by Piyush M Padwale
In a very inspiring turn of events, for the very first time, a Manipuri-language movie, Boong, won the Best Children’s & Family Film award at the 79th BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
The movie won the award despite nominations from popular movies like Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch, and Arco. This is a historic moment for Indian cinema and Northeastern cinema as well, and it further emphasizes the global acceptance of voices that were previously unheard.
Boong is a Manipuri coming-of-age drama film directed by debutant filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi. The themes of this film are deeply connected to its culture and society. The film stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam in key roles.
Backed by the prominent production house of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, the film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, which subsequently led to the film receiving more international exposure before being recognized by BAFTA.
Boong is the only Indian film to receive the BAFTA this year. The victory is a milestone for Indian regional cinema, further enhancing its symbolic importance. Films from the Northeast circuit hardly get any kind of mainstream international recognition. The success of the movie further highlights the increasing acceptance of different global stories on international award platforms.
The BAFTA is known for appreciating diversity, and this event in particular saw the commercial success of a film like One Battle After Another gain huge recognition. The film dominated the awards night.
An additional element of pride was when a popular star like Alia Bhatt appeared on the stage. Bhatt started her keynote with “Namaskar”, as a sign of representing global cinema in Hindi. She presented the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English language award to the highly acclaimed Norwegian film, Sentimental Value.