London screening of Manthan celebrates South Asian heritage and people-powered cinema

As part of South Asian Heritage Month 2025, Reborn India Film Festival hosted a special screening of Shyam Benegal’s iconic film Manthan (1976) at The Garden Cinema, London, on Sunday.This landmark event pays tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most socially significant and artistically celebrated films. Starring Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, and Naseeruddin Shah, Manthan is remembered not only for its gripping portrayal of rural transformation but also for its groundbreaking production model — funded by 500,000 farmers of Gujarat who each contributed ₹2. The film, rooted in the White Revolution and the dairy cooperative movement spearheaded by Dr.

Verghese Kurien, remains a shining example of cinema as a tool for social change.Through themes of caste, community, and empowerment, Manthan continues to resonate with contemporary audiences. Its stark realism and compelling storytelling reflect the struggles and hopes of rural India on the cusp of progress.Reborn India Film Festival, known for showcasing culturally vital and socially driven cinema from the Indian subcontinent and diaspora, sees this screening as part of its mission to revive meaningful narratives.