I have seen this film about 15 years ago but still remember quite well, may be because I come from the region plotted in the film. The story of farmer's revolution is true and today in reality is the world's largest co-operative dairy AMUL. This film has actors, who at that time, were either newly graduated from Film Institute or had few films on their names but I think that is the charm, where the director could squeeze out the natural talent to show overwhelming expressions in the characters. In the later years most of these actors became kings of art cinema. The direction is superb; the songs and music are unique. I would recommend this film to everyone who wants "THE TASTE OF India".
14 Reviews
A Movie With A Real Message
scandojazzbuff27 October 2008
How can anyone sit through this movie and not be moved by the plight of poor people the world over who have been controlled by tradition, superstition, power, and, greed. Every country in the world is reflected in this eloquently told story of poor Gujerati dairy farmers whose sole means of existence is based on their buffalo's milk and the control they are placed under by the higher castes of society. Shyam Benegal has told a very straightforward and real tale of the desire to reform the past and how difficult a task it is to bring change to a simple village under the spell of centuries of belief systems that rob the individual's chance of ever rising out of poverty and the control of a few. A gem and a very sobering film for all to consider.
Incredible
varapradpitkar-763-56653512 February 2011
My dad saw this movie when it released in theaters back in the 70's. He insisted that I watch the movie before any other. So, I saw the movie on Amul official website(you can watch it online) and was Stunned!!. It has been 35 years since this movie released but it is just timeless. Time can erode a movie technically but the emotional part if in its place remains intact. The acting is brilliant, so is the direction and technically also, it is quite good. Shyam Benegal takes you to Gujarat in the small village. You actually FEEL for the villagers and want to join them in their fight against Amrish Puri(the Milk Mafia). It is fair in length, there is never a boring moment and as the climax approaches, the tension actually gets to you. It is an emotional ride. I will watch it 10 times if they re-release it in theaters. A must watch.
Extraordinary dramatization of social, economic change
rjfauteux27 December 1999
Manthan is an extraordinarily powerful and intense depiction of social change. As it has been 15 years since I've seen this film, my recollection of details may not be completely accurate; but the story tells the struggle of Indian dairy farmers to gain a fairer share of the proceeds of their labor from the larger milk-processing companies to whom they sell their raw milk. While my recollection of factual details about this movie is limited, I do recall vividly the strong emotional and artistic impact Manthan had on me. It should be noted that director Benegal also made Ankur (The Seedling) which, with a completely different story, also incarnates the painful social changes India is undergoing as it moves from a more to a less feudal social structure -- and in both movies dealing with these themes without preachiness or pronounced ideological heavyhandedness.
A tribute to Verghese Kurien, the Milkman of India
jmathur_swayamprabha10 November 2012
Dr. Varghese Kurien left for his heavenly abode on 09th September, 2012 and I am late in paying my tribute to him. I am paying my tribute through this review which is of a movie whose Dr. Kurien himself was a part of.
Hailed as the Milkman of India, Dr. Kurien was the pioneer of White Revolution in India which not only substantially increased milk production in India but also systematized its collection and distribution and a network of milk cooperative societies came into existence through the relentless efforts of Dr. Kurien. This compaign known as Operation Flood, created dairy cooperatives all over rural India ensuring that the milk producers get the right price of the product and are saved from the exploitation of the middlemen.
However no good work could be (and can be) done smoothly in the feudalistic and exploitative set up of India. And that's shown in director Shyam Benegal's movie - Manthan (1976) whose story was given by Dr. Kurien himself. Renowned playwright - Vijay Tendulkar wrote its screenplay and legendary Shaayar - Kaifi Aazmi wrote its dialogs.
Appearing to be inspired by the real life experience of Dr. Kurien himself, the story of Manthan (the churning) starts with the arrival of a vet, Dr. Rao (Girish Karnaad) in a small village, Sanganva (Gujarat). He has been deputed by the government to start a dairy cooperative in that area. His team includes Deshmukh (Mohan Aagashe), Chandavarkar (Anant Naag) etc. Quite naturally, the local dairy owner, Mishra (Amrish Puri) who also happens to be the money-lender of the village, is not finding this activity as compatible for his exploitative business. He buys the milk from the poor milkmen of the village at very less rates and makes exorbitant profit which is now in danger due to the forming of the cooperative society in the village. On the other hand, the sarpanch, i.e., the head of the local governing body of the village (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), sees the cooperative as another means to further his power and awe in the village. The major chunk of the village population is made by the lower caste people (HARIJANS) and they look upon not only these high profile exploiters but also the urban incomers as their enemies only, mighty but unreliable. Their leader is a good-hearted but arrogant and short-tempered youth, Bhola (Nasiruddin Shah).
