The roads of dedication and faith are filled with potholes, but those who stay consistent reach their destiny. Chaitanya Tamhane’s directorial The Disciple is one such story of a man's incessant perseverance of achieving great mastery in music. This Marathi film is devoted towards Hindustani classical sangeet. Sharad, a twenty four year old man, learns classical music from his father and guru as a child and as an adult respectively. He wants to accomplish great heights and dedicate his whole life to the field of classical music. But, his struggle to attain the same level of proficiency as his guru is nugatory. He focuses on his mistakes to the extent of doubting on his own skills.

The Disciple also brings to our attention the evanescing nature of classical music. The film shows a marvelous relationship between a disciple and his guru and how the disciple idolizes his guru.

The film is a beautiful portrayal of our country’s musical treasures. It is after a very long time that a film like The Disciple has opened up the age old subject of our culture and the eternal conquest to attain deeper knowledge of Hindustani classical sangeet.

The Disciple is aesthetically pleasing. It is a must watch for people who have a keen interest in classical music. The film is shot in Mumbai by Michal Sobociński. It takes us through the roads of contemporary Mumbai. The film is beautifully shot.

The Disciple features Aditya Modak and Arun Dravid in the lead roles and is produced by Zoo Entertainment. The film premiered in Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2020. It entered the Main Competition section in the film festival and won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize. The Disciple was released on Netflix on 30 April 2021. The film is a remarkable portrayal of Indian music and counts itself as a must watch.

Rating ⅘