Manthan

Watching an old classic like "Manthan" in modern color corrections and beautifully restored quality brings a unique kind of beauty and emotion. Seeing it for the first time, this timeless film offers a profound and inspiring look at the potential for change through collective action. Funded by half a million farmers who each contributed a token amount, it reflects the collective spirit it champions, perfectly aligning with the film's theme. Shyam Benegal's masterful direction, using the rural landscape with stunning cinematography, and precise editing and cuts that surpass even many contemporary films. The perfect ensemble cast delivers powerful performances, with Smita Patil shining like a classic diamond. Human films like this with such performances are rare in today's AI and CGI-dominated world of superheroes and corporate production...

I have seen this film about 15 years ago but still remember quite well, may be because I come from the region plotted in the film. The story of farmer's revolution is true and today in reality is the world's largest co-operative dairy AMUL. This film has actors, who at that time, were either newly graduated from Film Institute or had few films on their names but I think that is the charm, where the director could squeeze out the natural talent to show overwhelming expressions in the characters. In the later years most of these actors became kings of art cinema. The direction is superb; the songs and music are unique. I would recommend this film to everyone who wants "THE TASTE OF India".

Manthan is an extraordinarily powerful and intense depiction of social change. As it has been 15 years since I've seen this film, my recollection of details may not be completely accurate; but the story tells the struggle of Indian dairy farmers to gain a fairer share of the proceeds of their labor from the larger milk-processing companies to whom they sell their raw milk. While my recollection of factual details about this movie is limited, I do recall vividly the strong emotional and artistic impact Manthan had on me. It should be noted that director Benegal also made Ankur (The Seedling) which, with a completely different story, also incarnates the painful social changes India is undergoing as it moves from a more to a less feudal social structure -- and in both movies dealing with these themes without preachiness or pronounced ideological heavyhandedness.

Manthan is a film based on real life incident inspired by milk cooperative movement of Late Verghese Kurien and is directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Late Girish Karnad, Late Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Late Amrish Puri.

A veterinarian makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people.

This is one of the most underrated and brilliant work of Indian cinema and one of the lesser talked film. The film is superb in many aspects be it the realism the film carries, the originality of the characters and their acting, the true depiction of caste-ism prevailing at that time in the society and is still prevails in some parts of rural India and also the politics between the villagers.

Screenplay of the film is superb and will keep you engrossed to the screen. Acting is superb be it Smita Patil, Nasir or Amrish Puri. Amrish Puri has again played a negative character here but this character is very different from other negative characters as there is no beating of villain, there is no hardcore action and the villain is still there to stay at the end of the film.

There is only one song in the film and the song is melodious. The climax of the film could've been little more refined but still works well. A good and underrated film to watch.

How can anyone sit through this movie and not be moved by the plight of poor people the world over who have been controlled by tradition, superstition, power, and, greed. Every country in the world is reflected in this eloquently told story of poor Gujerati dairy farmers whose sole means of existence is based on their buffalo's milk and the control they are placed under by the higher castes of society. Shyam Benegal has told a very straightforward and real tale of the desire to reform the past and how difficult a task it is to bring change to a simple village under the spell of centuries of belief systems that rob the individual's chance of ever rising out of poverty and the control of a few. A gem and a very sobering film for all to consider.