Quite naturally, the path ahead for the idealist young hero, Dr. Rao is thorny and stony. But he decides not to compromise with his ideals and not to get awed by the might of the opposers. He considers all human-beings as equal and endeavours to involve the HARIJAN milkmen in the cooperative society so that the purpose of the cooperative movement is served in the real sense. Bhopa first misunderstands him but once seeing his pious intentions, he joins the society with his caste brethren. Dr. Rao also gets ample moral support from a sensible and mature milkwoman - Bindu (Smita Patil). However where on one hand, Mishra is conspiring against Dr. Rao and the cooperative society, the sarpanch after losing the election of the chairman of the cooperative society to a HARIJAN youth, goes against them on the other. Mishra gets the support of the drunkard and wicked husband of Bindu in his evil scheme and he makes many moves simultaneously to jolt Dr. Rao and his endeavours and grind his own axe. The sarpanch finally arranges the calling back of Dr. Rao to his original place through a government order. However by this time, the poor as well as the oppressed masses have identified their collective strength through the inspiration of Bhola and they do not allow the cooperative society to lose its existence despite the return of Dr. Rao and his team.
Manthan is technically superior and the complete rural milieu has got enlivened on the screen. Several real villagers have also acted in the movie. Every frame (and every character) appears to be real. The length of the movie is not much but whatever is there, the narrative proves to be thoroughly engrossing for the viewer. There is no laxity or boredom anywhere.
Music director Vanraj Bhatia has made background score according to the mood of the movie. There is only one song - Mero Gaam Katha Paare, Jahaan Doodh Ki Nadiya Baahe in the movie for which Preeti Saagar won the Filmfare award for the best female playback singer. It's a Gujarati lyric penned by Niti Saagar. And now this famous song with a clip from the movie is always used as a part of the advertisement of Amul.
The famous theatre personality, playwright and actor - Girish Karnaad has excelled in the lead role of Dr. Rao. The film also features another pillar of Indian theatre - Mohan Aagashe. Many actors who were introduced to the Indian cine-audience through the parallel cinema movement of the seventies are there in this movie, viz. Smita Patil, Nasiruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Anant Naag etc. are there and everyone of them has left his / her mark through admirable performance. Late Amrish Puri with his peculiar dialog delivery amuses the audience despite being in a negative role.
As rightly said by Bhola to Dr. Rao in the movie that it's easy to talk about ideals (or begin with them) but the real achievement is to stick to them even when everything goes against the protagonist. The idealism of most of the idealists loses its steam and even its breath midway because they are not strong from inside to endure the adverse times. All the same, the ending scene of Manthan declares loud and clear that an idealist may lose, the ideal doesn't.
Hailed as the Milkman of India, Dr. Kurien was the pioneer of White Revolution in India which not only substantially increased milk production in India but also systematized its collection and distribution and a network of milk cooperative societies came into existence through the relentless efforts of Dr. Kurien. This compaign known as Operation Flood, created dairy cooperatives all over rural India ensuring that the milk producers get the right price of the product and are saved from the exploitation of the middlemen.
However no good work could be (and can be) done smoothly in the feudalistic and exploitative set up of India. And that's shown in director Shyam Benegal's movie - Manthan (1976) whose story was given by Dr. Kurien himself. Renowned playwright - Vijay Tendulkar wrote its screenplay and legendary Shaayar - Kaifi Aazmi wrote its dialogs.
Appearing to be inspired by the real life experience of Dr. Kurien himself, the story of Manthan (the churning) starts with the arrival of a vet, Dr. Rao (Girish Karnaad) in a small village, Sanganva (Gujarat). He has been deputed by the government to start a dairy cooperative in that area. His team includes Deshmukh (Mohan Aagashe), Chandavarkar (Anant Naag) etc. Quite naturally, the local dairy owner, Mishra (Amrish Puri) who also happens to be the money-lender of the village, is not finding this activity as compatible for his exploitative business. He buys the milk from the poor milkmen of the village at very less rates and makes exorbitant profit which is now in danger due to the forming of the cooperative society in the village. On the other hand, the sarpanch, i.e., the head of the local governing body of the village (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), sees the cooperative as another means to further his power and awe in the village. The major chunk of the village population is made by the lower caste people (HARIJANS) and they look upon not only these high profile exploiters but also the urban incomers as their enemies only, mighty but unreliable. Their leader is a good-hearted but arrogant and short-tempered youth, Bhola (Nasiruddin Shah).
