Manthan
Encyclopedia
Manthan (The Churning) was a 1976 Hindi
film made by Shyam Benegal
, based on a story written jointly by Verghese Kurien
(the Father of the White Revolution in India) and director Shyam Benegal. It is set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood
) which started in 1970, ushering an era of plenty, from a measly amount of milk production and distribution. Aside from the great measurable success that this project was, it also demonstrated the power of "collective might".
The film went on to win the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
and National Film Award for Best Screenplay
for Vijay Tendulkar
, and was also Indian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 1976.
The title song (whose lyrics go Mero gaam kathaparey) was sung by Preeti Sagar
. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer
for that year. The song was later used as the soundtrack for the television commercial for Amul
.
in Gujarat who had the vision and foresight to act in a way that was good for the society and not for the self alone. Under, leaders like local social worker Tribhovandas Patel
, who took up the cause of farmer, lead to the formation of Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union
. Soon the pattern was repeated in each district of Gujarat, which in turn led to the formation of Amul
, a daily cooperative in Anand, Gujarat
in 1946, which is today, jointly owned by some 2.6 million milk producers in Gujarat, India.
Eventually this led to the initiation of White Revolution
of India in 1970, by creating a ‘Nationwide Milk Grid’, and setting up of ‘Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(GCMMF) in 1973, whose 5, 00,000 members, jointly financed the film, by donating Rs. 2 each. Upon its release, truckloads of farmers came to see 'their’ film, thus making it a box office success.
, a character based on then, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
chief, the 33 year old Dr. Verghese Kurien
, who joined hands with local social worker, Tribhovandas Patel
, which led to the setting up a local milk cooperative, in Anand, Gujarat
.
In the film, Dr. Rao, comes to a village, to set up a dairy cooperative, which upsets not just the middlemen, who were hitherto exploiting the villagers, but also the age-old feudal structure of the village, soon an uprising is sparked among the local untouchables, which leads to an economic revolution as well.
nk.j./
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film made by Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
, based on a story written jointly by Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien is the founder of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation , an apex cooperative organization that manages the Amul food brand. He is recognised as the man behind the success of the Amul brand.He is credited with being the architect of Operation Flood – the largest dairy...
(the Father of the White Revolution in India) and director Shyam Benegal. It is set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood
Operation Flood
Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid....
) which started in 1970, ushering an era of plenty, from a measly amount of milk production and distribution. Aside from the great measurable success that this project was, it also demonstrated the power of "collective might".
The film went on to win the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
and National Film Award for Best Screenplay
National Film Award for Best Screenplay
The National Film Award for Best Screenplay winners:-References:...
for Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi...
, and was also Indian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 1976.
The title song (whose lyrics go Mero gaam kathaparey) was sung by Preeti Sagar
Preeti Sagar
Preeti Sagar is a former Bollywood playback singer who won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the folk song Mhare gaon.. in Manthan in 1978 and was previously nominated for the hit song "My Heart is Beating" from Julie ....
. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award
The Filmfare Best Female Playback Award is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song....
for that year. The song was later used as the soundtrack for the television commercial for Amul
Amul
Amul , formed in 1946, is a dairy cooperative in India. It is a brand name managed by an apex cooperative organisation, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd...
.
Overview
The film traces a small set of poor farmers of Kheda districtKheda district
Kheda district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. Kheda city is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:...
in Gujarat who had the vision and foresight to act in a way that was good for the society and not for the self alone. Under, leaders like local social worker Tribhovandas Patel
Tribhovandas Patel
Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was the founder of the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union in 1946, and later the Amul co-operative movement in Anand, Gujarat, India.-Biography:...
, who took up the cause of farmer, lead to the formation of Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union
Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union
Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Limited was the First Co-operative Milk Producers' Union started in Gujarat, formed in Kheda district, whose founding chairman was social worker, Tribhovandas Patel....
. Soon the pattern was repeated in each district of Gujarat, which in turn led to the formation of Amul
Amul
Amul , formed in 1946, is a dairy cooperative in India. It is a brand name managed by an apex cooperative organisation, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd...
