The Disciple Christian Review
The Disciple is one of those films that doesn’t necessarily scream for attention. It doesn’t rush toward a crescendo or explode with dramatic plot twists. Instead, it unfolds slowly, like a piece of classical music played at a pace that forces you to listen. Directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, the film tells the story of Sharad, a man deeply committed to the art of Hindustani classical music, who finds himself trapped in the tension between his devotion to an ancient craft and the demands of a world that’s always moving forward.
On the surface, this is a film about music, tradition, and failure, but it’s much more than that. There’s a universality to Sharad’s struggles. His is not just the story of an artist, but of any person who has given their life to a pursuit that may never love them back. For Christian viewers, there’s an added layer here—the story of a disciple, someone who follows a path despite knowing that it may lead to heartbreak, disillusionment, and sometimes, even failure. But isn’t that what discipleship sometimes feels like?
Life in the Waiting
There’s something unique about how The Disciple handles time. Tamhane doesn’t offer quick, easy resolutions. Instead, we watch as Sharad’s life unfolds in long, quiet moments. The film spans decades, showing the slow, sometimes imperceptible changes that come with time. Sharad, who once dreamed of becoming a master of his craft, finds himself still waiting for success, still waiting for validation. There’s a deep sense of frustration and sadness that comes from this waiting, and it’s something that many of us can relate to.
In Christianity, waiting is a big part of our spiritual journey. We wait for answers, for healing, for understanding. Often, it feels like we’re stuck in a place where nothing seems to be happening. And yet, it’s in those moments of waiting that God is often doing the most work in us. There’s a quiet grace in the way The Disciple portrays Sharad’s waiting, even though it’s painful to watch at times. You can almost feel the weight of the years pressing down on him, the burden of a dream that may never come to fruition.
The Disciple and the Guru: A Complicated Relationship
At the heart of the film is Sharad’s relationship with his guru. In many ways, this mirrors the relationship between a disciple and their teacher in the Christian faith. Sharad looks to his guru for wisdom, guidance, and approval, much like how Christians look to Christ as the ultimate guide in their lives. However, unlike the certainty that comes from following Christ, Sharad’s relationship with his guru is marked by uncertainty and doubt.
There’s a subtle tension between reverence and frustration. Sharad is willing to devote his entire life to the teachings of his guru, yet the path his guru sets before him offers no guarantees. This tension is something that Christians, too, can understand. We are called to follow Christ with everything we have, but that doesn’t mean the path will be easy or that we’ll always understand where we’re going. Sharad’s journey highlights the difficulty of discipleship—of following a path, even when the destination is unclear.
The World Moves On, But Sharad Stays Still
One of the more heartbreaking aspects of The Disciple is how the world moves on without Sharad. As he becomes more immersed in the purity of Hindustani classical music, the world around him becomes more modern, more commercialized. There’s a deep irony here. Sharad is devoted to something eternal, something that has lasted for generations, yet it’s this very devotion that leaves him behind as the rest of the world rushes forward.
This struggle between the eternal and the temporal is something Christians deal with all the time. We are called to live in the world but not be of the world. There’s a tension between holding onto the things that matter—the eternal truths of faith, love, and hope—while the world tells us that these things are outdated or irrelevant. In Sharad’s case, his art is something sacred, but the world doesn’t seem to care. It’s a painful reminder of how easily the things that truly matter can be overshadowed by the demands of modern life.
Failure as a Teacher
If there’s one theme that defines The Disciple, it’s failure. Sharad’s story is not one of triumph but of quiet, inevitable failure. His dreams of mastering his craft never fully materialize, and by the end of the film, there’s a sense that he has been defeated, not by lack of effort but by the harsh realities of life. From a Christian perspective, failure is something we don’t talk about enough, but it’s an essential part of the spiritual journey. The Bible is full of stories of people who failed—Moses, David, Peter. And yet, failure is often where God does His greatest work.
In Sharad’s case, his failure is a reminder that our worth is not found in our accomplishments or our success. Christianity teaches us that our value is found in Christ, not in the things we achieve. Sharad’s failure is painful to watch, but it also feels deeply human. It’s a reflection of the reality that not every dream will come true, not every effort will be rewarded. But as Christians, we know that even in our failures, God’s grace is sufficient.
The Slow, Quiet Beauty of the Film
One of the things that makes The Disciple so captivating is its attention to detail. Tamhane doesn’t rush through Sharad’s story. Instead, he lets the camera linger on small, seemingly insignificant moments. There’s a quiet beauty in these details—a look, a gesture, a pause. The pacing might feel slow to some, but it’s in this slowness that the film finds its power. It asks you to sit with Sharad in his quiet moments of doubt, frustration, and longing.
In the same way, Christianity often calls us to sit in the quiet, to be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). In a world that constantly demands action and results, there’s something deeply countercultural about a film that asks you to slow down and pay attention to the small things. It’s a reminder that life is not always about the big moments, but about the quiet, often unnoticed ones that shape who we are.
A Sobering, Beautiful Film
In the end, The Disciple is a sobering film. It doesn’t offer easy answers or a neatly tied-up resolution. Sharad’s story is one of devotion and failure, of waiting and longing, of holding onto something that the world seems to have forgotten. For Christian viewers, there’s a lot to reflect on in Sharad’s journey. His story is a reminder that discipleship is not always about success or recognition but about perseverance, even when the road is long and uncertain.
As we watch Sharad grapple with the realities of his chosen path, we are reminded of the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In many ways, Sharad’s journey is about keeping the faith, even when the world offers no guarantees. And while his story may not have a triumphant ending, it’s a powerful reflection on what it means to be a disciple in a world that doesn’t always reward devotion.
Rating: 7.5/10