Quite naturally, the path ahead for the idealist young hero, Dr. Rao is thorny and stony. But he decides not to compromise with his ideals and not to get awed by the might of the opposers. He considers all human-beings as equal and endeavours to involve the HARIJAN milkmen in the cooperative society so that the purpose of the cooperative movement is served in the real sense. Bhopa first misunderstands him but once seeing his pious intentions, he joins the society with his caste brethren. Dr. Rao also gets ample moral support from a sensible and mature milkwoman - Bindu (Smita Patil). However where on one hand, Mishra is conspiring against Dr. Rao and the cooperative society, the sarpanch after losing the election of the chairman of the cooperative society to a HARIJAN youth, goes against them on the other. Mishra gets the support of the drunkard and wicked husband of Bindu in his evil scheme and he makes many moves simultaneously to jolt Dr. Rao and his endeavours and grind his own axe. The sarpanch finally arranges the calling back of Dr. Rao to his original place through a government order. However by this time, the poor as well as the oppressed masses have identified their collective strength through the inspiration of Bhola and they do not allow the cooperative society to lose its existence despite the return of Dr. Rao and his team.
Manthan is technically superior and the complete rural milieu has got enlivened on the screen. Several real villagers have also acted in the movie. Every frame (and every character) appears to be real. The length of the movie is not much but whatever is there, the narrative proves to be thoroughly engrossing for the viewer. There is no laxity or boredom anywhere.
Music director Vanraj Bhatia has made background score according to the mood of the movie. There is only one song - Mero Gaam Katha Paare, Jahaan Doodh Ki Nadiya Baahe in the movie for which Preeti Saagar won the Filmfare award for the best female playback singer. It's a Gujarati lyric penned by Niti Saagar. And now this famous song with a clip from the movie is always used as a part of the advertisement of Amul.
The famous theatre personality, playwright and actor - Girish Karnaad has excelled in the lead role of Dr. Rao. The film also features another pillar of Indian theatre - Mohan Aagashe. Many actors who were introduced to the Indian cine-audience through the parallel cinema movement of the seventies are there in this movie, viz. Smita Patil, Nasiruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Anant Naag etc. are there and everyone of them has left his / her mark through admirable performance. Late Amrish Puri with his peculiar dialog delivery amuses the audience despite being in a negative role.
As rightly said by Bhola to Dr. Rao in the movie that it's easy to talk about ideals (or begin with them) but the real achievement is to stick to them even when everything goes against the protagonist. The idealism of most of the idealists loses its steam and even its breath midway because they are not strong from inside to endure the adverse times. All the same, the ending scene of Manthan declares loud and clear that an idealist may lose, the ideal doesn't.
True reflection of our country and its challenges
rtoac17 January 2019
An inspiring story based on the Milk Cooperative movement Amul in Gujarat.
The story here about the various challenges faced in starting a cooperative. How the winning of trust, maintaining integrity and fairness, and true to purpose and values at all times are paramount. Both in winning the respect of the people, the eventual stakeholders who run the co-operative, and in being able to maintain one's sanity at the most challenging times. I'm happy also about how the movie ends in a positive note, how success and equality across caste and gender is still possible in our country
Another Shyam Benegal favourite
aslipranav2 December 2011
A remarkable, touching and memorable film. I saw it during my childhood but can never forget it. Shame it has only got a 6.8 on IMDb - probably because its not widely available on DVD and a lot of people have missed out on this gem of Indian cinema. I tried locating it on DVD during a visit to India but was not able to. (Will have to wait till BFI releases it I suppose.)
One of the reviewers mentioned its there on the Amul website. I cant recommend it enough, please see this if you can. You are in for a treat.
Smita Patil and Girish Karnad both have given very genuine, convincing performances.
One of the reviewers mentioned its there on the Amul website. I cant recommend it enough, please see this if you can. You are in for a treat.
Smita Patil and Girish Karnad both have given very genuine, convincing performances.
True story and true performance
abhijeetjingar6 March 2021
Manthan, I love this movie nd it included in my all time favourite movie list. Fantastic performance by whole cast Girish sir, amrish sahab, Naseer sahab they all are amazing actors. Outstanding screenplay and script in that times, nd last but not the least shyam benegal sahab he was an true filmmaker by heart his all movies are amazing #respectforhim , this movie inspired people in that time and it continues to inspire in today's time. #Hatsoff nd #greatrespect✨
Mostly highlighted the caste angle, believes of the backward society
TheNonSmoker10 October 2021
Those who are reading this review I suggest them to exclude casteism from their community on an individual level and raise awareness, If you believe in Sri Krishna then listen to his teachings too, In Bhagavad Gita 4:13, Krishna says that he created different varnas on the basis of one's Karma (activity) and Guna (quality), so it was never based on birth.
Rural is Real
rayirani23 December 2020
I came to know of this Movie, while watching Ravish Kumar's prime time program, in which he recommended to watch this movie.
