by Chaitanya Tamhane
The ambitious Sharad has reduced his life to a single goal: to become one of the best vocalists of Khyal, a classical Indian singing style. The 24-year-old knows that learning the ancient, extremely demanding musical tradition requires years of practice and sacrifice. He devoutly follows in the footsteps of his late father and the teachings of his guru, while living in his grandmother’s apartment in the heart of Mumbai. But as the years go by, Sharad becomes increasingly disillusioned. He is not only left asking himself whether he will ever achieve the mastery that he strives for, but also whether classical music even has any place at all in modern-day India. THE DISCIPLE is the story of a young artist, his dreams, and the loneliness brought about by his passionate obsession for art.