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'Homage to my homeland': Manipuri film 'Boong' wins BAFTA
The film by Lakshmipriya Devi first debuted in 2024 at the Toronto Film Festival.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Mon, 23, Feb 2026
- 00:34 EST
- 18
Poster of Boong / excelmovies via Instagram
In a surprise win for Indian cinema, a Manipuri language film 'Boong' has bagged the BAFTA's Children’s and Family Film award on Feb. 22.
The coming-of-age drama film, written and directed by debutant director Lakshmipriya Devi, defeated box-office-bigshot nominees 'Lilo & Stitch', 'Zootropolis' and 'Arco'. The win is a major affirmation of the film considering that both Zootropolis and Arco are Oscar-nominated.
Accepting the award, Devi said, "The walk up till here felt like the last few steps to reach a summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place. So, thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our very small film such big love."
The film revolves around a young boy, Boong's, attempt to bring back his father, who had crossed the Indian border in search of work and had stopped communications with the family.
ALSO READ: Geeta Gandbhir's 'The Perfect Neighbor' gets BAFTA nod
The cast does not boast any industry superstars in its cast except Producer Farhan Akhtar. It features Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai and Hamom Sadananda in key roles.
Devi also used the global stage to highlight ongoing tensions in Manipur. She said that Boong is a "film that is not only rooted in a place which is very troubled, very much ignored and very unrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur.It's a homage to my homeland.
She added, "So 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."
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