Shyam Benegal’s masterpiece ‘Manthan’ received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, leaving the audience in awe of Indian storytelling. The film, inspired by the milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, showcased the journey of transforming India into the world’s largest milk producer, thanks to ‘Operation Flood’ and the creation of the iconic brand ‘Amul’.
The premiere of ‘Manthan’ at Cannes was a star-studded affair with the presence of Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik Babbar, Nirmala Kurien, Anita Patil Deshmukh, and many more. The film’s restoration was a collaborative effort by Film Heritage Foundation, Prasad Corporation Pvt. Ltd., L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory, and Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Amul).
The highlight of the screening was the thunderous applause and standing ovation that followed the film’s conclusion, a testament to its impact on the audience. Speaking about the event, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of Film Heritage Foundation, expressed his delight at presenting another restored classic at Cannes.
Interestingly, ‘Manthan’ is India’s first crowdfunded film, with 500,000 dairy farmers contributing towards its production. The film will be released nationwide on World Milk Day, June 1st, 2024, allowing Indian audiences to experience its magic once again.
Amul India also joined the celebration by creating a special doodle featuring the Amul girl as a tribute to the Cannes premiere of ‘Manthan’. The creative received praise on social media for its innovative approach. With a stellar cast and a powerful narrative, ‘Manthan’ continues to captivate audiences and make a mark in Indian cinema history.