The BAFTA Awards 2026 have brought good news for India this year, as the Manipuri-language debut feature, Boong, won a major honour on the global stage. The film clinched the Best Children and Family Film award. It was the only Indian nominee at the BAFTAs this year. Boong is now set to return to theatres with a wider release on March 6.
Boong theatrical release date
The first-ever Indian film to win a BAFTA, Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures’ Boong, is now set to return to theatres with a wider release on March 6, and the makers have launched a new poster to announce the release date. The film recently achieved a historic global milestone at the BAFTA Awards. Boong secured the prestigious win while competing against major international titles such as Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch, and Arco, marking a defining moment for Indian cinema on the global stage.
The makers took to their social media handles to share the new poster with the caption, “A journey of innocence, love, and resilience. Witness India`s first BAFTA Award-winning film in cinemas on March 6.”
More about Boong
Written and directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, the story of Boong revolves around a little boy who plans to surprise his mother with a gift. In his innocence, he believes that bringing his absentee father back home would be the most special gift. Boong’s search for his father disrupts his world but culminates in an unexpected gift.
The film first premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section. It was later screened at many global film events, including the Warsaw International Film Festival 2024, the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, the International Film Festival of India, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025.
Farhan Akhtar on Boong win
As celebrations followed the big win, producer Farhan Akhtar reflected on what drew him to the project in the first place. He shared that he had known Lakshmipriya for nearly two decades and that the film, being set in a region rarely seen on the big screen, made backing the project feel natural. “Lakshmipriya Devi and I have known each other for about 20 years. This film is set in a region of India from which we rarely get to watch films. It was nice to support that as well, and it`s a very heartwarming story. So, it just felt right.”