Imphal, Feb 23: In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Boong, a debut feature in the Manipuri language, became the first Indian film to win the BAFTA for Best Children and Family Film at the 2026 ceremony held at Royal Festival Hall.
The victory marked a historic achievement at the BAFTA Awards, bringing global recognition to a rare cinematic voice from Manipur.
Producer Farhan Akhtar joined director Lakshmipriya Devi on stage along with co-producers Ritesh Sidhwani, Alan McAlex and others to receive the award. Reflecting on his long association with the director, Akhtar said, “Lakshmipriya 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, and it’s a very heartwarming story. So, it just felt right.”
The film tells the touching story of a young boy named Boong from Manipur who hopes to surprise his mother with a special gift. In his innocence, he believes bringing his missing father back home would be the greatest present. His emotional journey of searching for his father gradually transforms his life and leads to an unexpected new beginning.
At the awards, Boong triumphed over major international contenders including Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch and Arco, making its win even more remarkable.
Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and backed by Akhtar, Sidhwani, Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex and Shujaat Saudagar, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 in the Discovery section. It later screened at Warsaw 2024, MAMI Mumbai 2024, the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025.
The BAFTA win not only highlights the richness of regional storytelling but also underscores the growing global footprint of Indian cinema beyond mainstream industries.
