Based on real incidents of elderly people going into the forest near the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve to be killed by tigers and receive government compensation, Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga follows Gangaram, the village headman, who decides to sacrifice himself for the betterment of the villagers.
Starring Pankaj Tripathi in the role of Gangaram, Sherdil: The Pilbhit Saga follows the dilemmas faced by a man who’s alone in the jungle but can only afford to die from an attack by a tiger. Directed by award-winning director Srijit Mukherji, the film features Pankaj Tripathi, Sayani Gupta, and Neeraj Kabi in key roles.
The film was released theatrically on June 24, 2022.
Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga Story Summary
Gangaram (Pankaj Tripathi) is the Sarpanch of Jhundao, a village that falls in Gutipur and suffers from dire poverty and starvation.
He pays a visit to the government office in the city to seek some relief from the government for the farmers who have lost their crops to animals as a result of the village’s proximity to the nearby forest.
When Gangaram complaints about the poverty and starvation that has been resulting in suicides among his village’s residents, the government officer asks Gangaram to visit the Forest department and the Climate department to get the required certificates to seek relief from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
While exiting the government office, Gangaram comes across an official notice that states that any individual who becomes prey to a tiger near the tiger reserve while working or strolling in the fields will be compensated with a reward of ten lakh rupees by the government.
On returning to his village after a week, Gangaram comes up with an idea and proposes that one of the villagers go to the jungle to be hunted by the tiger. According to Gangaram’s plan, the individual’s remains will then be transported to the fields to seek compensation from the government for the betterment of the whole village.
When no volunteer comes ahead for the sacrifice, Gangaram, who has recently discovered that he’s going to die from cancer in 2-3 months, chooses to become the one who takes the mantle as the leader of the village.
Despite minor resistance, Gangaram convinces the villagers to allow him to make the sacrifice. However, Gangaram’s wife Lajjo (Sayani Gupta) proves to be the final hurdle as she resists the idea vehemently.
After convincing Lajjo by saying that he will anyway die of cancer, Gangaram chooses the sacrificial death for himself to become a hero for the village.
The following days are spent planning and preparing for D-day when Gangaram will finally go to the forest as the savior of the whole village.
Gangaram instructs his fellow village men to keep sending people to the forest every two days to find his remains and transport them to a farming field before calling the Forest Department.
Gangaram’s expedition to fall prey to the tiger starts. However, contrary to his expectations, he does not find the tiger right away. Instead, he goes through a hard time roaming the jungle to meet his death wish.
Back in the village, Lajjo has a hard time coping with Gangaram’s decision while the entire village waits in anticipation.
Mahesh, the person who accompanied Gangaram to the city, comes to the village and informs Lajjo and the rest of the villagers that Gangaram lied about his cancer as he did not visit any doctor during his time in the city.
On his 7th night in the jungle, Gangaram wakes up to find a leopard staring at him. He quickly jumps from the branch of the tree he was sleeping on and runs for his life. But his foot gets trapped in a hunter’s trap and he hangs from the branch of a tree.
Just as the leopard approaches Gangaram, it is shot by a poacher named Jim Ahmad (Neeraj Kabi), who hunts the animals for their bones and skin and is also looking for the tiger. Gangaram amazes Jim when he reveals his purpose for being in the jungle.
Having waited for nine days, Lajjo and the villagers visit the forest office to file a complaint and initiate a search for Gangaram.
In the forest, Jim introduces Gangaram to deer meat, and Gangaram eats it in order to survive until he finally fulfills his mission. Also, Gangaram cuts a deal with Jim that Jim must only kill the tiger once the tiger kills Gangaram. Otherwise, his efforts will go in vain.
The two continue to search for traces of the tiger as Jim uses his tracking skills.
While the forest department decides to send a search party for Gangaram, the duo finds the trace of a different tiger than the one they were tracking so far.
In the night, Gangaram and Jim suffer from an upset stomach after eating rotten meat. But even when relieving himself, Gangaram remains concerned about dying from the bite of snakes and scorpions instead of the one from a tiger.
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Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga Ending Explained
The next morning, Gangaram and Jim finally come across the tiger they have been following for days. However, Jim realizes that this tiger is not a man-eater, and hence, he motivates Gangaram to irritate the tiger to lure it into attacking him.
Before making his move, Gangaram consumes opium pills to weaken his senses and cause less pain in return. Gangaram tries his best to make the tiger attack, but the tiger, who has just hunted a deer, refrains from attacking. He also stops Jim from shooting the tiger as he has not died yet.
Just as when Jim and Gangaram exchange words about whether Jim should shoot or not, a bullet shot is heard in the background, making the tiger vanish into the forest quickly.
The forest department search team arrives and chases Jim before shooting him finally. They also arrest Gangaram for violating an array of wildlife laws.
During the court trial, upon being questioned about his intentions behind going to the jungle, Gangaram reveals his whole master plan. A journalist, who was present at the court trial, reports this unique instance of a man willing to sacrifice himself in front of a tiger for a sum of ten lakh rupees.
What happens to Gangaram in the end?
Upon being given a chance to voice his concerns, Gangaram appeals for the protection of the poor in the same manner government has arranged for the protection of the animals. The court decides to let Gangaram go without any penalties.
When the news spreads like wildfire, it results in social media debates and newsroom discussions. Gangaram transforms into a celebrity after the trial, receiving advertisement offers, book deals, and even a movie to his name!
As Gangaram’s life turns into a rags-to-riches story, he still hopes that the government will offer more schemes to the poor of his village as the poverty crisis has received such widespread coverage now.
Soon after, on a tour of the forest with an officer of the ruling political party for a tourism project, Gangaram stops the car to take a leak in the jungle.
To his sheer bad luck, he gets attacked by a tiger from behind.
Finally, Gangaram gets his wish to die at the claws of a tiger fulfilled although in completely different circumstances.
Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga is now streaming on Netflix.
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