Boong India’s first win @BAFTA

Between nomination and win, few films bridge the gap so convincingly. Those of us who have watched heart-tugging Manipuri film Boong with tears and joy know all too well how this small film, powered by wonderful child actors deserved to win big. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, the cinematic gem created history by becoming the first Indian film to win the prestigious BAFTA in the Children and Family category.

For those of us living under the rock, this, however, is not the first time Boong has tasted success. Rather ever since it started its journey with its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, it has crossed the ‘one-inch tall barrier’ of subtitles more than once and picked up awards like Excellence in Feature Filmmaking, International South Asian Film Festival 2024, Canada; Best Youth Film at 17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2024, Australia and more. Yet when the film won a BAFTA nomination the director claimed she had no strategy in place and the film’s amazing journey has nothing to do with her. What’s more evolving into ‘master of no expectations’ she had not pinned any hopes on her film’s fate at BAFTA. Clearly when humility meets zero expectations, when personal meets universal, result is a film that not just wins hearts but touches more than an emotional chord. If her wondrous child actor Gugun Kipgen could relate with the bathroom scene where he steals his mother’s mobile phone to call up his father, a man in Toronto had reached out to her after the screening at TIFF. She recalls, “It was so strange that while this full grown adult had a similar experience as in Boong, he admitted to having found closure only after watching my film.” Today, after the win, she hopes her beloved homeland, the strife-torn state of Manipur, too would find peace.

BAFTA win, however, is not going to change her or her beliefs. If she made Boong in ‘perfect time zone,’ next too would come to her as organically. Pre- BAFTA she had shared with laughter reaching her eyes, “Had I made the same film when I started out my career in Mumbai as an assistant director perhaps Boong would have had zillion songs, may be not in Manipuri either.” But the win has certainly brought focus where much needed. To stories rooted in soil, to regions often ignored. For someone who grew up on her grandmother’s folk tales and mentoring by her aunt, MK Binodini Devi, writer of films like Ishanou and Imagi Ningthem, Lakshmipriya shines light on Manipuri cinema. The unassuming director however doesn’t think Bollywood has forgotten to tell stories and is ready to once again don the role of AD. Until, a new story beckons. Until then let’s rejoice in the fact that our very own Boong piped past major international titles. Lakshmipriya, sure, makes our heads swoon with pride and pleasure.