Watching "Manthan" released way back in 1976, on You Tube is a warm tribute to Mr Verghese Kurian, the father of milk revolution. The rustic movie with a cooperative movement backdrop was passionately and smartly directed by Shyam Benegal who gave birth to’Middle cinema’ or parallel cinema’with his immemorable movies like Ankur, Nishant, Bhumika and mandi boasting of some brilliant performances by then his kitchen actors like Nasiruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, Amrish puri, Anant nag, and Mohan Aghase.
It was a difficult subject to handle with not a very smart script with Benegal leaving many loose ends. The chemistry between Smita and Girish never unfolds in an affair. the movie was laced with some meaningful dialogues.
Manthan was India"s first crowd funded movie with five lakhs farmers contributing Rs two each. The song "Mero gaam katha parey" sung with gusto by Preeti saagar was an instant hit and became a classic. It is even popular today.
A great watch