On Friday at Salle Bunuel, the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will feature a distinguished gala screening of Shyam Benegal’s iconic film Manthan, marking a momentous occasion for Indian cinema on a worldwide scale.

This year’s Cannes Classic section of the festival has only one Indian film, Manthan, starring the late actress Smita Patil. In addition, Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Mohan Agashe, Anant Nag, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri were among the cast members.

Five million dairy farmers of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which sells its goods under the Amul brand, created the film, which is based on the groundbreaking milk cooperative movement of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the founder of the White Revolution in India.

The film, which is set in Gujarat, was the first crowdfunded production in Indian history. It was fully funded by ₹2 donations from 500,000 farmers. Kurien had written the screenplay for the film with Vijay Tendulkar.

Manthan was the 1977 winner of two National Film Awards: Best Hindi Feature Film and Best Screenplay for Tendulkar. Additionally, it served as India’s formal submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1976.

The late Smita Patil’s family, Naseeruddin Shah, the film’s producers, and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of the Film Heritage Foundation will all be present for the Cannes premiere of the repaired version of the movie.

“I was absolutely delighted when Shivendra told me that Film Heritage Foundation was going to restore “Manthan” in collaboration with the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.,” Shyam Benegal remarked previously, in reference to the film’s Cannes premiere.

Manthan is a movie that I hold very dear since it was made possible by 500,000 farmers and played a significant role in the development of an amazing cooperative movement that sought to liberate farmers from the oppressive constraints of caste and economic inequity.”

“It will remind the world of the great Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution, and the power of cinema as a vehicle of change,” he continued. I have been closely monitoring the repair with Govind Nihalani, and I am astounded by the methodical approach used to the restoration. Seeing the movie come to life virtually exactly as we created it is amazing.

The Film Heritage Foundation has been restoring films with amazing success. In addition to expertly conserving films from every corner of India, they are also re-releasing them to the public at international film festivals and theatres, showcasing our distinct cinematic legacy to people throughout the globe today.”

The 2024 Cannes Film Festival will begin on May 14 and run until May 25. At the 77th Cannes Film Festival, a special tribute will be paid to Indian cinema with the screening of Manthan on Friday. Directed by the legendary Shyam Benegal, this critically acclaimed film features the iconic Smita Patil in one of her most memorable roles. Manthan, released in 1976, is a groundbreaking film that explores the themes of rural empowerment, social issues, and the struggles of the common people.

The film tells the powerful story of a cooperative dairy project aimed at uplifting farmers and their families, highlighting the importance of collective efforts for societal change. Smita Patil’s brilliant performance as a strong, determined woman fighting for her rights remains etched in the hearts of Indian cinema lovers to this day. Manthan was not only a cinematic milestone but also an inspiration for future generations of filmmakers.

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