In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, the Manipuri-language film Boong won the BAFTA award in the Best Children’s & Family Film category, surpassing international nominees including Lilo and Stitch, Arco and Zootropolis 2. The victory highlights the growing global recognition of stories emerging from Northeast India.
Debutant director Lakshmipriya Devi delivered an emotional acceptance speech after receiving the trophy from Paddington Bear, the lead character from the West End show Paddington The Musical. She was joined on stage by producers Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, along with assistant director Rahul Sharda.
Using the platform to address ongoing unrest in Manipur, Devi called for peace and expressed hope that internally displaced children — including young actors involved in the film — would regain their joy, innocence and dreams. She emphasised forgiveness as a powerful human strength and thanked BAFTA for offering a global stage to share that message.
Starring Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam, Boong first premiered in the Discovery section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film later travelled to several major festivals worldwide, including the Warsaw International Film Festival 2024, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, the International Film Festival of India, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025.
