The Indian Express' Rohan Naahar gave 'Sugarcane' 4.5 stars and stated that an Oscar wouldn't be enough for this "searing" documentary about a "grave social injustice". "The filmmaking in Sugarcane is more accomplished than you might expect," wrote Naahar. Calling it a difficult film to watch, he added, "It's a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination in a few weeks' time."