Cannes 2024: Naseeruddin Shah, Prateik Babbar Walk Red Carpet For Manthan Screening - See Pics

Veteran director Shyam Benegal's 'Manthan' made a triumphant return to the spotlight and public consciousness with its screening at the Cannes Film Festival.

Manthan was financed by 5 lakh farmers of Gujarat 48 years ago

A restored version of the 1976 movie, inspired by the groundbreaking milk cooperative movement by Dr Verghese Kurien that transformed India into one of the largest milk producers in the world, was showcased under the Cannes Classics segment on Friday.

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah walked the red carpet at Cannes along with wife Ratna Pathak Shah, late co-star Smita Patil's son Prateik Babbar, Dr Kurien's daughter Nirmala Kurien, and Amul MD Jayen Mehta.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of Film Heritage Foundation , the not-for-profit organisation behind the restored print, also attended the film's screening.

Fronted by Smita Patil, the film was inspired by the milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, who led 'Operation Flood' to transform India from a milk-deficient country to one of the world's biggest milk producer and is credited for creating the billion-dollar brand Amul.

Co-written by Benegal and celebrated playwright Vijay Tendulkar, Gujarat-set "Manthan" was one of its kind as it was entirely crowdfunded by 5 lakh farmers who donated ₹2 each.

The film won two National Film Awards in 1977: for best feature film in Hindi and for best screenplay for Tendulkar.

It was also India's official entry to the 1976 Academy Awards in the best foreign language film category.

"Manthan" is the third consecutive movie restored by the FHF to head to Cannes, one of the most prestigious film galas around the world. The FHF brought a restoration of G Aravindan's Malayalam movie "Thampu" to Cannes Classics in 2022, followed by the restored "Ishanou" directed by Manipuri auteur Aribam Syam Sharma under the same segment last year. (All images: Getty Images, Text: PTI)