The director of the Manipuri film Boong, Lakshmipriya Devi, has revealed the deep emotional toll that crafting her award-winning masterpiece took on her. In a candid interview, she shared that she was unable to begin editing the project for several months after filming, as she broke down repeatedly while watching the footage.
Boong recently made history by becoming the first Indian film to win an award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards, taking home the trophy in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. But behind the historic achievement lies a story of personal grief and artistic struggle.
The Emotional Weight of Editing
Speaking to PTI, Lakshmipriya recounted her struggle to approach the material with the neutrality required for post-production.
“I could not edit the film for a very long time. I would break down every time I would see the footage,” she confessed.
The reason for her profound emotional response was deeply personal. The film was shot in locations across Manipur, many of which have since been caught in the throes of conflict and destruction.
“Knowing that the entire second half of the film was shot in places that were now in rubble… it affected me. It took a couple of months before I could look at the footage objectively from a distance.”
A Story Beyond Politics
Set against the backdrop of racial tensions in conflict-affected Manipur, Boong tells the story of a schoolboy searching for his absent father, aiming to surprise his mother. The plot explores themes of love, discrimination, and belonging as the child embarks on an emotional journey.
Lakshmipriya was keen to underline that the film is not a political statement. “This is not a political film. It is the story of a boy who lives in a place where these kinds of things happen… If somebody thinks it’s political, it’s their perspective,” she said.
She highlighted how the cast and crew, representing different ethnicities, maintained a spirit of community throughout the filming process, embodying the very themes of unity the film explores.
The BAFTA Win and Its Meaning
The director admitted she was still in a daze while reflecting on the film’s historic international recognition.
“With film festivals like BAFTA, at least the first step of awareness has been created, which is like giving people the idea that, ‘Hey, there’s a place called Manipur and films like this are outside of Bollywood indie’, but beyond that it’s up to audiences to take that knowledge forward and apply it,” she expressed.
Despite the acclaim, Lakshmipriya remains grounded. She said she now wants “to go back more under the radar after this and not let this get to me.”
About the Film
Produced by Excel Entertainment (the banner of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani), Boong stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam in pivotal roles. The film had a limited theatrical release in September 2024. Following its recognition at BAFTA, it was re-released in theatres on March 6, 2026.
