Did you know that Indian farmers donated ₹2 each for the production of India’s first crowdfunded film? Under the direction of Shyam Bengal, Manthan became the first and one of the most famous crowdfunded films. This film was even screened in the Cannes Classics section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. On June 1 and 2, the restored “Manthan” will have a new theatrical release in 38 Indian cities. The tickets for the restored version of the film are now available in India, so grab yours as soon as possible.
As Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light competes at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Manhtan is chosen for India’s opening. On May 17, a restored version of the 1976 film was shown in the Cannes Classics segment of the Gala. And do you know the most interesting part? The tickets for the movie were sold out in 10 seconds. Yes, just 10 seconds. Now that you know how popular this almost 50-year-old movie is let’s get a glimpse of its story.
Manthan – India’s First Crowdfunded Film:
Manthan (1976) (Translated title ‘The Churning’) is the story of the dairy cooperative movement in India that transformed the nation from milk-deficient to one of the world’s leading milk producers. Today, India accounts for about a quarter of the milk produced globally. The film drew inspiration from Verghese Kurien, famously known as the “Milkman of India”, showcased the narrative behind the revolutionising of milk production in the nation. In 1970, India started the ‘White Revolution, also known as ‘Operation Flood’. It was the world’s biggest dairy development program led by Verghese Kurien. It also provided employment opportunities to millions of people living in rural India.
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After receiving a very positive response to his program, Kurien went to Shyam Bengal and asked him to produce a feature film so that the story of the white revolution reaches more people. While Shyam agreed to this request, there was another problem that hindered its production: who would fund the cost of the film? Kurien solved this problem by contacting 500,000 farmers and asking them to sell their milk for ₹6 instead of ₹8 for just one day. The film was financed by combining these 2 rupees from all farmers. In this way, India’s first crowdfunded film was shot in Gujarat.
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Kurien and Vijay Tendulkar jointly wrote the movie under the direction of Shyam Bengal. The movie showcased how impactful and successful the diary project was and the power of collective might. The film received many awards, including the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Vijay Tendulkar. It was also India’s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1976.
The movie tells the true story of a group of poor farmers in Gujarat’s Kheda area who put society’s welfare ahead of their own self-interest because of a shared vision. Individuals such as the community social activist Tribhovandas Patel led the change, whose endeavours resulted in the formation of the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union. These grassroots efforts quickly spread throughout Gujarat, eventually establishing the dairy cooperative Amul in Anand. Currently, Amul is a cooperative venture owned by almost 2.6 million Gujarati dairy farmers.
Manthan is also of extreme social significance. The title of the movie means “Churning’, and instead of being a biography of Kurien or Amul, Manthan accurately depicts the difficulties in reaching a consensus in a nation divided along caste and economic lines. The plot revolves around Dr Rao, a veterinarian. It highlights his journey as he visits a village to start a cooperative society dairy for the benefit of the rural people. It features famous stars like Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Anant Nag, and Abha Dhulia. Naseeruddin Shah, Prateik Babbar, and Amul MD Jayen Mehta graced the Cannes red carpet for the ‘Manthan’ screening on May 17.
The film’s director, Shyam Benegal, expressed his joy about the film’s Cannes reception and its upcoming release in Indian theatres. He said, “When ‘Manthan’ was released in 1976, it was a great success with farmers coming to see the film in droves. I hope that 48 years later, people across India will come to the cinema to watch the restored film.” The Cannes screening also stirred joy in the local district of Anand, with the locals recalling contributing ₹2 for the film.
In conclusion, Shyam Benegal’s “Manthan” was restored for its Cannes screening, and tickets are now on sale for its re-release in Indian theatres. It is a film that tells the extraordinary story of Verghese Kurien as well as the story of how milk production in the country was revolutionised. So, do not delay purchasing your tickets for the new theatrical release on June 1 and 2, as they will undoubtedly sell out quickly, just like they did in 10 seconds for the Cannes screening.
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