Director Lakshmipriya Devi’s BAFTA award-winning Manipuri drama “Boong” has made history by crossing ₹1 crore at the Indian box office following its re-release on March 6, marking it as the first film from Manipur to achieve this milestone. Co-produced by Excel Entertainment and Chalkboard Entertainment, the film has garnered significant attention since it won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the 79th British Academy Film Awards on February 22, 2026, competing against prominent international films.
“Boong” also gained recognition as the Spotlight Film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne in 2025 and had its world premiere in the Discovery section of the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024. It was showcased at various festivals globally, including the Warsaw International Film Festival and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. This film represents Lakshmipriya Devi’s debut as a feature-length director, building on her experience as an assistant director on notable films.
In the backdrop of ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted shortly after shooting wrapped in April 2023, the film takes on a poignant significance. Director Devi and her family intervened to protect the family of a child actor affected by the unrest. Sadly, the ongoing conflict has severely impacted the lives of children in the region, marking a deep societal divide.
“Boong” serves as a crucial social document, portraying the life in Manipur before the violence. The narrative traverses the Meitei-dominated plains and the Kuki-dominated border town of Moreh, epitome of a once vibrant, diverse community that now faces devastation. Lakshmipriya Devi expressed that the BAFTA accolade boosts the visibility of Manipuri cinema on a global scale, while during her acceptance speech, she called for peace in Manipur, highlighting the plight of the children who acted in the film and are now displaced.
The film’s plot revolves around a young Kuki boy’s quest to find his missing father, reflecting the harmonious coexistence of various ethnic groups pre-conflict. Lakshmipriya stated the bittersweet reality of “Boong” now memorializing a time of societal unity that has been fractured. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh emphasized that this achievement elevates Manipuri culture and storytelling to an international audience.