Madhurima Sawale

I was lured by the trailer into thinking that this film is about the unconditional devotion, relentless passion that is expected of the students of this incredible tradition and the near spiritual path they are required to follow to earn the blessing of music. What I got was a a bunch of boring, stretched out scenes featuring a down right depressing protagonist. The movie amounts a rich and proud heritage down to a dying art form which is the most inaccurate portrayal. It's nice that the movie attempts to normalise mediocrity. Something of a hazard for all artists with an ambition. But wouldn't that also require the protagonist to seek acceptance and make peace with what he has? Or just because the movie has a rather blah end, we as audience are supposed to believe that it's REAL? There are many a real life stories about what happens when you walk the path but don't make it there. However even those stories are about the good that comes out of struggle. The sense of victory or utter disparity, or both in one way or another. Unfortunately 'The Desciple', was underwhelming in every possible way. Just another example of a pseudo artistic narrative technique that qualifies a bad script and un-impactful dialogue delivery as subtle performances. In my opinion, a subject like 'The life of an Indian Classical Singer' does not warrant a dark, depressing plot. The institution is known for something far better and deserved a nuanced treatment.