On Sunday night, Manipuri film Boong, helmed by Lakshmipriya Devi, scored a win at the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), becoming the first Indian feature to register a victory at the coveted awards.
Boong won the best children’s and family film honour, beating Hollywood biggies like Lilo & Stitch and Zootropolis 2. Also written by Devi, the coming-of-age drama film stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam.
An elated Ritesh Sidhwani, one of the producers and who also attended the ceremony, spoke to mid-day about the historic feat, calling it a win for “many unheard voices” across the country. “Boong was made in a language from India’s Manipur, a region rich in culture and storytelling, but rarely represented internationally. It’s not just a win for our team, but for the many unheard voices across India,” he said.
According to Sidhwani, the achievement reaffirmed his belief about one thing yet again. “That stories don’t need scale, they need soul,” the producer said. Akhtar also accompanied Devi and Sidhwani at the ceremony.
Boong’s win is also considered both poignant and a sign of hope, given the ongoing unrest that has left the state devastated. While receiving the award, Devi said that she wished that peace returned to Manipur. “We pray that all the internally displaced children, including the child actors in the film, regain their joy, their innocence, and their dreams once again. We pray that no conflict is ever formidable enough to destroy the one superpower that all of us have as human beings, that is, forgiveness. So thank you, BAFTA, for giving us not only an award, but this stage to express our hope,” the filmmaker said.
