<p>Manipuri film <i>Boong</i>, which was released in 2024, created a historic moment when it became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA. The film continued its remarkable award season run by taking home three honours at the New York Indian Film Festival, which concluded its four-day run on May 31.</p><h2>Boong bags three honours at New York Indian Film Festival</h2><p>At the New York Indian Film Festival, <i>Boong</i> won the Film Critics Circle of India's Best Debut Film award, while Devi was named Best Director. Young actor Gugun Kipgen earned the Best Child Actor honour for his performance in the film. While Boong dominated with three awards, Baksho Bondi (shadowbox) secured the festival's highest honour, winning the best film.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/upsc-prelims-question-on-boong-leaves-aspirants-surprised-do-you-know-this-historic-bafta-winner-1779707578407"><strong>UPSC prelims question on Boong leaves aspirants surprised: Do you know this historic BAFTA winner?</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For the unversed, written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, it stars Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai and Hamom Sadananda. The film had its world premiere at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024. At the 79th BAFTA, it won Best Children's &amp; Family Film and became the first Indian film to win. Produced by Excel Entertainment, it was re-released on March 6.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/beyond-the-borders-of-bollywood-why-boong-s-bafta-win-is-india-s-true-cinematic-watershed-1771852310231"><strong>Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed</strong></a></p><h2>Other winners at New York Indian Film Festival 2026</h2><p>Major winners at the New York Indian Film Festival were <i>Vimkut</i>, who was named Best Actor, and Meenakshi Jayan, who won Best Actress for <i>Victoria</i>. The Best Screenplay award went to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for <i>Tighee</i>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/has-bafta-removed-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-s-winning-speech-from-social-media-1772182121274"><strong>Has BAFTA removed Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s winning speech from social media?</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In non-fiction categories, <i>Deja Vu</i> won Best Documentary Feature, while Waai took home Best Documentary Short. <i>Jo's Turn</i> was awarded Best Narrative Short.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-s-bafta-acceptance-speech-re-uploaded-on-youtube-after-disappearing-from-social-media-1772255035707"><strong>Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s BAFTA acceptance speech re-uploaded on YouTube after disappearing from social media</strong></a></p><h2>All about New York Indian Film Festival 2026</h2><p>The 2026 NYIFF, which took place in May, featured a diverse lineup across 15 languages, including a 4K restored screening of the 1975 classic film Sholay. The New York Indian Film Festival is the oldest such film event in North America. We present NYIFF 2026, the 26th edition, from May 28 to 31; four days will be packed with a celebration of new Indian cinema from different regions of the country, which is a mixture of films and conversations.&nbsp;</p>

After winning BAFTA, Boong continued its historic run by bagging three honours at New York Film Festival. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, it stars Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam and Angom Sanamatum, among others. 

Manipuri film Boong, which was released in 2024, created a historic moment when it became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA. The film continued its remarkable award season run by taking home three honours at the New York Indian Film Festival, which concluded its four-day run on May 31. Boong bags three honours at New York Indian Film Festival At the New York Indian Film Festival, Boong won the Film Critics Circle of India's Best Debut Film award, while Devi was named Best Director. Young actor Gugun Kipgen earned the Best Child Actor honour for his performance in the film. While Boong dominated with three awards, Baksho Bondi (shadowbox) secured the festival's highest honour, winning the best film. Also Read: UPSC prelims question on Boong leaves aspirants surprised: Do you know this historic BAFTA winner? For the unversed, written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, it stars Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai and Hamom Sadananda. The film had its world premiere at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024. At the 79th BAFTA, it won Best Children's & Family Film and became the first Indian film to win. Produced by Excel Entertainment, it was re-released on March 6. Also Read: Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed Other winners at New York Indian Film Festival 2026 Major winners at the New York Indian Film Festival were Vimkut, who was named Best Actor, and Meenakshi Jayan, who won Best Actress for Victoria. The Best Screenplay award went to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for Tighee. Also Read: Has BAFTA removed Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s winning speech from social media? In non-fiction categories, Deja Vu won Best Documentary Feature, while Waai took home Best Documentary Short. Jo's Turn was awarded Best Narrative Short. Also Read: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s BAFTA acceptance speech re-uploaded on YouTube after disappearing from social media All about New York Indian Film Festival 2026 The 2026 NYIFF, which took place in May, featured a diverse lineup across 15 languages, including a 4K restored screening of the 1975 classic film Sholay. The New York Indian Film Festival is the oldest such film event in North America. We present NYIFF 2026, the 26th edition, from May 28 to 31; four days will be packed with a celebration of new Indian cinema from different regions of the country, which is a mixture of films and conversations.

