Feb 23, 2026 6:41pm IST
Shekhar Kapur on ‘Boong’ BAFTA Win: ‘It Was Better Than the Films That Won the Main Awards’
Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi's Manipuri film “Boong” bagged the Best Children’s and Family Film Award at the 79th British Academy Film Awards night.
While congratulatory messages have poured in for the team from across the country, internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who was impressed by the movie, shared that “Boong” was better than the films that won in the main categories.
Kapur had posted his review of Boong on X (formerly Twitter) on September 22, 2025, where he wrote, “The funniest, most heartwarming, the most heartbreaking film I’ve seen in a long time. And yet it packs a solid political punch. Manipuri director Laxmipriya shows us how it’s done. Don’t miss it.”
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The “Masoom” director has now reposted his review, saying, “Congratulations to Laxmipriya for winning the BAFTA for the best family film.”
Congratulations to Laxmipriya for winning the BAFTA for the best family film. I thought BOONG was better than the films that won the main awards.
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) February 23, 2026
It’s just that it’s so rooted in Indian culture and politics that the westerners did not get it.
That’s why it’s important to make… https://t.co/TAta38mW9T
He also opined that “Boong” would have fared better at the ceremony had the Westerners understood the movie. “I thought ‘Boong’ was better than the films that won the main awards. It’s just that it’s so rooted in Indian culture and politics that the Westerners did not get it. That’s why it’s important to make our film awards more important internationally,” added Shekhar Kapur.
“Boong,” which had its world premiere at the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, is co-produced by Farhan, who was present with Lakshmipriya to collect the award.
Featuring Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai and Hamom Sadananda in pivotal roles, "Boong's" music has been scored by Zubin Balaporia and Akhu Chingangbam.
It is bankrolled under the banners of Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures.
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