Indian Marathi film 'The Disciple' directed by Chaitanya Tamhane has won the prestigious FIPRESCI Award at the 77th Venice International Film Festival. 'The Disciple' becomes the first Indian film after Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Mathilukal in 1990 to win this award.

Tamhane told IANS, "I want to thank the FIPRESCI and its jury members from the bottom of my heart for their continued support for our work. This is a very special honor for us given that the jury for this award comprises film critics and journalists from around the world. We are all quite thrilled and excited with this fantastic start to the journey of The Disciple".

This movie was premiered at the festival in Venice last week and becomes the first Indian film to make the cut since Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding in 2001.

The Disciple is a drama film set in contemporary Mumbai and follows an Indian classical music vocalist who, after years of diligent training and tradition, begins to wonder whether it is really possible to achieve the excellence he strives for.

Produced by Vivek Gomber under the banner of Zoo Entertainment, the movie stars Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid, Sumitra Bhave, Deepika Bhide Bhagwat, and Kiran Yadnyopavit in the key roles. The film is yet to release in India.

Stay tuned...