<p>After winning BAFTA, Boong continued its historic run by bagging three honours at New York Film Festival. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, it stars Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam and Angom Sanamatum, among others.&nbsp;</p>

Boong continues its historic award season run with three honours at New York Indian Film Festival 2026

<p>Award-winning and globally acclaimed Manipuri film Boong recently found a mention in the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1). The question related to Boong was asked as a current affairs question.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The question highlighted the film’s historic win at the BAFTA Film Awards earlier this year.&nbsp;</p><h2>What was the question asked around Boong?</h2><p>The UPSC Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1) asked a multiple-choice question about the film.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>The question asked was:&nbsp;</i></p><p><i>Consider the following statements with regard to the film ‘Boong’:&nbsp;</i></p><p><i>1: The film recently won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award in the Children's and Family Film category. &nbsp;</i></p><p><i>2: The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.&nbsp;</i></p><p><i>3: This is the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children's and Family Film category.</i></p><p><i>The answer was option A- all three statements are correct</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i><strong>Also read: </strong></i><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-s-manipuri-drama-boong-wins-1771786875450"><strong>BAFTA 2026: Farhan Akhtar's Manipuri drama Boong wins</strong></a></p><h2>Why Boong made the cut</h2><p>UPSC is known to ask questions related to major cultural moments, and Boong naturally made the cut for its historic win at the BAFTAs earlier this year. It was the first Indian and Manipuri film to win a BAFTA award in history. At the BAFTAs 2026, Boong won the best children’s film award.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/beyond-the-borders-of-bollywood-why-boong-s-bafta-win-is-india-s-true-cinematic-watershed-1771852310231"><strong> Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed</strong></a></p><h2>About Boong</h2><p>Set in Manipur, it narrates the story of a young boy who embarks on a journey to find his missing father as a gift to his mother. The film is narrated from a 9-year-old boy’s perspective but also highlights the political climate of the state.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Before hitting the global stage, the project was part of the National Film Development Corporation's (NFDC) Film Bazaar (under the Work in Progress Lab) and later screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) under the Best Debut Director category. It was co-produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/has-bafta-removed-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-s-winning-speech-from-social-media-1772182121274"><strong>Has BAFTA removed Boong director’s winning speech from social media?</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Boong Global Win was a huge moment for independent regional cinema, so it made total sense why the UPSC examiners picked it up for the current affairs section!</p>

The Manipuri film Boong, which attained global recognition earlier this year for its BAFTA win found a mention at the recenet  UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1). Here's why.

Award-winning and globally acclaimed Manipuri film Boong recently found a mention in the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1). The question related to Boong was asked as a current affairs question. The question highlighted the film’s historic win at the BAFTA Film Awards earlier this year. What was the question asked around Boong? The UPSC Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1) asked a multiple-choice question about the film. The question asked was: Consider the following statements with regard to the film ‘Boong’: 1: The film recently won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award in the Children's and Family Film category. 2: The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi. 3: This is the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children's and Family Film category. The answer was option A- all three statements are correct Also read: BAFTA 2026: Farhan Akhtar's Manipuri drama Boong wins Why Boong made the cut UPSC is known to ask questions related to major cultural moments, and Boong naturally made the cut for its historic win at the BAFTAs earlier this year. It was the first Indian and Manipuri film to win a BAFTA award in history. At the BAFTAs 2026, Boong won the best children’s film award. Also read: Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed About Boong Set in Manipur, it narrates the story of a young boy who embarks on a journey to find his missing father as a gift to his mother. The film is narrated from a 9-year-old boy’s perspective but also highlights the political climate of the state. Before hitting the global stage, the project was part of the National Film Development Corporation's (NFDC) Film Bazaar (under the Work in Progress Lab) and later screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) under the Best Debut Director category. It was co-produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures. Also read: Has BAFTA removed Boong director’s winning speech from social media? Boong Global Win was a huge moment for independent regional cinema, so it made total sense why the UPSC examiners picked it up for the current affairs section!

<p>The Manipuri film Boong, which attained global recognition earlier this year for its BAFTA win, found a mention at the recent &nbsp;UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper 1). Here's why.</p>

UPSC prelims question on Boong leaves aspirants surprised: Do you know this historic BAFTA winner?

