What is Boong? All about the Manipuri film that recently won a BAFTA award
Manipuri film Boong created history by winning the BAFTA Award for Best Children and Family Film. The win highlights the rise of regional Indian cinema on the global stage. Here’s everything you need to know about the film.
manipuri film boong It made history by winning the BAFTA Award for Best Children’s and Family Film at the 2026 awards, beating Hollywood giants like Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2. Backed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, it is the first Indian film to win in this category. Let’s talk about this gem that is putting Northeast India on the global map.
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What is? boong really about?
In a small village in Manipur, a small boongA wide-eyed boy, played by newcomer Gugun Kipgen, wants to give his mother the perfect surprise gift. His big plan? Find her absentee father and bring him home for a family reunion. But innocence meets harsh reality as her innocent quest from the hills of Manipur to the border town of Moreh (and even across the border into Myanmar) shatters her world and leads to an unexpected turn of growth and renewal. It’s a moving coming-of-age story, with hearty laughs and emotional shocks, but no melodrama.
Who is behind this magic?
Meet writer-director Lakshmipriya Devi, who is making her feature debut after assisting on Bollywood stalwarts like Lakshya and PK. She crafts a story that is simple yet profound, shot in the stunning Manipuri landscape with local flavour. Excel Entertainment came on board, proving that the Bollywood giant is betting on regional stories. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, released in Indian theaters in September 2025, and is now BAFTA Gold.
Who are the stars in it?
No A-listers here, just raw talent shining through. Gugun Kipgen plays the lead character of Boong. The kid steals every scene with his pure-hearted charm. Angom Sanamatum plays the role of Raju Agarwal, Boong’s best friend. Bala Hijam plays Boong’s mother Mandakini who exudes quiet strength and heartbreak. Actor Vikram Kochhar plays the role of Raju’s father Sudhir Agarwal.
The cast also includes locals like Nemetiya Ngangbam, Jenny Khoury, Modhubala Thodam and Edhau and Hamom Sadananda.
boong is about authentic faces telling a Manipuri story in its native language with subtitles for a global audience.
what are the rewards boong Caught yet?
boong Even before BAFTA, there was a festival, Dear. The film has also won the title of Best Children and Family Film at BAFTA 2026.
Best Feature Film at the International South Asian Film Festival, Canada and Best Youth Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Australia.
Here are other achievements:
- International Film Festival of India: Nominated for Best Debut Director (Indian Feature).
- Bulbul Children’s International Film Festival, Goa: Best Director.
- Indie Meme Film Festival: Audience Choice for Best Narrative Feature.
This victory screams for regional cinema to move forward!’ Manipur’s stories rarely figure on the global radar, but boong This proves that heart and honesty travel far.
