SummarySharad Nerulkar has devoted his life to becoming an Indian classical music vocalist, diligently following the traditions and discipline of old masters, his guru, and his father. But as years go by, Sharad starts to wonder whether it’s really possible to achieve the excellence he’s striving for.
Directed By:Chaitanya Tamhane
Written By:Chaitanya Tamhane
The Disciple
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
83
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
92% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
8% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 15, 2020
100
Although Tamhane’s sedate pacing might put off those expecting a more visceral dive into the culture of Hindustani music, The Disciple is profound in its microcosmic world-building, slowly creating Sharad’s life through individually realized moments, adding up to an extraordinary portrait of a failed artist.
May 20, 2021
90
This is not intended as a movie about what a genius must endure on the path to success. Sharad’s story is much more relatable than that.
User score
Generally Favorable
72% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
28% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
May 1, 2021
10
A slow burn character study of an artist who wants to excel in his craft but is not able to excel in it. You feel disheartened when you love someone really with your heart but it doesn't loves you back', this is basically premise of movie. Beautiful cinematography, static shots, wide angle pan in pan out. Slow shots will now become a signature style of Chaitanya Tamhane who lends the viewer into simple yet complex world and mind of Sharad Nerulkar. We see many people who wants to pursue something but they don't have the spark in them or just it's not meant for them. Since Sharad is immersed in his practice he is devoid of his love life which is seeking for some support. So he is seen **** in one scene maybe showing some of his flaws or his impurity. The movie also sheds light on how commercialization have killed traditions for easy money. It's like an artsy film normal audience will find it irritating and boring but it's treat for cinephile
May 28, 2021
9
The idea of this film is to immerse yourself in the regional music of India. The idea is interesting but requires a lot of discipline from the viewer due to its slow pace that takes its time. However, in the end one is left with the idea that the tour was worth the two hours of duration.
May 3, 2021
90
In its depiction of Guruji’s mastery, The Disciple conjures the wonders and the mysteries of a life that is itself a work of art.
Apr 30, 2021
88
The Disciple is a great example of when filmmaking and acting styles complement each other, and it’s that bond that feels to be a significant part of what makes Tamhane’s film so special, so resonant.
Sep 12, 2020
83
It is not a flawless achievement, but The Disciple has that feel of a burgeoning master: the patience and sureness of touch; the controlled surrealist flourishes; the sheer ambition and scope.
Sep 12, 2020
70
What’s most interesting, although it gets slightly buried under a few too many almost identical musical performances, is the film’s account of the fractious symbiosis of the guru-disciple relationship.
Sep 12, 2020
60
I wish that I enjoyed The Disciple as much as I admired it. The film is a labour of love insofar as it feels overthought and overburdened, with all the rough edges planed down.
May 2, 2021
8
Chaitanya Tamhane's 'The Disciple' is a character study about what it's like to live, knowing you'll never become what you've prepared all your life for. Aditya Modak — who is a real-life musician — is critical to insert us into the frustration of Sharad. This young Indian classical singer can't seem to refine his skills despite all his training. With beautiful static shots and slow and elegant dolly ins, Tamhane and the director of photography, Michał Sobociński, capture Sharad's presentations and the audience's reaction, making for a complete portrait of the musical and spiritual experience of the raga (the performance). Alfonso Cuaron is the executive producer, and after watching the film, you can see some similarities between Sharad and 'Roma's' Cleo. Both struggle to find their place in their community during changing times.
Jun 13, 2021
6
La película está bien realizada; sin embargo, pudo tener una duración más corta y una trama más interesante; aunque sigue siendo una película decente.
May 9, 2021
6
When an aspiring Indian classical musician struggles to hone his craft, mostly under the tutelage of masters who demand unattainable perfection, he succumbs to doubt, frustration and disillusionment that he'll never reach his goal, feelings made worse when he witnesses others attain success with relative ease. The problem here, though, is that the screenplay fails to bring out these qualities as definitively as it could have due to its somewhat underdeveloped, occasionally unbalanced attempt to straddle the fence between expository drama and character study. To its credit, director Chaitanya Tamhane's second feature includes a wealth of mesmerizing classical Indian pieces (perhaps even bordering on a few too many at the expense of the narrative), a beautiful palette of photographic effects, a collection of intriguing voiceover insights about the relationship between music and the divine, and a strong finish in the film's closing 30 minutes. However, the picture's failure to resolve certain story threads and its sometimes-hazy focus on the core plot keep this offering from living up to the potential it might have otherwise achieved.
Production Company:
- Zoo Entertainment
Release Date:Apr 30, 2021
Duration:2 h 7 m
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
Critics' Choice Film Awards, India
• 3 Wins & 6 Nominations
International Cinephile Society Awards
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Venice Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
