Ten minutes into Lakshmipriya Devi’s ‘Boong’, you immediately understand why Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani backed a film like this. It is such a funny, joyous snapshot of Manipur, you can’t help but smile.
L Brojendro Singh (Gugun Kipgen) aka Boong (“little boy” in Manipuri) is a rowdy school kid from Khurkhul, a village in Imphal. He lives alone with his mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam), patiently watching the years pass by waiting for his father Joykumar (Hamom Sadananda) to return on Holi. After yet another festival comes and goes, Boong decides – enough is enough. He takes it upon himself to find his father as a gift for his mother, no matter what it takes. And it takes a lot: a dead grandfather, a showgirl, the India-Myanmar border, Madonna… but none of it can come in the way of a kid who loves his mother, and his best friend Raju (Angom Sanamatum).
Directing so many children in a debut feature is an ambitious move. Devi pulls it off by showing immense clarity in what she wants from her fresh, inexperienced actors. Boong’s comic book adventure is both propelled and anchored by his mother Mandakini. Bala Hijam fulfills that role perfectly, balancing Gugun Kipgen’s bullet train of a performance with her rock-solid presence. She is heartbreaking yet strong, calm yet feisty. It seems like such effortless acting until right at the end, when Boong sheds his father’s characteristics and Mandakini’s resilience shines through. As this final puzzle piece falls into place, the subtlety and intentionality in Hijam’s portrayal becomes evidently clear.
The true highlight of ‘Boong’ are the details woven into the plot and the performances. The depiction of Manipuri culture is so heartfelt and endearing, it reflects in each shot, dialogue, and even in the subtitles. The glistening golds, the vibrant colours of the fabrics and yarns, gorgeously lit nights, it all adds up to a visual richness quite unexpected for such settings. There is so much fun and beauty in ‘Boong’, you sometimes forget it is set in a conflict zone. The film doesn’t shy away from the politics. It is all around the kids, but it doesn’t influence their lives, merely complicates it. Their problems are still cliché kid concerns: school, bullies, making their parents proud. They connect to each other through shared joy and grief which feels much real to them than any ethnic and cultural divide. Their Manipur is filled with kindness and empathy – an optimism Devi threads throughout the story.
“To love, friendship and peace in Manipur.” are the first words in ‘Boong’. And the final words in the viewers’ hearts.
‘Boong’ is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024, as a part of the Discovery programme.
