Mumbai, April 1 – The Hindi classics ‘Manthan’ and ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’ have been restored for screening at the ongoing edition of the National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA).
These screenings offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience works that have played a significant role in shaping the cultural and cinematic history of India. More than just a festival event, this initiative reflects a broader shift in Australia’s cultural engagement with one of the world’s largest film industries. By bringing restored classics beyond metropolitan centres to regional audiences, the programme aims to widen access to global cinema.
‘Manthan’, directed by Shyam Benegal, is based on India’s White Revolution and the co-operative dairy movement led by Verghese Kurien. The film was uniquely funded by over 500,000 farmers of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation. It stars Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, and Naseeruddin Shah. ‘Manthan’ won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and was India’s official entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Anupam Sharma, the founder of NIFFA, said, “This is about access and inclusion at a national level. We are grateful to Shivendra and the Film Heritage Foundation. We are bringing stories that have defined generations and sharing them with audiences who may never have had the opportunity to experience them on the big screen, whether in Sydney or in the heart of regional Australia in Broken Hill or the centre of Australia in Alice Springs”.
The other film, ‘In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones’, is a Hindi-English television film directed by Pradip Krishen and written by Arundhati Roy. It is set in an architecture college and follows a group of students navigating academic pressures and personal ideals. The film stars Arjun Raina, with early appearances by Shah Rukh Khan and Manoj Bajpayee. It won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay and is noted for its realistic portrayal of student life.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the founder Director of Film Heritage Foundation, said, “Restoration is not just about saving films; it is about restoring memory, identity, and cultural continuity. Through these screenings by NIFFA, we are taking these stories beyond archives and into living, breathing audiences across Australia, with historic inroads in the outback, where they can inspire, provoke, and endure”.
“At Film Heritage Foundation, our mission has always been to rescue and revive India’s cinematic heritage. But preservation alone is not enough; these films must be seen, discussed, and rediscovered by new generations,” he added.
There will be a total of 6 screenings of both films together in Sydney, Canberra, and Perth.