The chapter recounts filmmaker Satyajit Ray's experience of using a circus tiger in his Bengali film, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne. Ray had to contact Bharat Circus to borrow one of their tigers for the shoot, and they arranged for it to be brought to a bamboo grove near Shiuri in Birbhoom. However, when they tried to release the tiger, it started prancing around wildly, dragging its trainer along and refusing to go near the camera. It turned out that the tiger had never been in the wild and had seldom been released from its cage. Eventually, they managed to get the few shots they needed, but the door of the cage was now open, and the tiger refused to return to it. After some coaxing, the tiger finally jumped back into its cage, but when they looked at the footage, they realized that the shots were too dark.
Undeterred, Ray decided to try again. This time, they found a bamboo grove closer to Calcutta and arranged for the tiger to be brought there. On the day of the shoot, the villagers from the nearby village came to watch. When they opened the cage door, the tiger charged straight at the villagers gathered behind the camera, causing them to scatter in terror. However, once it had burned off its excess energy, the tiger calmed down and allowed them to get the shots they needed.
Overall, the chapter highlights the unexpected challenges of working with animals in film and the importance of adaptability and perseverance in filmmaking. It also provides a glimpse into the unique experiences and obstacles that filmmakers in India faced during the mid-20th century.