BAFTA Winner 'Boong' Director Lakshmipriya Devi on Manipur: 'Women are Strong, Men Suffer'

• 'Boong', directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, made history as the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award, elevating Manipuri cinema globally.
• The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was screened at Warsaw, São Paulo, Adelaide, and Tallinn Black Nights festivals.
• Lakshmipriya Devi highlighted challenges as a North-East female filmmaker, noting Manipuri women are 'very strong' and one 'feels bad for men there'.
• She wrote 'Boong' like a diary, incorporating personal experiences of discrimination and celebrating Manipur's empowering gender community.
• The film follows young Gugun Kipgen's poignant quest to reunite his broken family, raised by single mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam Ningthoujam), exploring hope and resilience.