to the walls of a towering Mughal fort, Corbett's voice guides us through the world of India's unique spiritual and cultural mosaic. Together we witness the man-made wonders of architecture and art, inspired by one of the most religiously diverse cultures in the world.

Amidst the towering hills and deep cut valleys of the Himalayan foothills rests the small village of Mukteshwar. Upon arrival, Corbett walks toward a gathering of cottages where the expectant villagers warmly greet him. He is informed that twenty more people have fallen prey to the tigress. Despite this news he is still uneasy about his purpose, but nonetheless, sets off for the forests in search of the man-eater. On their way, they encounter the tigress' paw marks, and find a man's sandal. The man himself has climbed a tree to get away from the tiger.

Corbett admires the man's calm disposition, and reflects upon the deep spiritual nature of Indian people - a trait he admires tremendously. India has a wealth of religions and cultures that manifest themselves in day-to-day things, from roadside shrines to historical temples. Scores of religions exist harmoniously in the largest democracy in the world.

Night falls and Corbett settles down for the watch high up in a tree close to where they have tracked the tigress' latest kill. He has spent many an evening like this before, patiently waiting for a glimpse of a tiger. This time, Jaya and a group of local men accompany him, for it is in their interests to protect their community from further danger. Jaya is determined to help find the animal that took her sister's life. Over the nights they spend in waiting,Corbett tells his companions of his boyhood memories in this very region. Dramatic beams of sunlight pierce the jungle foliage, and we see Corbett as a young boy in the wilderness, full of curiosity about the nature that surrounds him.

Corbett explains how, in his youth, after hours each day in the wilderness, he came to understand nature's patterns of survival and regeneration, and how important the great tiger is to the fragile balance of the jungle. We learn about the ways of the tiger, its hunting grounds, its agility, and its role in the fragile ecosystem.

A rustling below breaks the stillness. The tigress has returned to feast. Corbett takes aim with his rifle and fires. The shot rings out and then all is silent. With flickering lanterns, the villagers illuminate the jungle floor. Corbett stands over the dead tigress, feeling deep regret at the circumstances that brought about the death of this beautiful creature.

India, 1947. In the wake of partition and independence, Corbett and his sister Maggie leave India for Kenya, never to return. As he leaves the country he loves so dearly, Corbett ponders the future of India's wildlife. The story, however, does not end here, for his legacy still thrives in the India of the 21st century.

India. 2001. From the crowded streets of Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay to the banks of the holy Ganges in Varanasi, life is being lived in graphic variety and vibrant color. With contrasting visuals of a street corner crowded with bicycle rickshaws, a wedding procession in the desert, fishermen pushing their boats out to sea, and a Hindi film dance scene being shot in Bollywood (India's answer to Hollywood), the film captures the many facets of India's culture. With just over a billion people, each born of a rich tapestry of different beliefs and cultures all jostling for space within this amazing land, India is a land of dramatic contrasts. But where does the tiger fit into this modern day India'

Crushed by the encroachment of humans upon its habitat, the tiger's very existence is threatened. Ruthless poachers hunt tigers, seeking their skins, bones and other body parts to sell in illegal foreign markets. Their numbers have dropped to below approximately 4000 in the entire country. The tiger is standing on the very brink of extinction.

The future of the tiger is in the hands of the Indian people, as it was during Corbett's time. It is the people of India who have chosen the Bengal tiger as their national symbol. It is they who have anointed it king of the land. It is also the people of India who can restore the tiger to its kingdom. An Indian legend says that in the peace and tranquility of the Indian landscape, there is a gentle spirit that brings a sense of balance that is needed to sustain the wild places that ultimately sustain us all. She walks through the streets, past empty temples, along the banks of the river, and watches the setting sun. She reminds us that we must do our part to ensure that India remains the kingdom of the tiger.

A lone tiger runs through a field of wild grass, its power and grace matched only by its beauty, reminding us of the majesty of this mighty predator and the land that it considers home.

Profile of AFSANA AMARSY - Producer, India - Kingdom of the Tiger