Mumbai, February 23 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi used social media to congratulate the Manipur film "Boong" for winning the prestigious 'Best Children's & Family Film' title at the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA).
The post on PM Modi's official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle read, "Congratulations to everyone involved in this film. This is indeed a moment of great joy, especially for Manipur. It also highlights the immense creative talent in our nation."
The movie was competing alongside notable international titles such as "Arco", "Lilo & Stitch", and "Zootropolis 2".
"Boong", which features Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai, and Hamom Sadananda in key roles, tells the story of a young boy's journey to reunite his family amidst the social tensions in Manipur.
The drama had its world premiere at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024.
Reacting to this milestone moment, director Lakshmipriya Devi described it as a "homage to my homeland".
The official Instagram page of BAFTA posted a video of Lakshmipriya Devi accepting the award.
Beginning her address with the traditional greeting "Kurumjari", she said, "The journey so far felt like the final steps to reach the summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing. So, thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our small film such great recognition."
The filmmaker further highlighted that the film is rooted in her homeland, Manipur, a region she described as a troubled, neglected, and underrepresented part of India.
"This film is rooted in a place that is very troubled, largely ignored, and underrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur. It's a tribute to my homeland. So, I want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return to Manipur," she added.