<p>The Manipuri film, <i>Boong</i>, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, created history at the BAFTA Awards. It became the first Indian film to bag an award at the prestigious ceremony in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. Recently, Devi opened up about the emotional toll that she experienced while working on the post-production of the film.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-s-manipuri-drama-boong-wins-1771786875450"><strong>BAFTA 2026: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award, scripts history</strong></a></p><h2>Why was editing Boong difficult?</h2><p>During an interview with PTI, the filmmaker shared that it was hard for her to look at the film’s footage objectively. "I could not edit the film for a very long time. I would break down every time I would see the footage," she said. "Knowing that the entire second half of the film was shot in places that were now in rubble... it affected me. It took a couple of months before I could look at the footage objectively from a distance."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-winning-film-boong-set-to-release-in-theatres-on-this-date-1772199366641"><strong>BAFTA winning film Boong set to release in theatres on THIS date</strong></a></p><h2>Lakshmipriya Devi on BAFTA win</h2><p>She also spoke about the moment when <i>Boong </i>won at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, which was held in London. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Despite the global recognition, the director now hopes "to go back more under the radar after this and not let this get to me."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/india-s-lone-warrior-at-bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-reacts-as-boong-scores-historic-nomination-1769612943347"><strong>India's lone warrior at BAFTA 2026: Farhan Akhtar reacts as Boong scores historic nomination</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"With film festivals like BAFTA, at least the first step of awareness has been created, which is like giving people the idea that, 'Hey, there's a place called Manipur and films like this are outside of Bollywood indie', but beyond that it's up to audiences to take that knowledge forward and apply it," she added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/-moment-of-immense-joy-pm-narendra-modi-congratulates-boong-team-after-bafta-win-1771851557517"><strong> 'Moment of immense joy': PM Narendra Modi congratulates Boong team after BAFTA win</strong></a></p><h2>About Boong</h2><p>The film is a coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of racial tensions in Manipur. Emphasising on <i>Boong</i>, Devi stated, "This is not a political film. It is the story of a boy who lives in a place where these kinds of things happen... If somebody thinks it's political, it's their perspective."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The story revolves around a schoolboy who looks for his missing father in the hope of bringing him home and surprising his mother. Exploring the themes of love and discrimination, <i>Boong </i>is produced by Excel Entertainment. The film features Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam in key roles.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The director of Boong, Lakshmipriya Devi, recently revealed that it was difficult for her to edit the film because she struggled to look at the film's footage. Read on to know more.

The Manipuri film, Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, created history at the BAFTA Awards. It became the first Indian film to bag an award at the prestigious ceremony in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. Recently, Devi opened up about the emotional toll that she experienced while working on the post-production of the film. Also Read: BAFTA 2026: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award, scripts history Why was editing Boong difficult? During an interview with PTI, the filmmaker shared that it was hard for her to look at the film’s footage objectively. "I could not edit the film for a very long time. I would break down every time I would see the footage," she said. "Knowing that the entire second half of the film was shot in places that were now in rubble... it affected me. It took a couple of months before I could look at the footage objectively from a distance." Also Read: BAFTA winning film Boong set to release in theatres on THIS date Lakshmipriya Devi on BAFTA win She also spoke about the moment when Boong won at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, which was held in London. Despite the global recognition, the director now hopes "to go back more under the radar after this and not let this get to me." Also Read: India's lone warrior at BAFTA 2026: Farhan Akhtar reacts as Boong scores historic nomination "With film festivals like BAFTA, at least the first step of awareness has been created, which is like giving people the idea that, 'Hey, there's a place called Manipur and films like this are outside of Bollywood indie', but beyond that it's up to audiences to take that knowledge forward and apply it," she added. Also Read: 'Moment of immense joy': PM Narendra Modi congratulates Boong team after BAFTA win About Boong The film is a coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of racial tensions in Manipur. Emphasising on Boong, Devi stated, "This is not a political film. It is the story of a boy who lives in a place where these kinds of things happen... If somebody thinks it's political, it's their perspective." The story revolves around a schoolboy who looks for his missing father in the hope of bringing him home and surprising his mother. Exploring the themes of love and discrimination, Boong is produced by Excel Entertainment. The film features Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam in key roles.

