Naseeruddin Shah says courageous films on religion should be made

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is currently at the Cannes Film Festival for the screening of his 1976 film ‘Manthan’, which also starred Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, and Amrish Puri in leading roles. While at the festival, he also spoke about the current state of cinema in India.
When asked to select a contemporary issue to make a film, he picked ‘religion’.He expressed that ‘courageous films’ on religion should be made. Talking to Brut India, he said, “I would say religion. I think courageous films should be made about this factor which seems to be on all our minds. This, to my mind, is one of the most harmful things that have happened to humanity, and that is why I consider a film that I did in Pakistan many years ago called Khuda Kay Liye, which was an important film, equally as important as Manthan.”
‘Manthan’ directed by Shyam Benegal was inspired by the life of the late Dr Verghese Kurien, the Father of India’s White Revolution. Nearly 50 years after it was made, the restored ‘Manthan’ had its world premiere at the Cannes Classics 2024 in France on Friday night, making it the only Indian film selected under the classic section this year. A session titled ‘Revisiting Manthan’ at the Cannes Classics 2024 was held at the India Pavilion of the Government of India.

Interestingly, on June 1, on the occasion of World Milk Day, the restored version of ‘Manthan’ will be released in cinemas across India.