Chandrima Banerjee | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; September 13, 2020)

The last time an Indian film won the international critics’ award at the Venice Film Festival, the world’s oldest, was in 1990, for Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s ‘Mathilukal’.

On Saturday, Chaitanya Tamhane repeated the feat with ‘The Disciple’.

The 90-year-old Fipresci, or The International Federation of Film Critics, hands out awards at major international film festivals.

“I’m feeling good, very grateful actually. It’s great for the entire team,” Tamhane told TOI, hours from the announcement of the Golden Lion, which his film is in competition for — a first in 20 years for an Indian feature.

Is he nervous? “No, I am ok. I am already happy that we got the Fipresci. I was happy since the time the film was selected and we made it to Venice. But yes, obviously, it does feel nice when you get that kind of recognition.”