A wave of pride washed over Indian cinema as Shyam Benegal’s parallel cinema masterpiece, Manthan, was screened at the prestigious Salle Buñuel Theatre in the Cannes Classics sidebar this year. But what truly sets Manthan apart, is that it is India’s first-ever crowd-funded film. And can you guess who were the contributors? Believe it or not, it was 500,000 farmers from Gujarat’s Kheda district, each chipping in ₹2.
The Film Heritage Foundation has joined hands with Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. to breathe new life into this 1976 classic. The good news is that it will be re-released in theatres across 50 cities and 100 locations throughout India on June 1 and 2. Folks can catch the film on the big screens in cities like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, and many more!
Celebrating the White Revolution and the Plight of Farmers
Manthan is a powerful tribute to the White Revolution that began in Gujarat and led to the creation of Amul. The film poignantly highlights the struggles of dairy farmers in newly independent India, addressing the barriers of caste and gender oppression they faced.
The film features legendary cast including the late actor Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Mohan Agashe, Anant Nag, and Amrish Puri, among others.
Benegal recalls how Verghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution in India inspired him to create several documentaries on Operation Flood—India’s milk revolution—and rural marketing initiatives. When Benegal proposed making a feature film to reach a broader audience, Kurien initially hesitated due to a lack of funds.
But a clever solution emerged. Kurien proposed deducting two rupees from each farmer’s milk collection, effectively making them producers of the film itself. Benegal remembers, “The farmers readily agreed because we were telling their story.”
A film produced by 500,000 farmers of Gujarat!
Manthan’s return to theaters is a celebration not just of a film, but of the collective spirit and unwavering dedication of India’s rural communities. So, don’t miss the chance to witness this much-acclaimed film in theatres. Book your tickets now!
You can book here!
