Disciple
Year: 2020-21
Director: Chaitanya Tamhane
Cast: Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid

Writer-director Chaitanya Tamhane’s Disciple came a full 6 years after Court (2014), his debut feature film, which was then nominated as India’s Oscar entry. After winning accolades in various film festivals, Disciple was released on OTT platform Netflix in April 2021. Since then, it has continued to make waves and stir public reactions, which range from ‘Superlative’ to ‘Avoid! So how is the film that has stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest?

Despite its English title, Disciple is a Marathi film, which outwardly sets out to explore the travails of an aspiring young singer; but ends up giving an almost 360 degrees tour of the complex world of Hindustani Classical Music, a genre that prides itself on its erudite and elevated stature.

Tamhane cleverly uses a confused, vulnerable central character for the overview of the much-celebrated genre. His protagonist is a young idealist singer, trying hard to make a mark in the classical music circuit. The twenty-something fellow sincerely follows the diktats of his aged Guru; does hours of riyaaz; participates in competitions; provides backing vocals in mehfils, and even shuns marriage and 9-to-5 jobs. His idealism is built on the reverence for a late legendary singer, an eccentric genius lady, whose musical philosophy demands absolute ascetic devotion towards music. He is also driven by emotions to achieve something big in the field where his father could not progress beyond mediocrity.

As the years go by, the aspirant musician starts getting disillusioned- not only about his grand dreams and his potential to achieve them, but also about the exalted art, and the artistes, that he once held in such high esteem. Organizers, audiences, critics, reality shows, recording companies, archivists, past masters- in every sphere there are so many contradictions, and so many clay feet. Is the quest then worthy of so much sacrifice?

Disciple is an intelligent, intellectual film blessed with fine performances. Especially, Aditya Modak as the driven musician and Arun Dravid as his old-world-relic master, are two memorable performances. The late film-maker Sumitra Bhave’s voice plays a vital role in elucidating the lofty principles that make this musical genre so respected for its devotees, and high-brow for its detractors. Aneesh Pradhan’s music provides the perfect foil for the storyline.

Tamhane’s dry, distant, yet deeply provocative directorial style turns an individual artiste’s rather difficult journey into an insightful warts-and-all take on a musical genre, that its exponents and proponents almost consider sacrosanct. To be fair, Disciple is not just a take on Hindustani classical music; it raises important questions about pursuit of any form of art. Is true art only about an individual metaphysical pursuit, which has to be devoid of any material aspirations? Do penury and obscurity make someone’s art better? Is popularity detrimental to artistic development? Does Traditional always have to be better than Modern? Are the so-called ‘Classical’ art-forms superior to the so-called ‘Popular’ art-forms?

Disciple is not likely to appeal to those who are looking for fast-paced entertainment, soapy melodrama, or even crisp non-conforming musical. To appreciate the film, the viewer needs to seriously appreciate some form of art-preferably music, have some clues about the ‘inside stories’, and should not mind slow, brooding storytelling.  

The hard-core classical music-lovers may find this film disturbing or even disrespectful; but for neutral viewers this ‘Devotion to disillusionment’ artistic journey provides enough interesting, enlightening moments.

I quite enjoyed it! Can’t say that it will be the same experience for you!

Rating

4 stars