Chaitanya Tamhane's 'The Disciple' at Venice Film Festival

Chaitanya Tamhane's film 'The Disciple' premiered in competition at the 77th Venice International Film Festival. The film follows Sharad Nerulkar, a devoted student of Indian classical music, who struggles with the fear of failure and the pressure of preserving a centuries-old tradition in modernizing Mumbai. Sharad is perpetually subordinate to his guru and father, unable to break free psychologically even as a teacher. The narrative explores his envy, creative blocks, and solitary release, contrasting with more serene peers. The film uses music as a metaphor for cultural change, depicting the rise of pop and web virality against traditional spirituality. Sharad embodies the failure of the artist and society, representing a political stance by the director on a world that resists but fades away. The review was written by Carlotta Petracci for Artribune.