Manthan –The Churning

A Review

Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter.

With his first four feature films: Ankur (1973),Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977) he created a new genre called alternative cinema

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991

He was also awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award for lifetime achievement in cinema, the highest award in the field of cinema

He has authored three books---The Churning, Satyajit Ray, & The Marketplace

He’s the President of the Federation of film societies of India and owns the Company Sahayadri Films.

Intro-Director

The film traces the origins of the movement through its fictionalized narrative, based around rural empowerment

A young veterinary surgeon, played by Girish Karnad ( a character based on then, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) chief, the 33 year old Dr. Varghese 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 middlemen, who were hitherto exploiting the villagers

This also challenges 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.

The Plot

Girish Karnad - Dr. Rao

Kulbhushan Kharbanda - Sarpanch

Smita Patil - Bindu

Yashpal - Bindu's Husband

Naseeruddin Shah - Bhola

Mohan Agashe – Deshmukh

Anant Nag - Chandavarkar

Amrish Puri – Mishra ji

Main Cast

Wedge that exists between people on the basis of castes

Differentiation between people on basis of wealth, and influence

Prejudice that rural people tend to have towards urban people (and vice-versa)

A segregated but not a united society .

Exploitation of uneducated and lower caste women

Exploitation of poor by the affluent---In this case exploitation of lone cattle owners by large and singular dairy farm owners.

Underlying issues delineated

It’s all about WE not ME (Dr. Karunakar)

The mantra of success (Commander Venkateshwara)

It works (Mr. Sudarshan)

Need of all times for success (Dr. Swamy)

Where V comes before I (Prof. Kavita)

Outstanding results (Prof. Vittal)

Together we achieve more (Prof. Sasmita)

Cooperation (Mr. Raghava)

What is Team Work?

Delegating tasks--- Through Bhola, and others

Leading by being between people and being a part of them

Patience and ability to take losses in the short run may influence the outcome differently

Team building, and development

Emphasis on self and interdependence leading to better outcome.

Staying calm in times of adversity

Management Lessons

Not letting go of your values

Courage

Co-operation and unity

Self-Reliance

Life Lessons

This is the first time a film has been funded by farmers. It was funded by 500,000 farmers

Manthan while it refers to the process of churning it also alludes to the social restructuring of society

Projects the ability of farmers to overcome adversity and stay close in hard times thus putting across a strong social message

Highlights in a precise and highly observant way the idiosyncrasy and attitudes of the then society at large, effectively.

Marketing and production

Operation Flood was a rural development programme started by India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1970.

One of the largest of its kind, the programme objective was to create a nationwide milk grid.

It resulted in making India the largest producer of milk and milk products, and hence is also called the White Revolution of India.

It also helped reduce malpractices by milk traders and merchants.

This revolution followed the Indian Green Revolution and supposedly helped in alleviating poverty and famine levels from their dangerous proportions in India during the era.

White revolution

Progressive revolution

1976: Indian submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi

1977 National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Vijay Tendulkar

1977: Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer: Preeti Sagar

Awards and honors

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