<p>The director of Boong, Lakshmipriya Devi, recently revealed that it was difficult for her to edit the film because she struggled to look at the film's footage. Read on to know more.</p>

'It affected me': Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi reveals why she couldn't edit the film for months

<p>Manipuri film <i>Boong</i>, written and helmed by Lakshmipriya Devi, which recently bagged an award at the BAFTAs, will be re-released in India next month. The first-ever Indian film to win the most prestigious BAFTA award has grabbed the attention of netizens. Earlier, the movie had been released in cinemas in September last year in select cities in the PVR INOX.</p><h2>When will Boong re-release in Indian cinemas?</h2><p>Taking to the X handle, Farhan Akhtar made the announcement of the release date. Along with the poster of the film, the caption read, “A journey of innocence, love and resilience.” Witness India's BAFTA Award-winning film, in cinemas on 6th March."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/has-bafta-removed-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-s-winning-speech-from-social-media-1772182121274"><strong>Has BAFTA removed Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s winning speech from social media?</strong></a></p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A journey of innocence, love and resilience. Witness India’s first BAFTA Award winning film, in cinemas on 6th March.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LaksmipriyaDevi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LaksmipriyaDevi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GugunKipgen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GugunKipgen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BalaHijam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BalaHijam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ritesh_sid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ritesh_sid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlanMcalex?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlanMcalex</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ShujaatSaudagar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shujaatsaudagar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vikeshbhutani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikeshbhutani</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/J10Kassim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@J10Kassim</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vishalrr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vishalrr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chalkboardfilms?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chalkboardfilms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuitablePictures?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuitablePictures</a>… <a href="https://t.co/EBMs9NCwhG">pic.twitter.com/EBMs9NCwhG</a></p>&mdash; Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) <a href="https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/status/2027335028921782630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/beyond-the-borders-of-bollywood-why-boong-s-bafta-win-is-india-s-true-cinematic-watershed-1771852310231"><strong>Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Soon after the announcement, netizens too expressed their excitement for watching the film and one user wrote, "Is this re-opening across the country? If so, please ensure a release in Manipur too. People over there deserve it the most." Another user wrote, "Everybody can watch it in cinemas. Thank you for making this happen. @FarOutAkhtar @lakshmipriyadevi." “Can't wait. Thank you for making this film,” wrote the third user.</p><h2>All about Boong</h2><p>The production companies include Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures. Boong got official selections at various international film festivals held in India and abroad. <i>Boong</i> starred Gugun Kigpen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai and Hamom Sadananda, among others.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-awards-2026-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-pays-homage-to-ignored-unrepresented-manipur-in-her-winning-speech-pray-for-peace-1771811798786"><strong>BAFTA awards 2026: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi pays homage to ‘ignored, unrepresented’ Manipur in her winning speech: ‘Pray for peace'</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The film had its world premiere at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024. At the 79th British Academy Film Awards, it won Best Children's &amp; Family Film and became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-s-manipuri-drama-boong-wins-1771786875450"><strong>BAFTA 2026: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award, scripts history</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other accolades by the film <i>Boong</i> are the International Asian Film Festival Canada in 2024 for the category of Excellence in Feature Filmmaking and the 17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards Australia, 2024, in the category of Best Youth Film.</p>

After bagging a BAFTA award, the Manipuri film Boong is all set to release in cinemas. Farhan Akhtar announced the release date. Read to know more details. 

Manipuri film Boong, written and helmed by Lakshmipriya Devi, which recently bagged an award at the BAFTAs, will be re-released in India next month. The first-ever Indian film to win the most prestigious BAFTA award has grabbed the attention of netizens. Earlier, the movie had been released in cinemas in September last year in select cities in the PVR INOX. When will Boong re-release in Indian cinemas? Taking to the X handle, Farhan Akhtar made the announcement of the release date. Along with the poster of the film, the caption read, “A journey of innocence, love and resilience.” Witness India's BAFTA Award-winning film, in cinemas on 6th March." Also Read: Has BAFTA removed Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s winning speech from social media?

<p>After bagging a BAFTA award, the Manipuri film Boong is all set to release in cinemas. Farhan Akhtar announced the release date. Read to know more details.&nbsp;</p>

BAFTA winning film Boong set to release in theatres on THIS date

<p>Days after filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi brought laurels for India as her film Boong won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the BAFTA Film Awards, her historic winning speech has mysteriously disappeared from the BAFTA's social media handles.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Lakshmipriya Devi, along with producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, accepted the award and stated that the film is a homage to her homeland, the ‘troubled’ state of Manipur, which is often ‘ignored, misrepresented’.&nbsp;</p><p>While Devi’s speech was aired on BBC during the broadcast on the awards and even shared on BAFTA’s X and Instagram page on Sunday, the video mysteriously no longer exists on the page.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>BAFTA removes Lakshmipriya Devi’s speech on Manipur</h2><p>On Thursday, several X users tagged BAFTA and questioned the move. The speech, which was widely shared in India soon after it was posted on Monday morning, appears missing from all BAFTA handles on the internet.</p><p>Manipuri activist Binalakshmi Nepram took to X to question the move and wrote, “Dear @BAFTA did you remove the acceptance speech of an Indigenous Woman Director of award winning film from Manipur, BOONG, from your social media accounts @X &amp; Instagram? If yes, erasure of the acceptance speech of Director is tantamount to cultural erasure of Indigenous Peoples &amp; women’s voices &amp; must be reinstated immediately. Inclusion and not erasure of our voices and our stories is the way forward.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Many others, too, questioned the move and speculated if BAFTA had acted on instructions given to them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>When WION tried to click on the video, the page appeared blank.</strong></p>

