If you still haven't watched Music Teacher on Netflix, here's why you need to!

A Guru-shishya (student-teacher) relationship is one of the longest and most revered traditions of India. Sarthak Dasgupta’s ‘Music Teacher’ delves into the complexities of this seemingly sacred relationship, as it chronicles a romance between a music teacher and his student. Unlike what the premise dictates, the plot doesn’t negotiate the aftermath of what could have been a scandalous liasion. It is the story of the conflicts of a man, both internally predisposed and externally manifested, as he yearns for love. 

Beni (Manav Kaul) is a music teacher to Jyotsana (Amrita Bagchi), a young girl who harbors no interest in music but takes the lessons out of sheer interest in her teacher. Beni, however, pushes her beyond her own concurrence to participate in a music competition in the city. From the results of the competition, emanate another dilemma that Benny endures- a choice between what is good vs what is right. The ramification of his resolution continually torments him for eight long years as he is occasionally marred by further turbulence. These include the onerous errand of getting his younger sister married following the death of his father and another illicit relationship with a woman in his neighborhood who has been deserted by her husband. His personal predicaments are furthered by his perilous desire to persist in his unrewarding passion as a musician. 

Music teacher despite incorporating the quintessential tropes of Hindi cinema furnishes an innovative narrative technique. For instance, one of the scenes has the long-established “chai” and ‘baarish” (tea and rain) sequence against the backdrop of an old romantic melody propelling the protagonists to fall in love. Yet, the nuanced depiction is devoid of any stereotypical treatment without undermining the convolutions carried by the supposedly sordid affair. The film also brings together “slice-of-life” as is expected in a small-town setting; a woman needs to testify her singing potential for soliciting a matrimonial match and your barber next door, knows it all. The aesthetic cinematography doesn’t aim at a superficial seductive viewing experience, rather compliments the captivity dispensed by the narrative. The music of the film does absolute justice to the title and the songs stay long after you’ve seen the film.

One of the first few scenes in the film vehemently establishes the impending trials and tribulations for Beni’s characters when Jyotsana’s parents ask him- Graduate ho? Phir music kyun sikhaate ho? (Why do you teach music is you have a graduate degree?). Therefore, the film in addition to being an ode to the thankless profession of countless music teachers through Beni’s portrayal is supplemented with richly layered supporting characters. Neena Gupta shines as Beni’s mother as she is both feeble and firm, grappling with a chain of insecurities stemming from her love for her children. Divya Dutta, as the neighbor skillfully evokes the contradictions, as her character despite having submitted to her husband’s abandonment prevails in persistent denial of her emotional destitution. However, in what I believe is Manav Kaul’s first full-length role in a feature film, he takes the trophy home with a first-rate act. His expressions incontestably convey the incongruity of a man whose personal and professional competencies are both at stake. I would have paid to watch the brilliant, Manav Kaul donning a well-deserved lead actor’s hat. This film is FREE on Netflix! What are you waiting for?