Machli on the prowl. pics/dhritiman mookherjee

She captured the imagination of every animal lover in the country for nearly two decades and was the poster girl for India’s Project Tiger movement. When she passed away in 2016, she had already played a key role in the regeneration of the tiger population in Ranthambore and Sariska National Parks. A film made by S Nallamuthu that was shot over nine years hopes to retrace her indomitable imprint across India’s tiger conservation programme. Edited excerpts from an interview.