BAFTA removes Boong director's speech

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>While the video seems missing from BAFTA's Instagram and X pages, it is still there in BAFTA's Facebook page.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/beyond-the-borders-of-bollywood-why-boong-s-bafta-win-is-india-s-true-cinematic-watershed-1771852310231">Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed</a></p><h2>What Lakshmipriya Devi said in her winning speech</h2><p>In her winning speech at the BAFTAs, Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi said the film and the win was a homage to her home state, Manipur, which is ‘ignored and unrepresented’ in India.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our very small film such big love, a film that is rooted in a very troubled, very much ignored and very underrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur. It's a homage to my homeland,” said Devi.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Just want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return 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.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-awards-2026-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-pays-homage-to-ignored-unrepresented-manipur-in-her-winning-speech-pray-for-peace-1771811798786">BAFTA awards 2026: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi pays homage to ‘ignored, unrepresented’ Manipur in her winning speech</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Boong’s historic win was celebrated by one and all in India as it was the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award, which is often considered the British Oscars.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>PM Modi took to X to congratulate the film and the makers and wrote, “Congratulations to all those associated with this film. This is indeed a moment of immense joy, especially for Manipur. It also highlights the immense creative talent in our nation.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to all those associated with this film. This is indeed a moment of immense joy, especially for Manipur. It also highlights the immense creative talent in our nation. <a href="https://t.co/fd95WriuTG">https://t.co/fd95WriuTG</a></p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2025889330032718323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>BAFTA controversy</h2><p>BAFTA Film Awards 2026 have been in the news not for its winners but for the controversies it has been courting. BAFTA and BBC have had to issue apologies after a racial slur was used while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present an award. During the BAFTA film awards, John Davidson, the subject of the movie I Swear, could be heard shouting various expletives throughout the ceremony due to his Tourette’s. He shouted the N-word when Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present an award. Davidson subsequently left the auditorium.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since then, BAFTA has been trying to take corrective measures and has issued an apology for the incident.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There has been no word from BAFTA over the deletion of Lakshmipriya Devi’s speech so far. Whether the removal has been deliberate or a result of a techincal glitch is not known.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Boong director Laskhmipriya Devi had spoken about her home state Manipur and how it has been ignored and misrepresented for years during her winning speech at the BAFTA awards. The speech has been removed from BAFTA's social media pages. 

Days after filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi brought laurels for India as her film Boong won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the BAFTA Film Awards, her historic winning speech has mysteriously disappeared from the BAFTA's social media handles. Lakshmipriya Devi, along with producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, accepted the award and stated that the film is a homage to her homeland, the ‘troubled’ state of Manipur, which is often ‘ignored, misrepresented’. While Devi’s speech was aired on BBC during the broadcast on the awards and even shared on BAFTA’s X and Instagram page on Sunday, the video mysteriously no longer exists on the page.

<p>Boong director Laskhmipriya Devi had spoken about her home state Manipur and how it has been ignored and misrepresented for years during her winning speech at the BAFTA awards. The speech has been removed from BAFTA's social media pages.&nbsp;</p>

Has BAFTA removed Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi’s winning speech from social media?

