- The Manipuri-language film Boong has won the Best Children's and Family Film award at the 79th BAFTA Awards
- This is the highest global honour for a Manipuri film to date
- The win highlights the growing recognition of regional cinema globally
It is not every day that a small linguistic cinema from India writes its name into global history. Yet that is precisely what has happened. The Manipuri-language film Boong has won the Best Children's and Family Film award at the 79th BAFTA Awards, a moment that feels nothing short of 'tareekh-saaz' for Indian regional storytelling.
For Manipur, this is pride. For India, this is prestige. And for regional cinema across the country, this is a possibility.
Film curator and writer Samir Roy called it "terrific news for Manipur and India", adding that for a film in a relatively small language to receive such recognition marks the highest global honour for a Manipuri film so far. His words echo what many in the film fraternity are feeling - that this is not merely an award, but an affirmation. An acknowledgement that powerful stories do not depend on the size of the industry, but on the soul within them.
Renowned Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar described the moment as historic for regional cinema across India. According to him, this victory shifts the spotlight beyond Bollywood and opens doors that once seemed distant. "We believe more people, even from Bollywood, will be interested in investing in regional films," he said.
And perhaps that is the real headline within the headline.
For decades, India's cinematic conversation has largely orbited around Bollywood. Meanwhile, extraordinary narratives in regional languages have quietly flourished - rich in culture, rooted in the soil, and brimming with authenticity. Boong's BAFTA triumph signals a subtle but powerful inquilab, a turning of the tide.
Industry observers believe this recognition could inspire stronger financial backing, wider distribution networks, and meaningful collaborations between mainstream and regional creators. When global platforms applaud a Manipuri story, they validate not just one film, but an entire ecosystem of storytellers who have long worked outside the commercial glare.
This win is more than a trophy on a mantelpiece. It is a declaration that Indian cinema is not monolithic - it is multilingual, multi-layered, and magnificently diverse.
From the hills of Manipur to the grand stage of the BAFTAs, a new chapter begins. And if this moment is any indication, regional Indian cinema is no longer waiting in the wings; it is stepping into the spotlight with quiet confidence and undeniable grace.
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