Imphal/Kolkata: For an industry that has sustained itself for more than five decades on passion more than resources, “Boong” represents hope for a major push for Manipuri cinema.The film’s global recognition has sparked optimism among Manipur’s film fraternity, who see in its journey the possibility of stronger investment, wider audiences and a new phase of growth for regional storytelling.Manipur’s independent filmmaker Laxmipriya Devi scripted history in London on Sunday night, becoming the first Indian recipient of the prestigious BAFTA award. And the win resonated deeply in the words of the filmmakers from the northeast.“It’s a proud moment and marks a new phase after more than 50 years of Manipuri cinema,” national award-winning filmmaker and secretary of the Manipur State Film Development Society Sunzu Bachaspatimayum told TOI.Sunzu expressed optimism that success of “Boong” at the global stage has the potential to attract producers interested in regional stories. He said there are many stories in Manipur waiting to be told, and the prospects are good.“When we strive to take our stories to the world platform with honesty, showing our culture and way of life as they are, people will watch. Our stories are unique yet universal, and that is our strength,” he added.Sunzu maintained that while the film does not directly depict the ongoing conflict in Manipur, its significance lies in what it unintentionally preserves. “Moreh town’s landscape has changed after the clashes. The social fabric has changed. In many ways, this may be the last cinematic documentation of Moreh as a shared, composite space,” he said.“By documenting a time when Moreh functioned as a multi-ethnic, cosmopolitan town, the film offers something tangible to work toward — a reminder that coexistence was a lived reality,” he added.Acclaimed filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar has hailed “Boong” as a landmark achievement for Manipuri cinema, saying the film’s journey offers valuable lessons for the industry.Kumar expressed hope that the film’s success would encourage greater investment in local stories rooted in Manipur’s culture and traditions. He expressed hopes that the film’s achievement would help regional stories reach a larger audience.National-award winning senior filmmaker Oken Amakcham described “Boong” as a film that captures the audience and holds them till the end.“Stories from Manipur will increasingly draw interest across India and the world,” Amakcham said. He expressed confidence that films rooted in local realities but told with universal sensitivity will find growing audiences nationally and internationally.“This BAFTA win is a very proud and emotional moment for all of us from the northeast. It shows that stories from our region, told in our own languages and rooted in our culture, can connect with people across the world,” said Meghalaya filmmaker Pradip Kurbah, whose film “Ha Lyngkha Bneng” or “The Elysian Field” won Best Film and Best Director at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival in Nov.However, northeastern filmmakers have been shining bright on the world stage for some time now. Be it Kurbah’s recent film or Dominic Sangam’s “Rapture” that not only won the Best Garo Film at the National Awards, but was also screened in theatres across France.“People around the world are wanting to watch our film. But it’s still not so in India and I don’t know how long it will take for Indians to accept the stories of our own land,” Sangma said.However, with films becoming more accessible through OTTs and festivals, one can hope that mainland Indians will also be drawn to stories from the region.Thanking the BAFTA jury on selecting “Boong” as the winning film in Children’s & Family Film category, producer Farhan Akhtar posted on ‘X’, “This means a lot to the dreamers and storytellers back home.”And Akhtar isn’t wrong in hoping for a brighter future for Indian filmmakers.
