This potent, political landmark of Indian independent filmmaking – famously funded by 500,000 farmers – explores the ugly truths of class and caste in rural Gujarat.
Produced by 500,000 farmers who contributed 2 rupees each towards the making of the film, Manthan (The Churning) is a powerful film about the tempestuous winds of change that blow through a village when an idealistic veterinary surgeon from the city arrives in the village to start a milk cooperative movement. His notions of equitable distribution of profits irrespective of class and caste and freedom from exploitative middlemen, churn up a maelstrom of mistrust, anger and resistance among the feudal landlords and the peasants, threatening the deep-rooted social hierarchy based on generations of discrimination. The story plumbs the depths of despair as Dr. Rao faces false accusations and village politics, but ends on a high with a glimmering of change as the idea of the cooperative slowly takes root.
Nearly 50 years after it was made, a pristinely restored Manthan received a red-carpet world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Restored by Film Heritage Foundation at Prasad Corporation Pvt. Ltd.’s Post – Studios, Chennai and L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory, in association with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd., the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal.
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Cast:
Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah