Manthan- White Revolution Movement
I was searching for movies of Smita Patil and I got
a movie named Manthan. I watched that movie. The first reaction after watching
the movie was that the movie was successful to show grassroots level work of
Development organization. For more than 5 years I have been working at the
grassroots level, so I can relate this movie very well. This movie will be
closed to the hearts of all who work at grassroots for promotions of
federations, FPOs , and Co-operatives.
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| Mathan: Movie Review |
The word Manthan Literally means “The
Churning”. Work at the grassroots level is not easy and it was even
more difficult 30-40 years before. Manthan was the churning of facts, local
politics, group dynamics, casteism, grassroots development, and attitude of the
politician, development professionals, and community. This movie was based on the story of the White revolution pioneered by Dr.
Verghese Kurien. It was the era in which the co-operative concept was new for
Gujarat. There was a monopoly of a few powerful people in milk
business. This movie showed the struggle of development workers to
organize the unorganized community under the umbrella of
co-operative.
The plot of the movie was in the small village of Kheda
district of Gujarat. The film traces a small set of
poor farmers of Kheda district in Gujarat who had the vision and foresight to
act in a way that was good for the society and not for the self alone. In this
movie, we can see so many social, political, and economic dimensions of
villages. It showed the typical village's life and
contemporary social stratification in the villages. The film was successful to
give the feel of the village’s life. On one hand, same person form upper caste
was Sarpanch in power since 20 years and Mishra (Amrish Puri), a moneylender,
who ruled the village by giving loan with usurious interest rate and looting by
taking milk from them at low prices. On the other hand oppressed community
which had a fear of getting unite against the powerful people, Bhola
(Nasaruddin Shah), a leader of Harijan was pushing his community up for
organizing under co-operative, and women were as usual oppressed by a
patriarchal society. There were a group of development professionals
headed by Dr. Rao (Girish Karnad) who became sandwich in between oppressed and
oppressor.
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| Mathan: Organize the unorganized |
The film was beautifully written by renowned writer
Vijay Tendulkar and directed by sensitive Mr. Shyam Benegal. The film has a
strong star cast. Amarish Puri was in the role of diary owner, Smita Patil was
looking pretty in the role of village women, Nasaruddin Shah poured life in the
role of leader of Harijan, Dr Mohan Agashe had played role of one of
development professional and Girish Karnad was outstanding in the role of Dr,
Rao. It has been said that story of Dr. Rao was resembled to the story of Dr,
Kurian. Songs in this movie was meaningful and getting the feel of the soil of
Gujarat. Entire movie one can enjoy the local songs written by Niti Sagar.
This movie took the
crowdfunding in India at a different level and showed the power of “collective
might”. For this film 5 Lakh farmers, who were the members of Gujarat
Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. donated Rs. 2 each. Mathan is “The First Crowdfunded movie in India.” The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
and National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Vijay Tendulkar.
There was a very charmingly meaningful song in this
film that can one opt to listen again and again. The film begins and ends
with this song.
मेरो गाम काठा पारे ... जहां दूध की नदियां बाहे
जहां कोयल टहूको गाये... म्हारे घर अंगना न भूलो ना
जहां कोयल टहूको गाये... म्हारे घर अंगना न भूलो ना
YouTube Link : https://youtu.be/91qliAxU1pA
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