Shyam Benegal (1934 – 2024) is one of India’s most venerated filmmakers whose early films were iconic in India’s Parallel Cinema movement. Manthan ('The Churning', 1976) is not only one of his finest films, but its existence is also unique: 500,000 farmers contributed 2 rupees each towards the film, making history as the first-ever ‘crowd-funded’ production. Manthan tells the story of the extraordinary dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer. The movement broke the shackles of economic inequality and caste discrimination whilst empowering the farmers. Manthan was integral to spreading the message of the benefits of the cooperative to farmers across the country and thus became a vital part of building that movement. Manthan is presented from a beautiful new 4K restoration by Film Heritage Foundation. EXTRAS: • Manthan (1976) presented from the new 4K restoration by Film Heritage Foundation. • Manthan Reborn: A film on the legacy and restoration of the film, including footage from the 2024 Indian premiere of the restoration, and an interview with the late director Shyam Benegal. • Manthan at Cannes 2024: Film Heritage Foundation founder Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and actor Naseeruddin Shah interviewed by writer and broadcaster Anupama Chopra. • Booklet with new writing by author and film scholar Dr Omar Ahmed, plus Shivendra Singh Dungarpur and director Shyam Benegal on the film and the restoration. • New English subtitle translation. • Region free Blu-ray (A/B/C). • World premiere release on Blu-ray.
