EntertainmentPosted at: Feb 23 2026 4:10PM


"A story that’s very heartwarming and sweet": Farhan Akhtar on BAFTA-winning film

London, Feb 23 (UNI) India celebrated a historic moment at the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) as the Manipuri-language debut feature ‘Boong’ won the Best Children and Family Film award, marking the first time an Indian film has triumphed in this category.
Sharing her excitement after the win, director Lakshmipriya Devi said, "'Boong' means a little boy in my language, Manipuri. So it's about a boy who wants to get a very special gift for his mother. So he thinks by finding his father, who's been missing for quite a while, that would be the best gift for his mother. So that's basically the story of the film."
The film follows a young boy from Manipur on a heartfelt quest to reunite his missing father with his family, believing it would be the ultimate gift for his mother. Along the way, his journey transforms his life, leading to an unexpected new beginning.
Producer Farhan Akhtar reflected on his long association with the director, "Well, to start with, Lakshmipriya Devi and I have known each other for close to 20 years now. This is her first film as a director. So it's a very special moment in her life. And it's amazing that we're part of it."
He added, "Also, it's a film that's set in a region of India where very few films that we get to watch, films coming out of there. So it was nice to support that as well. And it's a very, very heartwarming and a very sweet story. So it just felt right."
‘Boong’ is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Farhan Akhtar, along with Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Shujaat Saudagar. The film was the only Indian nominee at this year’s BAFTA, held at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where the makers, including Akhtar, Sidhwani, Devi, and McAlex, were present to receive the honour.
Competing against international hits like ‘Zootopia 2’, ‘Lilo & Stitch’, and ‘Arco’, ‘Boong’ emerged victorious in the category.
The film premiered in the Discovery section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and later screened at global events including the 2024 Warsaw International Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the International Film Festival of India, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025.
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