These days farmers protest are going on against the 3 farm laws passed by government, hence watching this movie made good relevance. Its an interesting fact that this movie was produced by the same Milk cooperative society referred in the movie.
This movie is simple, with powerful actors and acting, reflects rural life and work culture in India, and showcases and inspires the power of team work and unity for development and growth .
This is currently available on youtube in color version, its worth a watch.
These days farmers protest are going on against the 3 farm laws passed by government, hence watching this movie made good relevance. Its an interesting fact that this movie was produced by the same Milk cooperative society referred in the movie.
This movie is simple, with powerful actors and acting, reflects rural life and work culture in India, and showcases and inspires the power of team work and unity for development and growth .
This is currently available on youtube in color version, its worth a watch.
Realistic Cinema
IPyaarCinema10 June 2021
Review By Kamal K
This movie is quite a nice movie and can say a revolutanaoury movie of Indian village culture and Indian cinema, All actors acted nicely. Dialogue delivery and camera works were tremendous.
Grish karnad and ismita patil did great work.
This film is the real face of that era Indian village situation and how to milk society started work.
This movie is quite a nice movie and can say a revolutanaoury movie of Indian village culture and Indian cinema, All actors acted nicely. Dialogue delivery and camera works were tremendous.
Grish karnad and ismita patil did great work.
This film is the real face of that era Indian village situation and how to milk society started work.
Real issues not exaggerated .
rahulyadavits27 December 2020
Very true issues and in true sense explored which are hurdles in uplifting of society. Another aspect shows that village person are also responsible for their pain is also true, their caste mindset still live.
Somehow same issues still exist in some parts of our country.
I like it because issues filmed in movie are main problem of our society in very true sense. Otherwise either films made issues too exaggerated that they seems far away from reality.
Somehow same issues still exist in some parts of our country.
I like it because issues filmed in movie are main problem of our society in very true sense. Otherwise either films made issues too exaggerated that they seems far away from reality.
One of the most underrated and brilliant work of Indian Cinema!!
sauravjoshi8520 May 2023
Manthan is a film based on real life incident inspired by milk cooperative movement of Late Verghese Kurien and is directed by Shyam Benegal. The film stars Late Girish Karnad, Late Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Late Amrish Puri.
A veterinarian makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people.
This is one of the most underrated and brilliant work of Indian cinema and one of the lesser talked film. The film is superb in many aspects be it the realism the film carries, the originality of the characters and their acting, the true depiction of caste-ism prevailing at that time in the society and is still prevails in some parts of rural India and also the politics between the villagers.
Screenplay of the film is superb and will keep you engrossed to the screen. Acting is superb be it Smita Patil, Nasir or Amrish Puri. Amrish Puri has again played a negative character here but this character is very different from other negative characters as there is no beating of villain, there is no hardcore action and the villain is still there to stay at the end of the film.
There is only one song in the film and the song is melodious. The climax of the film could've been little more refined but still works well. A good and underrated film to watch.
A veterinarian makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people.
This is one of the most underrated and brilliant work of Indian cinema and one of the lesser talked film. The film is superb in many aspects be it the realism the film carries, the originality of the characters and their acting, the true depiction of caste-ism prevailing at that time in the society and is still prevails in some parts of rural India and also the politics between the villagers.
Screenplay of the film is superb and will keep you engrossed to the screen. Acting is superb be it Smita Patil, Nasir or Amrish Puri. Amrish Puri has again played a negative character here but this character is very different from other negative characters as there is no beating of villain, there is no hardcore action and the villain is still there to stay at the end of the film.
There is only one song in the film and the song is melodious. The climax of the film could've been little more refined but still works well. A good and underrated film to watch.
The Tale of Social Change
shravanrathore14 September 2022
Shyam Benegal's Manthan will touch ur heart & give you a thought provoking end. The plight of real India ( Bharat ) is beautifully dramatized. Th Stalwarts of parallel cinema Smita Patil as Bindu, Naseeruddin shah as Bhola, Kulbhushan kharbanda as Sarpanch ,Girish Karnad as Dr. Rao ,Mohan Agase as Deshmukh,Anant Nag as Chandavarkar ,Amrish Puri as Mishra ji has done a commendable acting. I get goosebumps when the song played" main to dekhu thari vaat"
Really a gem to preserved.
I m big fan of The Smita Patil 💙 she is an emotion for me. I wish could meet her. But she will remain alive through her work.
Smita 17th Oct1955- Infinity.
I m big fan of The Smita Patil 💙 she is an emotion for me. I wish could meet her. But she will remain alive through her work.
Smita 17th Oct1955- Infinity.
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