Marathi Movie 'The Disciple' wins Best Screenplay at Venice Film Festival

New Delhi, September 12: Scripting a historic feat for India, Director Chaitanya Tamhane won the best screenplay award for his Marathi-language feature "The Disciple" at the Venice Film Festival. This is the second award the film got at the festival. Earlier, it was honored with the International Critics’ Prize awarded by FIPRESCI.

 

 

This achievement by Tamhane marks the second time in six years that a film directed by him and produced by Gomber, has won two awards at the Venice Film Festival. Earlier, in 2014, their film 'Court' also won the Best Film (Orizzonti) award and Chaitanya Tamhane won the Lion of the Future Award. The last Indian to win the FIPRESCA in Venice was Adoor Gopalakrishnan for 'Mathilukal' 20 years ago.

 

 

Chaitanya, the wunderkind filmmaker of Indian cinema, became the first director from the country to compete in the main category of a European film festival after Mira Nair. Her film “Monsoon Wedding” won the Golden Lion at the festival in 2001.

 

 

Expressing his happiness Chaitanya said, "It was a big moment for us because even if your previous film has won some awards, every film is a new battle. So, there was a lot of curiosity and suspense over how The Disciple would be received, and it was nice to know that the FIPRESCA jury thought it was the best film for them in the competition. Also, winning the Best Screenplay Award given by the official jury with such stalwarts in the mix made it very special given that this time it was the main competition. You can never get used to such acclaim."

 

The Disciple' that portrays three decades of Indian classical music practitioners' journey rooted in Guru-Shishya parampara. Its story revolves around Sharad Nerulkar who devoted his life to becoming an Indian classical music vocalist, diligently following the traditions and discipline of old masters, his guru, and his father. Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron is the Executive Producer of it. It previously received the FIPRESCI award, conferred by international film critics and journalists at the Venice Film Festival.

 

 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has congratulated Chaitanya Tamhane for winning the 'International Critics Award' at the Venice Film Festival. In a tweet, Javadekar said Tamhane won the award for the film 'The Disciple' that portrays three decades of an Indian classical music practitioners' journey rooted in Guru-Shishya parampara.