Lakshmipriya Devi's 'Boong' Wins BAFTA for Best Children's Film
Celebrating a Historic Win
Indian filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi achieved a remarkable milestone by winning a BAFTA award for her debut feature film, Boong, in the Best Children’s & Family Film category on Sunday. Released in 2024, this Manipuri-language film tells the poignant story of a young boy on a quest to find his missing father, set against the backdrop of recent conflicts in Manipur.
Recognition at Prestigious Festivals
Boong earned its place at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and being showcased at various esteemed festivals. Produced by Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures, it stood out as the sole Indian film nominated at this year's BAFTAs.
A Memorable Acceptance Speech
In a competitive category, Boong triumphed over notable films such as Arco, Lilo & Stitch, and Zootopia 2. During the ceremony in London, Devi was accompanied by her producers Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Farhan Akhtar, who is set to portray Ravi Shankar in an upcoming film series about the Beatles. In her acceptance speech, Devi began with the Manipuri greeting 'khurumjari' and emphasized the film's roots in a region often overlooked and troubled in India.
A Call for Peace
Devi expressed her hopes for peace in Manipur, stating, '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 and innocence once again. We pray that no conflict is ever formidable enough to destroy the one superpower that all of us have as human beings, which is forgiveness.'
Indian Presence at the Ceremony
Another notable Indian figure at the ceremony was Alia Bhatt, who presented the award for Best Film Not in the English Language to Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, a film about a director reconnecting with his estranged daughters.
Major Wins of the Night
Among the evening's top winners was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which secured six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary on a mission to save his daughter from an old adversary. Anderson also received the Best Adapted Screenplay award for this adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland.
Notable Achievements
Sean Penn was honored as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, which also won awards for cinematography and editing. One Battle After Another faced stiff competition from Ryan Coogler’s horror musical Sinners, which earned Coogler the Original Screenplay BAFTA, marking a historic win as the first Black man to achieve this honor.
Further Highlights
Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for Sinners, while Ludwig Goransson took home the award for original score. Robert Aramayo was recognized as Leading Actor for his performance in I Swear, and Jessie Buckley won Leading Actress for her role in Hamnet, a film inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamnet was also awarded Outstanding British Film and is set for release in India on February 27.
Other Noteworthy Awards
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein received three awards for production design, costume design, and make-up and hair. James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire And Ash won for Special Visual Effects, while the racing thriller F1 was recognized in the Best Sound category. Zootopia 2 was awarded Best Animated Film, and David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin’s Mr. Nobody Against Putin won in the documentary category.