Ritesh Sidhwani hailed the BAFTA win of Manipuri film ‘Boong’ as a historic achievement for Indian cinema, noting that it is the first ever Indian film to win the Best Children and Family Film award.
Ritesh Sidhwani has described the BAFTA win for Manipuri film ‘Boong’ as a historical milestone for Indian cinema. The film won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, becoming the first Indian film to receive the honor in the children’s category.
Sidhwani said this recognition goes beyond one film and reflects a proud moment for the entire industry.
Ritesh Sidhwani’s reaction after ‘Boong’ wins BAFTA
Ritesh Sidhwani spoke to the media at the Mumbai airport after returning from the award ceremony. As NDTV reported, he said: “I think this is a big thing for the entire industry and for the fraternity.”
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He called “Boong” a “little gem of a beautiful, deep-rooted story.” He said it was encouraging to see a regional children’s film gain global recognition.
He said: “It’s important to see that a film like this has found a place like Bafta to be recognized and heard. This is very commendable and very humbling.”
“Boong” story and universal appeal
Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, Boong is set in Manipur and is set against a socio-political backdrop. The story revolves around a young boy who seeks to find his missing father and bring him home. He travels with his friend Raju to the border town of Moreh and crosses into Myanmar.
The journey mixes childhood innocence with complex realities.Sidhwani stressed that children’s films have a unique global appeal. “Children’s films are those that cross borders. They are simple, universal and connect across cultures,” he said. He added that the recognition from BAFTA proves that simple, grounded stories can resonate around the world.The film is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment. Its BAFTA award win is widely seen as a major achievement for regional storytelling from India. Sidhwani also confirmed that Boong’s film will soon be released in theaters across India.
