Cannes 2024: Shyam Benegal’s Manthan Makes Grand Return at the Film Festival; Late Actor Smita Patil’s Son Prateik Babbar Attends Screening

The international film festival Cannes 2024 is grabbing all the headlines. As the event enters its third day, veteran director Shyam Benegal’s “Manthan,” a film financed by 5 lakh farmers of Gujarat, captured the spotlight when it was screened at the festival. The film is inspired by the restored version of the 1976 classic, which was ignited by a groundbreaking milk cooperative movement led by Dr. Verghese Kurien.

Who was Dr. Verghese Kurien?

Dr. Verghese Kurien, also known as the Milkman of India, was an Indian dairy engineer and social entrepreneur. He spearheaded the extensive increase in milk production in India, known as the White Revolution.

Screening of Manthan at Cannes 2024

Manthan cast its magic at the international film festival. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, along with his wife Ratna Pathak Shah, walked the red carpet. Late co-star Smita Patil’s son Prateik Babbar, Dr. Kurien’s daughter Nirmala Kurien, and Amul MD Jayen Mehta also graced the event.

“Manthan team of Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik Babbar, Ms Nirmala Kurien, @FHF_Official team, & Shri @Jayen_Mehta, MD, Amul, representing 3.6 million farmer producers of the film at @Festival_Cannes #ManthanAtCannes,” the official X page of Amul posted.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who heads the Film Heritage Foundation that restored the print, was also present at the screening.

“Film Heritage Foundation returned to the red carpet at Cannes for a third year in a row last night at the world premiere of our restoration of Shyam Benegal’s landmark film ‘Manthan,‘ produced by 500,000 dairy farmers, at the Cannes Film Festival 2024,” FHF posted on X.

Manthan is co-written by Benegal and celebrated playwright Vijay Tendulkar. Interestingly, the movie was entirely crowdfunded by 5 lakh farmers who each donated Rs. 2 lakh.