In the more than 100-year-old history of Indian cinema, an uncountable number of films have been termed as ‘milestone’. But, the film made by 5 lakh farmers of Gujarat is different. In the year 1976, cinema halls in Gujarat were filled with huge trucks and tractors of farmers. This was because a film depicting the lives of these farmers was being screened.
Largest crowdfunded movie
The film was produced with the largest crowdfunding in the world. The name of this movie was- Manthan. Manthan is India’s first crowdfunding film. The movie, directed by veteran Shyam Benegal, narrates the story of the Indian farmer, the driver of the White Revolution in India, and Amul, his dream brand. It not only details the story of Dr. Verghese Kurien, a skilled entrepreneur who made Amul a huge success but also beautifully illustrated the blending of the multitude of human characteristics.
Varghese Kurien is the main character in the movie
When in 1949 Varghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution, reached Anand, Gujarat, he was only 28 years old. He assured the farmers that the ownership of the milk produced by them would remain with them only. Amul will only get them the right value for their hard work. Later the coordination between the company and farmers led to an exponential rise in milk production in the country. Within a decade, Amul became Asia’s largest dairy unit with a production capacity of 20,000 liters per day.
Manthan highlights the entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Kurien and the labour of farmers. The introductory scene begins with a train arriving at a rural railway station in the interior of Gujarat. A young doctor named Dr. Rao gets off the train. From this scene begins the movie which depicts an Indian village of the 1970s. Dr. Rao enters the village dominated by the Dalit families, who make their living by selling milk and other products. Rao ends the atrocities of the milk mafia Mishra Ji (played by Amrish Puri) through his sheer will.
No compromise in the quality of artists
Manthan has featured artists of the highest standard including Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Amrish Puri, and Anant Nag. Vijay Tendulkar wrote the screenplay and Poet Kaifi Azmi wrote the dialogue of the movie. Preeti Sagar sang a very popular song “Mero Gam Katha”. It won the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature and Best Screenplay in Hindi.
Crowdfunding effort is in itself a huge example of farmers’ unity in diversity
Manthan was produced by Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited. No one would believe it, but the film was produced with the help of 5 lakh farmers, who contributed Rs 2 each to make it. Manthan is an iconic film in every sense. The film showcased how the milk cooperative society created by Dr. Kurien created a wave of white revolution in the society by breaking religious barriers and ending the exploitation of farmers. The film inspired cooperatives in many states to venture into the dairy sector.
Shyam Benegal explains- “We told the farmers that we will all bring a begging bowl to you and say we want to show the world the story of your labor and dedication. So, you just give us Rs 2.” But, Amul already had a system by which they used to collect milk from farmers in the morning and evening, 365 days a year. They used this communication system. Dr. Kurien told the farmers, “We will give you ‘2 Rupees’ less every day. You have to sell your milk for Rs 6 instead of Rs 8 because we want to tell your story.” The farmers agreed and thus the film was financed.
In this film, there is a classic line of Bhola (Naseeruddin Shah) in which he says – “Sisoti apni hai, apni (this is our society)”. This is believed to have prompted ITC to launch e-Choupal to digitally connect rural farmers and agricultural reform. Manthan was a huge tribute to the white revolution in India.