Lights, camera… history! ‘Boong’, a tiny film from Manipur has just pulled off a giant surprise at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. While big Hollywood franchises were busy flexing their muscles, this soft, emotional story quietly walked in and stole the biggest family-film honour. Yes, a regional Indian film just beat the likes of Disney blockbusters and the film world is still gasping.
Let’s spill the tea on this underdog that turned into a global headline overnight.
BAFTA glory for ‘Boong’
The Manipuri film ‘Boong’ won Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA Awards 2026. And here’s the shocker. It defeated heavyweights like Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2.
It’s the first Indian film ever to grab this trophy in this category. Suddenly, all eyes are on Manipur, its stories, and its young talent.
The word ‘Boong’ means ‘little boy’ in Manipuri, which reflects the little boy and his innocence all throughout the story.
About ‘Boong’
At its heart, ‘Boong’ is a simple but emotional coming-of-age tale. The story follows a curious little boy named ‘Boong’ who lives in small village in Manipur. Played by newcomer Gugun Kipgen, the character is innocent and full of dreams.
His mission is sweet. He wants to surprise his mother by finding his missing father and bringing him home. Sounds adorable, right?
But life has other plans. His journey from the hills of Manipur to the border town of Moreh and even across into Myanmar slowly opens his eyes to the harsh truths of the world.
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The film is written and directed by debut filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi. She earlier assisted on big Bollywood films like Lakshya and PK, but ‘Boong’ is her first full feature.
Her storytelling is simple. She uses real locations, local culture, and the Manipuri language to keep the film authentic.
The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, released in Indian theatres in September 2025, and now it has BAFTA gold shining on it. Talk about a glow-up journey!
‘Boong’ cast
One refreshing thing about ‘Boong’ is its cast. There are no big commercial stars. Only raw and honest performances.
Besides Gugun Kipgen as ‘Boong’, the film features Angom Sanamatum as his loyal friend Raju Agarwal. Bala Hijam plays his mother Mandakini with quiet pain and strength. Actor Vikram Kochhar appears as Sudhir Agarwal, Raju’s father.
The supporting cast includes local talents like Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai, Modhubala Thoudam, Edhou, and Hamom Sadananda.
Festival favourite before BAFTA shock
Even before this big win, ‘Boong’ was already loved on the festival circuit. It won Best Feature Film at the International South Asian Film Festival and Best Youth Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
More praise followed. It got a Best Debut Director nomination at the International Film Festival of India, bagged Best Director at the Bulbul Children’s International Film Festival, and even won Audience Choice at the Indie Meme Film Festival.