MUMBAI -- It is hard to believe, but movie theaters are closed all over India -- the country that produces more films than any other. Thanks to the pluck and integrity of two relative newcomers, though, a landmark in Indian cinema has been achieved in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In June, "The Disciple" (2020) became the first cinematic work from India selected for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival since 2006 -- which is a shocking statistic, considering the massive output of outstanding works in various Indian languages. Although failing to win the top award, the Golden Lion, it was named Best Screenplay and garnered the highly prestigious FIPRESCI Award bestowed by The International Federation of Film Critics. It subsequently played at the New York Film Festival (Sept. 17 to Oct. 11), which has not featured an Indian film since 1996. Now industry buzz suggests it's a front-runner for the U.S. Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category.
