At the 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, Boong, a Manipuri-language coming-of-age drama, made history by winning the Best Children’s & Family Film category, marking the first time an Indian film has clinched this honor on the global stage. The film won the prestigious award after it defeated international contenders, which included Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch, and Arco, and achieved success through Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment production company.
Farhan Akhtar on His Decision to Back Boong
Farhan Akhtar gave honest explanations about his reasons for backing Boong after he won the award. He explained that his decision to join the project stemmed from his two-decade friendship with director Lakshmipriya Devi. Akhtar chose to work on the project because he trusted Devi’s vision, and he believed in the story, which conveyed timeless themes of love. He showcased his source of pride in supporting authentic storytelling through his participation in a film that represents the emotional essence of Northeastern Indian culture. The actor-filmmaker shared their statement, “Lakshmipriya Devi and I have known each other for about 20 years. The film uses an Indian location, which filmmakers rarely choose to make movies about. The story that I supported brought me happiness because I found it to be a comforting tale. The situation appeared to be appropriate.
The Narrative and Impact of Boong
Boong follows the journey of a young boy from Manipur who sets out to reunite his family because he believes that bringing his missing father back home would be the most precious gift for his mother. The story develops through its basic yet emotional premise, which demonstrates how children maintain their natural qualities while facing social and political challenges. The film stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam and has been celebrated at numerous film festivals before its BAFTA recognition, which includes its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
Director’s Emotional Speech and Broader Significance
The BAFTA ceremony acceptance speech delivered by Lakshmipriya Devi served as her platform to promote her home state, Manipur, to international audiences while she dedicated her speech to expressing her desire for peace and healing in that region. She used her speech to combine her film accomplishments with a vital social message, which demonstrated the deep impact of Boong beyond its story. The film Victory marks a pivotal moment for Indian regional cinema, as it provides a platform to showcase stories that international audiences typically overlook.
A Turning Point for Regional Voices
With Boong’s international success, the regional Indian storytelling tradition received its most significant international recognition, which created extended discussions throughout the entire film industry about upcoming developments in these storytelling methods. The film’s success goes beyond celebrating one project because it provides strong evidence for existing creative diversity outside of mainstream Hindi cinema while it authenticates culturally specific narratives.
The achievement demonstrates that the world now accepts various Indian stories while showing that authentic storytelling exists beyond language limits. The audience preference for emotional truth combined with local cultural storytelling makes Boong an example of how regional films can connect with worldwide audiences. This BAFTA win may serve as a major turning point that will establish better institutional backing and broader distribution systems and continuous funding for regional artists who need international recognition.
