National broadcaster Doordarshan will honor the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal by screening the 4K restored version of his iconic film Manthan on January 1, 2025, at 8 pm. The move comes shortly after Benegal’s passing on December 23 at the age of 90, following a prolonged battle with chronic kidney disease.

Benegal, a stalwart of India’s parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, was known for creating films with social relevance and depth. Manthan, released in 1976, stands as one of his most celebrated works, portraying the transformative milk cooperative movement spearheaded by Dr. Verghese Kurien.

The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), which restored the film in 4K resolution for its screening at the Cannes Classic section earlier this year, announced the telecast through its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Manthan, known as Churning in English, was a groundbreaking film financed by 500,000 farmers from Gujarat who contributed Rs. 2 each. The opening credits of the film famously read: “500,000 Farmers of Gujarat present.”

Starring Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Amrish Puri, the film narrates the story of a young veterinary doctor who battles societal oppression to establish a milk cooperative. The story highlights the empowerment of rural farmers and showcases the spirit of collective resilience.

The film not only shed light on India’s milk revolution but also symbolized grassroots collaboration, being a rare example of farmer-funded cinema. The restoration of Manthan was supported by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), further cementing its connection to India’s dairy heritage.

Doordarshan’s screening of the restored version of Manthan is both a tribute to Benegal’s cinematic legacy and an opportunity for audiences to revisit a pivotal moment in Indian history.