Top News

1

Film ‘Manthan’: A historical masterpiece

New Delhi. Many important films have been made in the world of Hindi cinema, but there are some which hold special importance because of their production process and story. One such film is ‘Manthan’, which was released in 1976. It was not just a film, but it was a symbol of the farmers’ voice, their struggle and self-respect, made by the farmers themselves with their own money.

director and artist

The film was directed by renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal, and the story was written by him in collaboration with renowned writer Vijay Tendulkar. Smita Patil played the lead role in the film, while Girish Karnad played an important role as Dr. Rao. Senior actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Amrish Puri also made the film special with their excellent performances.

story focus

The story of ‘Manthan’ revolves around the farmers of Gujarat and their milk business. The film was inspired by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which later laid the foundation for successful cooperative models like Amul. The film shows how dairy farmers exploit farmers and do not get a fair price for their milk. Issues like caste system and social inequality are also deeply highlighted in the film.

Uniqueness of financing model

One feature of this film is its financing model. No big producer or studio was taken to produce ‘Manthan’, rather about 5 lakh farmers got the film produced by donating two rupees each. Therefore it is called India’s first crowd funded film. At the beginning of the film, it is written on the screen that this film has been presented by 5 lakh farmers of Gujarat, which makes it even more special.

Smita Patil’s character

In the film, Smita Patil played the character of Bindu, a poor but self-reliant woman who raises her children by selling milk. This character of hers became the identity of not a weak but a struggling and strong woman. Smita Patil’s performance was highly appreciated at that time and even today it is counted among her best performances.

Awards and Honors

‘Manthan’ not only received immense love from the audience, but it also received recognition at the national and international levels. Shyam Benegal received the National Award for Best Feature Film for this film, while Vijay Tendulkar received the National Award for Best Screenplay. Preeti Sagar was also awarded the Filmfare Award for the songs of the film.

Re-light at Cannes Film Festival

After 48 years, in May 2024, ‘Manthan’ was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it again received appreciation. Even today, this film is as relevant and popular due to its social consciousness, strong story and unique production as it was at the time of its release.