<p>It is truly a watershed moment for Indian cinema as the Manipuri film<i> Boong</i> earns its place in the pages of history. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and co-produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment, the small film from Manipur about a little boy in search of his missing father beat big commercial giants like <i>Zootopia 2 </i>and<i> Lilo &amp; Stitch </i>to earn the Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA film awards on Sunday night.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While the film brings laurels to Indian cinema at large, being the first Indian production to win a BAFTA award and also the first Indian film ever to win in this category, <i>Boong’</i>s win should be seen as a turning point for Indian cinema at large from a global perspective.&nbsp;</p><h2>About Boong</h2><p>A coming-of-age film, <i>Boong</i> is set in rural Manipur, where a boy embarks on a journey to find his estranged father and reunite him with his mother. The film poignantly highlights the troubled times we live in, the man made broders that divide people, and also delves into the insider vs outsider debate in a tense landscape like Manipur’s. The film stars child actors Gugun Kipgen and Angom Sanamatum&nbsp;as the lead protagonists and is a heartwarming story of discovery, learning, acceptance and more.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Farhan Akhtar, Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani and Shujaat Saudagar- <i>Boong</i> first premiered at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2024. It got a limited theatrical release in India in 2025 and won critical acclaim.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/bafta-2026-honours-dharmendra-in-emotional-in-memoriam-tribute-fans-react-1771821644846">BAFTA 2026 honours Dharmendra in emotional In Memoriam tribute; fans react</a></p><h2>The classic underdog story&nbsp;</h2><p>What makes <i>Boong’</i>s win so special? It is the classic underdog story. The sheer nomination for the small film, made on a modest budget at the BAFTAs, which is often considered the British Oscars, was an achievement in itself. No one, perhaps, could have envisioned that film would fetch India its first BAFTA, considering it was pitted against Hollywood commercial giants like <i>Zootopia 2 </i>and <i>Lilo&amp; Stitch</i>- both backed by big studios, with fancy VFX, were box office hits.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/elegance-and-style-farhan-akhtar-shibani-dandekar-turn-heads-at-bafta-2026-as-boong-bags-major-win-1771816959625">Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar turn heads at BAFTA 2026 as Boong bags major win</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i>Boong</i>’s win highlighted that at BAFTAs, story and content won over the commercial razzmatazz.</p><h2>Manipur: Beyond the headlines</h2><p>As Boong director Lakshipriya Devi rightly pointed out, the film represented a state like Manipuri that is often overlooked, ignored and grossly misrepresented in the mainstream. Often referred to as the generic North-East, Manipur’s culture and ethos are widely unknown to people in the rest of India.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A conflicted state for years now, Devi’s plea for peace, especially for displaced children of Manipur during her winning speech, has once again brought focus to the conflicted areas of the state. In Manipur, there has been a ban on Hindi films for months now and Boong’s win will be seen as a victory for the people and their culture, which is unknown due to politics and the dominance of Hindi cinema.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-awards-2026-boong-director-lakshmipriya-devi-pays-homage-to-ignored-unrepresented-manipur-in-her-winning-speech-pray-for-peace-1771811798786">BAFTA awards 2026: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi pays homage to ‘ignored, unrepresented’ Manipur in her winning speech: ‘Pray for peace'</a></p><h2>The ‘New Wave’ of Indian Regional Cinema</h2><p><i>Boong</i>’s win should be seen as a win for Indian cinema. Beyond Bollywood, Indian cinema and talent are now getting noticed through International Film Festivals and Awards. Be it Rima Das’ Assamese film <i>Not A Hero,</i> which won a Crystal Bear Special Mention at Berlinale, or SS Rajamouli’s mammoth<i> RRR</i> in Telugu that made the world dance or now <i>Boong, </i>a small Manipuri film, cinema lovers globally are now looking beyond Bollywood and noticing Indian cinema and its talents.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Language is no longer a barrier, and <i>Boong</i>’s win is a testament to that fact. A Manipuri-language film has managed to capture a British audience, proving that the more specific a story is, the more universal it becomes.</p><h2>Innocence in Conflict</h2><p><i>Boong</i> also manages to move out of the international lens of ‘poverty porn’ and instead focuses on a more innocent, pure-at-heart human story. It is simply not a story of just a boy wanting to ‘gift’ his father to his mom, but so much more. It touches upon the themes of family, hope, and the resilient spirit of children.</p><h2>A woman’s middas touch</h2><p>Guneet Monga was not completely wrong when she said that the future of Indian cinema in women when she won her Oscar for Best Short Film at the Oscars 2023 along with filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves. Last year, Payal Kapadia and her film <i>All We Imagine As Light </i>dominated global film festivals and awards. This year, it’s a woman again who has taken Indian cinema to the global stage.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Do we need the validation of the West, though? Perhaps for smaller films like Boong, a BAFTA win is pertinent. After all, how else would a cinema lover sitting in Lucknow or Delhi get to know about a Manipuri film about a little boy and his big search for his missing father?</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-s-manipuri-drama-boong-wins-1771786875450">BAFTA: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award</a></p>

Manipuri film Boong's historic win at the BAFTA film awards 2026 is a watershed moment for Indian cinema. Its win proves that the global audience is ready to see India from a fresh perspective sans the Bollywood glamour and drama. 

