Amitabh Bachchan is 'so proud' as Smita Patil's 'Manthan' to have world premiere at Cannes Film Festival

The restored version of noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 1976 film 'Manthan' will be screened at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Starring late actor Smita Patil, 'Manthan' is the only Indian film to be selected under the Cannes Classic section of the festival this year. The news was shared by veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan on X, where he praised the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) for their continuous efforts to preserve the legacy of Indian cinema.

'Manthan' to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival

The Film Heritage Foundation has joined hands with Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. to screen the restored version of 'Manthan' at the upcoming edition of the Cannes Film Festival. According to the Cannes Film Festival website, “Manthan” will be screened under ‘Cannes Classics’, a section created 20 years ago that features celebrations, restored prints, and documentaries.

Presenting at the prestigious film festival for the third year in a row, FHF has previously premiered ‘Thamp̄’ (2022) and ‘Ishanou’ (2023) at the global event.

Amitabh Bachchan's shoutout to FHF

Amitabh Bachchan took to X to express his admiration for the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) for its commitment to preserving India’s cinematic history after Shyam Benegal’s iconic 1976 film 'Manthan' was selected for the Screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

“So proud that the Film Heritage Foundation will be at the Cannes Film Festival for the third year in a row with another world premiere of a remarkable restoration - Shyam Benegal's film “Manthan” that had compelling performances from an exceptional cast including Smita Patil. Just amazing the work that Film Heritage Foundation does to preserve, restore and showcase the best of India's film heritage to the world,” Bachchan wrote on social media.

About 'Manthan'

'Manthan', a fictionalised version of the beginnings of the extraordinary dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world's largest milk producer, was inspired by Dr. Verghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution. It is also India's first crowd-sourced film, with 5,00,000 dairy farmers contributing INR 2/- each to its production. Along with Smita Patil, the film also starred Naseeruddin Shah.

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