Film Review: Boong is Nothing Less Than a Quasi-Epic

Search for a flaw in this film and you will not find any!

The Manipuri film, Boong, was one of my favorite movies when I was on the Oscar selection jury for 2025. However, at that time the film had not yet released—or so I thought. I later came to know that it had a limited release in India as per the requirements for Academy Awards qualification. But after it picked up the British Academy Film (BAFTA) award for Best Children’s & Family Film recently, it was decided by the powers-that-be, as in the multiplex owners, that it deserved a broader release!

And so I got the opportunity to watch it again! And would I yet again watch it? Decidedly!

Boong (which in Manipuri means “A little boy”) narrates the story of a ‘boong ‘in Manipur. Boong (Gugun Kipgen) is a 10 year-old school-going kid, very normal in all respects, and fond of his mother, Mandakini (Bala Hijam), who earns for them both as well as looks after him and their home.

Boong’s father, Joykumar, has left, many a moon ago, on a work-trip to the distant town of Moreh—and not returned. His phone is off, and all that Boong and his mother now have are memories of a man who even taught Boong many things like any normal dad does to a small child and was a good husband as well.

During the festival of Yaosang (as Manipuri people call Holi), there is a tradition of Thabal chongba¸ in which men dance with their women. Seeing that his mother cannot do so, Boong decides that he will bring his mother a gift she will love—his father.

But then comes the news that his father is no more, with some documents received as evidence. Mandakini is convinced that the news is fake, and just a ploy to give away the rights of Joykumar’s land to his alcoholic brother (Ramesh Chandra Singh).

Boong’s best friend in school is Raju (Angom Sanamatum), whose father (Vikram Kochhar) is a family friend, and the two decide to go to Morey and bring back Boong’s father. For this, they need the help of rich classmate, Juliana (Nemetia Ngangbam). Both the children inform their parents that they are going on a school outing to that border town.

There are political uncertainties in that area, and the only identification Boong has of his father—a picture—is lost by Raju. Despite all that, and thanks to a transgender singer’s help and a massive coincidence involving more children, Boong manages to get his long-lasting gift for his mother.

A masterpiece of a plot and script, along with simple, heartfelt and absolutely natural dialogues, make Boong, at 94 minutes, a tale where you cannot take your eyes off the kid and his friends and the whole setting. Tanay Satam’s camerawork, awesome for want of a better term, and ditto the production design by Devika Dave, only add to the dreamy ambience and the intensity of the story. The story was inspired, as per writer-director Lakshmipriya Devi, from her grandfather’s search for his missing father. But for that base, this is pure fiction, and she deserves accolades and many more honors for her magnificent feat!

In this feel-good saga, the local songs sound pleasant, while the Thabal Chongba Music (Holi Dance) performed by Manipur’s Sangai Band is magnificent. Zubin Balaporia and Akhu Chingangbam score the evocative background score and the script and direction ensure that the film does not have even one extra frame! And Shreyas Beltangdy’s editing ensures that.

Gugun Kipgen is humongous, but no less are Bala Hijam as Mandakini, Vikram Kochhar as Sudhir Agarwal and Angom Sanamatuma as Raju. The entire supporting cast is in sync with their characters and script, especially Toijam Shila Devi as the hotel owner in Moreh.

If ever a movie was a synonym for magic, this is it!

Rating: ****1/2

Excel Entertainment’s, Chalkboard Entertainment’s & Suitable Pictures’ Boong Produced by: Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Shujaat Saudagar, Vikesh Bhutani & Alan McAlex Written & Directed by: Lakshmipriya Devi Music: Zubin Balaporia & Akhu Chingangbam Starring: Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Vikram Kochhar, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, Nemetia Ngangbam, Jenny Khurai, Hamom Sadananda, Modhubala Thoudam, Brajabidhu Thoudam Singh, Ramesh Chandra Singh, Toijam Shila Devi & others