‘Boong’ director Lakshmipriya Devi spotlights Manipur unrest at BAFTA

At the 79th British Academy Film Awards in London, director Lakshmipriya Devi used her moment on the international stage to call for peace in her home state of Manipur. Devi’s film “Boong”, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, won the Best Children’s & Family Film award, bringing global recognition to the northeastern Indian region.

During her acceptance speech, Devi opened in her native tongue: “Khurumjari! Greetings to everyone. The walk up till here felt like the last few steps to reach the summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place. So, thank you to the jury members and BAFTA for giving our very small film such a big love. A film that is not only rooted in a place which is very troubled, very much ignored, and very unrepresented in India, my homeland, Manipur.”

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She continued, addressing the ongoing unrest: “So, 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. So, thank you, BAFTA, for giving us not only an award but this stage to express our hope. Thank you, and have a wonderful evening, everyone.”

The ceremony took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, with Bollywood actor and producer Alia Bhatt among the award presenters.

“Boong”, helmed by Devi and produced alongside Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex, and Shujaat Saudagar, stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam. The film premiered in the Discovery section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and has since been featured at multiple international festivals.

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The story follows a young boy from the Manipur valley who hopes to reunite his family by bringing his father home, believing this would be the most meaningful gift for his mother. His journey unfolds into an unexpected but hopeful path, blending the innocence of childhood with a poignant reflection on family and displacement.

Devi’s speech drew attention to Manipur, a state grappling with severe ethnic violence since 2023. Clashes between the majority Meitei community and tribal Kuki-Zo groups resulted in over 260 deaths, thousands displaced, and a de facto division of the state into ethnically controlled zones monitored by federal security forces. The unrest has left the region largely underrepresented in Indian media and cinema—a gap that “Boong” seeks to highlight through a personal, human lens.

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By leveraging BAFTA’s global platform, Devi not only celebrated her film’s achievement but also amplified the stories of children and families affected by the crisis. Her words underline the potential of cinema to raise awareness and humanise conflicts that often remain peripheral in mainstream discourse.

“Boong” is being widely praised for its sensitive storytelling and the ability to balance cultural specificity with universal themes of family, hope, and resilience. Critics note that Devi’s work bridges regional cinema with international audiences, offering insight into a part of India seldom seen on the global stage.