Shyam Benegal’s ‘Manthan’: Restored version of farmers-funded classic shines at Cannes

A restored version of the 1976 film, inspired by the groundbreaking milk cooperative movement by Dr Verghese Kurien that transformed India into one of the largest milk producers in the world, was showcased under the Cannes Classics segment

Veteran director Shyam Benegal's "Manthan", a film financed by 5 lakh farmers of Gujarat 48 years ago, made a triumphant return to the spotlight and public consciousness with its screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

A restored version of the 1976 movie, inspired by the groundbreaking milk cooperative movement by Dr Verghese Kurien that transformed India into one of the largest milk producers in the world, was showcased under the Cannes Classics segment on Friday.

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah walked the red carpet at Cannes along with wife Ratna Pathak Shah, late co-star Smita Patil's son Prateik Babbar, Dr Kurien's daughter Nirmala Kurien, and Amul MD Jayen Mehta.

"'Manthan' team of Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik Babbar, Ms Nirmala Kurien, @FHF_Official team, & Shri @Jayen_Mehta , MD, Amul, representing 3.6 million farmer producers of the film at @Festival_Cannes #ManthanAtCannes," the official X page of Amul posted.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), the not-for-profit organisation behind the restored print, also attended the film's screening.

"Film Heritage Foundation returned to the red carpet at Cannes for a third year in a row last night at the world premiere of our restoration of Shyam Benegal’s landmark film 'Manthan', produced by 500,000 dairy farmers, at the Cannes Film Festival 2024," FHF posted on X.

Fronted by Patil, the film was inspired by the milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, who led 'Operation Flood' to transform India from a milk-deficient country to one of the world's biggest milk producer and is credited for creating the billion-dollar brand Amul.