It is truly a watershed moment for Indian cinema as the Manipuri film Boong earns its place in the pages of history. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and co-produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment, the small film from Manipur about a little boy in search of his missing father beat big commercial giants like Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch to earn the Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA film awards on Sunday night. While the film brings laurels to Indian cinema at large, being the first Indian production to win a BAFTA award and also the first Indian film ever to win in this category, Boong’s win should be seen as a turning point for Indian cinema at large from a global perspective. About Boong A coming-of-age film, Boong is set in rural Manipur, where a boy embarks on a journey to find his estranged father and reunite him with his mother. The film poignantly highlights the troubled times we live in, the man made broders that divide people, and also delves into the insider vs outsider debate in a tense landscape like Manipur’s. The film stars child actors Gugun Kipgen and Angom Sanamatum as the lead protagonists and is a heartwarming story of discovery, learning, acceptance and more. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Farhan Akhtar, Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani and Shujaat Saudagar- Boong first premiered at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September 2024. It got a limited theatrical release in India in 2025 and won critical acclaim. Also read: BAFTA 2026 honours Dharmendra in emotional In Memoriam tribute; fans react The classic underdog story What makes Boong’s win so special? It is the classic underdog story. The sheer nomination for the small film, made on a modest budget at the BAFTAs, which is often considered the British Oscars, was an achievement in itself. No one, perhaps, could have envisioned that film would fetch India its first BAFTA, considering it was pitted against Hollywood commercial giants like Zootopia 2 and Lilo& Stitch- both backed by big studios, with fancy VFX, were box office hits. Also read:Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar turn heads at BAFTA 2026 as Boong bags major win Boong’s win highlighted that at BAFTAs, story and content won over the commercial razzmatazz. Manipur: Beyond the headlines As Boong director Lakshipriya Devi rightly pointed out, the film represented a state like Manipuri that is often overlooked, ignored and grossly misrepresented in the mainstream. Often referred to as the generic North-East, Manipur’s culture and ethos are widely unknown to people in the rest of India. A conflicted state for years now, Devi’s plea for peace, especially for displaced children of Manipur during her winning speech, has once again brought focus to the conflicted areas of the state. In Manipur, there has been a ban on Hindi films for months now and Boong’s win will be seen as a victory for the people and their culture, which is unknown due to politics and the dominance of Hindi cinema. Also read: BAFTA awards 2026: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi pays homage to ‘ignored, unrepresented’ Manipur in her winning speech: ‘Pray for peace' The ‘New Wave’ of Indian Regional Cinema Boong’s win should be seen as a win for Indian cinema. Beyond Bollywood, Indian cinema and talent are now getting noticed through International Film Festivals and Awards. Be it Rima Das’ Assamese film Not A Hero, which won a Crystal Bear Special Mention at Berlinale, or SS Rajamouli’s mammoth RRR in Telugu that made the world dance or now Boong, a small Manipuri film, cinema lovers globally are now looking beyond Bollywood and noticing Indian cinema and its talents. Language is no longer a barrier, and Boong’s win is a testament to that fact. A Manipuri-language film has managed to capture a British audience, proving that the more specific a story is, the more universal it becomes. Innocence in Conflict Boong also manages to move out of the international lens of ‘poverty porn’ and instead focuses on a more innocent, pure-at-heart human story. It is simply not a story of just a boy wanting to ‘gift’ his father to his mom, but so much more. It touches upon the themes of family, hope, and the resilient spirit of children. A woman’s middas touch Guneet Monga was not completely wrong when she said that the future of Indian cinema in women when she won her Oscar for Best Short Film at the Oscars 2023 along with filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves. Last year, Payal Kapadia and her film All We Imagine As Light dominated global film festivals and awards. This year, it’s a woman again who has taken Indian cinema to the global stage. Do we need the validation of the West, though? Perhaps for smaller films like Boong, a BAFTA win is pertinent. After all, how else would a cinema lover sitting in Lucknow or Delhi get to know about a Manipuri film about a little boy and his big search for his missing father?

<p>Manipuri film Boong's historic win at the BAFTA film awards 2026 is a watershed moment for Indian cinema. Its win proves that the global audience is ready to see India from a fresh perspective sans the Bollywood glamour and drama.&nbsp;</p>

Beyond the borders of Bollywood: Why Boong’s BAFTA win is India’s true cinematic watershed

BAFTA Awards 2026: India shone bright at the prestigious BAFTA Awards this year. Boong, the Manipuri-language debut feature, has won in the Best Children and Family Film category. It was the sole Indian nominee at the BAFTAs this year. The announcement was made by the official BAFTA page.


