By Firdaus Ali in Toronto
As fresh waves of violence tore across India’s north-eastern state of Manipur – Boong, a tender, and timely Manipuri film by writer-director Lakshmipriya Devi, received much love and attention at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.
The coming-of-age film, screened in TIFF’s Discovery Program, is a poignant love letter to Manipur. It portrays childhood resilience in the form of Boong, a schoolboy who defies visible and invisible borders, trekking on an emotional journey to find his “lost” father.
With Boong, the spotlight is once again on Manipur, offering a glimpse into the state’s rich, yet forgotten cinematic legacy. Prior to Boong, only two Manipuri films have been screened at TIFF, including the classic Imagi Ningthem by Aribam Syam Sharma and the documentary A Cry in the Dark by Haobam Paban Kumar.
First-time director Lakshmipriya Devi was happy that her film was selected at TIFF this year as it brings back the attention to Manipur. Devi has earlier worked as an assistant director on many films, including Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya (2004) and Rajkumar Hirani’s PK (2014).
Attending the film’s screening, she seemed like a shy but determined filmmaker who has made the film with great passion. Boong expertly centres on themes of enduring friendship within a narrative set in ethno-racial discord, displacement and migration. 
Following a young boy’s tumultuous journey to bring home his “lost” father, the film in a way seems like a metaphorical ode to bring back peace and healing to India’s troubled state of Manipur.
Since Boong’s production, ethnic tensions have erupted into violence, making Devi’s vibrant portrayal of childhood resilience an important testimonial of Manipur’s peaceful times.
Shot just months before ethnic violence erupted in the region, the film is a strong testimonial of the once-peaceful Manipur with vibrant towns like Moreh, placed strategically on the India-Myanmar border, where communities co-existed in peace and harmony and where the film is shot. “My film Boong is the last documentation of the unity that Manipur had,” she said with a sad note, at a press screening of her film.
The film opens with schoolboy Boong (played well by peppy Gugun Kipgen) doesn’t see long distances and state borders as significant obstacles. At least not when it comes to giving his mother, Mandakini (Bala Hijam), the best surprise gift ever: of bringing back his father, Joykumar.
After leaving their home city of Manipur, India for the border city of Moreh, near Myanmar, in search of better job opportunities, Joykumar has stopped communicating with the family. With rumours spreading about his father’s death, Boong refuses to accept that grim possibility and teams up with his best friend, Raju (Angom Sanamatum), an ‘outsider’ in Manipur from Rajasthan, to search for the truth.
Both Gugun and Angom are endearing in their roles and the film is filled with many chuckles and laugh-out-loud moments.
The two boys embark on a risky journey, armed only with a photo and a strong belief in the magical power of music to bring Joykumar back. Although they encounter many challenges, their unwavering friendship and determination shine through.
With two strong feminist influencers in her life, Devi says she found inspiration in them and decided to follow her dream. One of them was her aunt, who told Devi that she had to do something special for Manipur and the second was her friend Reema Kagti, who was also in Toronto for the screening of her directorial debut film Superboys of Malegaon at TIFF.
While it was Devi’s passion for storytelling that became the genesis for the film, the fire was ignited by her grandmother’s folk tales. “As a child, I had heard of many people who had gone missing in Manipur. This often raised many questions about them. Were they lost, were they killed, where did they disappear to?”
The most comforting memory from her childhood is crawling into her grandmother’s bed at night, listening to her stories under the mosquito net, while gunshots echoed in the distance. “The stories left me spellbound and Boong is my interpretation of those beautiful tales, mixed with the sights, sounds, and smells I associate with Manipur,” she adds.
Set in the village of Khurukhul in Imphal West and the town of Moreh, Devi fears that her film may be the last living proof of life in Moreh as it was before the violence. “It’s sad to know that Moreh and its people who all came together to make the film, may never be the same again.”
Devi’s commitment to capturing the spirit of Manipur is evident in her approach to filmmaking. Despite her established career in Bollywood, assisting some seventeen films in 20 years, she chose to work with local, untrained crew members to bring authenticity to Boong.
While the film was a community effort, with Manipur residents from different ethnic backgrounds contributing to its making, “It was challenging to navigate an unpredictable terrain like Manipur with local crew and cast who had barely little or no experience with movie making,” recalls Devi.
“The sheer enthusiasm, love and support of the people of different communities of Manipur, made it possible to overcome these challenges and film Boong I am ever so thankful to God that I got the opportunity to work with the diverse communities of Manipur,” she adds.
As displaced residents of Moreh now living in relief camps reach out, longing to see the film, Boong has become a source of pride and a beacon of hope for the people of Manipur.
In these dark times, Boong tells us that the human spirit can rise above all adversities to show us the way. “My film is a tribute to the people of Manipur. I truly believe that peace can come back to Manipur,” says the hopeful filmmaker.
And, we say, “Amen to that!”
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