, a daily cooperative in Anand, Gujarat
Anand, Gujarat
]]Anand is the administrative centre of Anand District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is administered by Anand Municipality. It is part of the region known as Charotar, consisting of Anand and Kheda Districts....
in 1946, which is today, jointly owned by some 2.6 million milk producers in Gujarat, India.
Eventually this led to the initiation of White Revolution
Operation Flood
Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board in 1970. One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid....
of India in 1970, by creating a ‘Nationwide Milk Grid’, and setting up of ‘Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(GCMMF) in 1973, whose 5, 00,000 members, jointly financed the film, by donating Rs. 2 each. Upon its release, truckloads of farmers came to see 'their’ film, thus making it a box office success.
Plot
The film traces the origins of the movement through its fictionalized narrative, based around rural empowerment, when a young veterinary surgeon, played by Girish KarnadGirish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
, a character based on then, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
The National Dairy Development Board is an institution of national importance setup by an Act of Parliament of India. The main office is located in Anand, Gujarat with regional offices throughout the country. NDDB's subsidiaries include Mother Dairy, Delhi....
chief, the 33 year old Dr. Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien is the founder of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation , an apex cooperative organization that manages the Amul food brand. He is recognised as the man behind the success of the Amul brand.He is credited with being the architect of Operation Flood – the largest dairy...
, who joined hands with local social worker, Tribhovandas Patel
Tribhovandas Patel
Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was the founder of the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union in 1946, and later the Amul co-operative movement in Anand, Gujarat, India.-Biography:...
, which led to the setting up a local milk cooperative, in Anand, Gujarat
Anand, Gujarat
]]Anand is the administrative centre of Anand District in the state of Gujarat, India. It is administered by Anand Municipality. It is part of the region known as Charotar, consisting of Anand and Kheda Districts....
.
In the film, Dr. Rao, comes to a village, to set up a dairy cooperative, which upsets not just the middlemen, who were hitherto exploiting the villagers, but also the age-old feudal structure of the village, soon an uprising is sparked among the local untouchables, which leads to an economic revolution as well.
Cast
- Girish KarnadGirish KarnadGirish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
- Dr. Rao - Kulbhushan KharbandaKulbhushan KharbandaKulbhushan Kharbanda is an Indian actor, who worked in Hindi and Punjabi films, and is known as character Shakaal in Shaan inspired by the character of Blofeld from James Bond movies...
- Sarpanch - Smita PatilSmita PatilSmita Patil was an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Regarded among the finest stage and film actresses of her times, Patil appeared in over 75 Hindi and Marathi films in a career that spanned just over a decade. During her career, she received two National Film Awards and a...
- Bindu - Yashpal - Bindu's Husband
- Naseeruddin ShahNaseeruddin ShahNaseeruddin Shah is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.-Early life:...
- Bhola - Mohan AgasheMohan AgasheMohan Agashe is an Indian theatre and film actor. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996.-Biography:...
– Deshmukh - Anant NagAnant NagAnant Nagarkatte popularly known as Anant Nag is an actor and politician from Karnataka, India. He is considered to be one of the all time greatest actors in the Kannada film industry with a vast number of commercially successful movies. As a result, he is popularly known as an actor with...
- Chandavarkar - Amrish PuriAmrish PuriAmrish Singh Puri , ; 22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005 was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad...
– Mishraji - Abha Dhulia – Shanta (Dr Rao's Wife)
Awards and recognition
- 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in HindiNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in HindiThe National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
- 1977 National Film Award for Best ScreenplayNational Film Award for Best ScreenplayThe National Film Award for Best Screenplay winners:-References:...
: Vijay TendulkarVijay TendulkarVijay Tendulkar was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi... - 1977: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback SingerFilmfare Best Female Playback AwardThe Filmfare Best Female Playback Award is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song....
: Preeti SagarPreeti SagarPreeti Sagar is a former Bollywood playback singer who won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the folk song Mhare gaon.. in Manthan in 1978 and was previously nominated for the hit song "My Heart is Beating" from Julie .... - 1976: Indian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Further reading
- Shyam Benegal's the Churning (Manthan): Screenplay, by, Vijay Tendulkar, Shyam Benegal, Samik Banerjee. Seagull Books, 1984. ISBN 0861320700.
External links
Watch Onlinenk.j./