In a special moment for Indian cinema, the Manipuri-language film Boong won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. The emotional drama, which has been making waves on the international festival circuit, emerged victorious against competitors like Arco, Lilo & Stitch, and Zootropolis 2.
The film marks the directorial debut of Lakshmipriya Devi. While this is her first feature as a director, she is no stranger to the industry, having previously served as an assistant director on major Bollywood projects such as Lakshya and PK. Upon accepting the award, Lakshmipriya paid a heartfelt tribute to her home state of Manipur. She used the platform to address the difficult situation in the region, highlighting the displacement and disruption caused by the recent unrest. She said, “I just want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return to Manipur. We pray that all the internally displaced children, including the child actors in the film, regain their joy, their innocence, and their dream once again. We pray that no conflict is ever formidable enough to destroy the one superpower that all of us have as human beings, that is forgiveness. So thank you, BAFTA, for giving us not only an award, but this stage to express our hope.”
Boong follows the journey of a young boy of the same name, played by child actor Gugun Kipgen. The plot is based on Boong’s attempts to reunite his family. Driven by the belief that bringing his missing father home will restore his mother’s happiness, Boong sets out on an adventure with his best friend, Raju (played by Angom Sanamatum). Their journey takes them to the border town of Moreh and eventually into Myanmar.
The film also stars Bala Hijam Ningthoujam as Boong’s mother, Mandakini. While the movie is framed as a coming-of-age story, it also touches upon complex socio-political themes, including identity politics, racial tension, and LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the Excel Entertainment banner, the film holds a deep personal connection for the team. Farhan Akhtar, speaking on the association, said, “Lakshmipriya Devi and I have known each other for about 20 years. This film is set in a region of India from which we rarely get to watch films. It was nice to support that as well, and it’s a very heartwarming story. So, it just felt right.”
The filming of Boong was completed in 2023, finishing just a week before major ethnic violence broke out in Manipur. Before its BAFTA win, Boong premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and was screened at various platforms, including the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It has previously won awards such as Best Youth Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Excellence in Feature Filmmaking at the International South Asian Film Festival in Canada. After a select theatrical release in India on September 19, 2025, this BAFTA win serves as a big achievement for regional Indian storytelling.
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