Bafta Awards 2026: Stars & The Royals Gather To Celebrate The Best of Cinema

<p>It was an emotional and proud moment for India, particularly for the state of Manipur, as the film Boong won Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA Awards 2026 on Sunday night. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and backed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, Boong was a Manipuri-language children's film that beat the likes of Arco and Hollywood blockbusters like Lilo &amp; Stitch and Zootropolis 2 (Zootopia 2) to win the award. Boong made history as it became the first Indian film to win in the Best Children’s and Family Film category at the BAFTAs ever.&nbsp;</p><h2>Boong’s historic win</h2><p>As director Lakshmipriya Devi and producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani walked up on stage to receive the award, it was a big moment for Indian cinema. Mostly popular for Hindi films, Boong represented a state almost always overlooked – Manipur- at an international platform.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A visibly shocked and overwhelmed Devi took to the mic to say, “To walk up till here felt like the last few steps to reach a summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2026-farhan-akhtar-s-manipuri-drama-boong-wins-1771786875450"><strong>BAFTA: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award</strong></a></p><h2>‘We pray for peace to return to Manipur’</h2><p>In her winning speech at the BAFTAs, Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi said the film and the win was a homage to her home state, Manipur, which is ‘ignored and unrepresented’ in India.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our very small film such big love, a film that is rooted in a very troubled, very much ignored and very underrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur. It's a homage to my homeland,” said Devi.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/alia-bhatt-debuts-on-the-bafta-2026-stage-with-namaskar-wins-over-the-internet-with-her-hindi-watch-1771809029032">Alia Bhatt debuts on the BAFTA stage with ‘Namaskar’, wins over the Internet with her Hindi | Watch</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Just want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return to Manipur. We pray that all the internally displaced children, including the child actors in the film, regain their joy, their innocence, and their dream once again.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The winner of the BAFTA in the Children’s &amp; Family Film category is Boong ✨ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tn0oh5BKpM">pic.twitter.com/Tn0oh5BKpM</a></p>&mdash; BAFTA (@BAFTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BAFTA/status/2025654735433347118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p> </p><p>She concluded her deeply moving speech saying, “We pray that no conflict is ever formidable enough to destroy the one super power 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.”</p><p> </p><p>Devii’s speech was met with applause from the audience, which also included the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine. </p>

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<h2>About Boong</h2><p>Boong tells the story of a young schoolboy navigating racial tensions and the realities of life along the Manipur border. The coming-of-age saga is set against a backdrop of social and political strain that exists in the state and follows Boong’s emotional journey as he is driven by determination to reunite his divided family and bring back his estranged father home.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Manipuri film Boong created history at the BAFTA awards 2026 on Sunday night as it won in the Best Children's category. Director of the film Lakshmipriya Devi paid homage to Manipur in her winning speech. 

It was an emotional and proud moment for India, particularly for the state of Manipur, as the film Boong won Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA Awards 2026 on Sunday night. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and backed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, Boong was a Manipuri-language children's film that beat the likes of Arco and Hollywood blockbusters like Lilo & Stitch and Zootropolis 2 (Zootopia 2) to win the award. Boong made history as it became the first Indian film to win in the Best Children’s and Family Film category at the BAFTAs ever. Boong’s historic win As director Lakshmipriya Devi and producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani walked up on stage to receive the award, it was a big moment for Indian cinema. Mostly popular for Hindi films, Boong represented a state almost always overlooked – Manipur- at an international platform. A visibly shocked and overwhelmed Devi took to the mic to say, “To walk up till here felt like the last few steps to reach a summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place.” Also read: BAFTA: India's Manipuri drama Boong wins Best Children's and Family Film award ‘We pray for peace to return to Manipur’ In her winning speech at the BAFTAs, Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi said the film and the win was a homage to her home state, Manipur, which is ‘ignored and unrepresented’ in India. “Thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our very small film such big love, a film that is rooted in a very troubled, very much ignored and very underrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur. It's a homage to my homeland,” said Devi. Also read: Alia Bhatt debuts on the BAFTA stage with ‘Namaskar’, wins over the Internet with her Hindi | Watch “Just want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return to Manipur. We pray that all the internally displaced children, including the child actors in the film, regain their joy, their innocence, and their dream once again.”

<p>Manipuri film Boong created history at the BAFTA awards 2026 on Sunday night as it won in the Best Children's category. Director of the film Lakshmipriya Devi paid homage to Manipur in her winning speech.&nbsp;</p>

BAFTA awards 2026: Boong director Lakshmipriya Devi pays homage to ‘ignored, unrepresented’ Manipur in her winning speech: ‘Pray for peace'

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BAFTAs: Boong director pays homage to Manipur in her winning speech