Manipur Director Wins BAFTA for Child's Story

Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi has achieved a significant milestone, winning a BAFTA for her debut feature, Boong. The film sensitively portrays a schoolboy's search for his father, a narrative that resonates deeply with the director's own experiences and her childhood memories.

Devi's work highlights the severe trauma faced by internally displaced children, including the young actors in Boong. She emphasizes that the film's creation coincided with ethnic clashes in Manipur, adding a layer of urgency to its themes of resilience and hope.

Inspired by her aunt, Binodini Devi, Devi aimed to create a story that would contribute positively to her home state. She noted that the film had previously brought together individuals from different communities, fostering a sense of shared experience and a step towards reconciliation.

Having worked previously on large Bollywood productions, Devi found the intimate and community-focused approach of Boong to be precisely what she desired. She intentionally kept the story, execution, and production simple, drawing inspiration from filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa who advocate for focused, step-by-step creative processes.