New Delhi: Acclaimed Manipuri filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi’s debut feature Boong will arrive in theatres on September 19, bringing a story rooted in Manipur’s cultural and emotional landscape to audiences across select Indian cities.
The film, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment in association with Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures, stars Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam in lead roles.
It will be released in PVR INOX cinemas.
Set in a Manipuri village, Boong follows the poignant journey of a young boy and his mother as they struggle with the mysterious disappearance of the family’s patriarch, Joykumar, who once worked outside the state.
Unwilling to accept the void, the boy embarks on a quest with his best friend to track down his missing father—an adventure that blends innocence with resilience.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, earning praise for its intimate storytelling.
Devi, who has worked as an assistant director on Luck by Chance, Talaash, PK and Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, describes Boong as a work inspired by her grandmother’s folktales and dedicated to the indomitable spirit of Manipur.
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“Boong is the book I could not write because of my bad English,” Devi said.
“It is inspired by the fuzzy warmth of the stories my grandmother told me, and it is dedicated to the resilience of the people of Manipur. I feel disbelief, happiness and immense gratitude that a Manipuri film is finally reaching a wider audience in mainland India.”
PVR INOX Pictures CEO Kamal Gianchandani said the release reflects the chain’s commitment to bringing diverse cinema to the fore.
“We are thrilled to present Boong, a Manipuri film deeply rooted in local experiences yet resonating with universal emotions,” he said.
