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UPSC Prelims 2026Question 85Miscellaneous

Consider the following statements with regard to the film ‘Boong’:
1. The film has recently won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award in the Children’s and Family Film category.
2. The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.
3. This is the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children’s and Family Film category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Options

  1. (a)1, 2 and 3
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 2 only
  4. (d)3 only
Correct answer: a

Explanation


Correct Answer

(a) 1, 2 and 3


Explanation of the Correct Answer

All three statements are correct.

  • Boong won the Best Children’s and Family Film award at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and NFDC congratulated the team for this achievement. (Press Information Bureau)
  • The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, a filmmaker from Manipur. (Press Information Bureau)
  • It is reported as the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children’s and Family Film category, making it a major landmark for Indian regional cinema.

Therefore, Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.


Why Other Options Are Incorrect

OptionVerdictExplanation
(a) 1, 2 and 3CorrectBoong won the BAFTA Children’s and Family Film award, was directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, and became the first Indian film to win in this category.
(b) 2 and 3 onlyIncorrectStatement 1 is also correct because the film won the BAFTA award in the Children’s and Family Film category.
(c) 1 and 2 onlyIncorrectStatement 3 is also correct as Boong is described as the first Indian film to win this BAFTA category.
(d) 3 onlyIncorrectStatements 1 and 2 are also correct.

Relevant Supplementary Information


Boong: Key Facts

AspectDetails
FilmBoong
DirectorLakshmipriya Devi
Region / Language ContextManipuri / Manipur-based cinema
AwardBAFTA Best Children’s and Family Film
Award Year2026
SignificanceFirst Indian film to win in this BAFTA category
Broader ImportanceRecognition of Indian regional cinema on a global platform

Statements Analysis

StatementVerdictReason
1. Boong recently won the BAFTA Award in the Children’s and Family Film category.CorrectIt won Best Children’s and Family Film at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026.
2. The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.CorrectLakshmipriya Devi is the director of Boong.
3. It is the first Indian film to win a BAFTA award in the Children’s and Family Film category.CorrectIt has been described as a historic first for Indian cinema in this category.

Key Takeaways from the Tables

  • Boong is associated with Manipuri cinema.
  • It won the BAFTA Best Children’s and Family Film award in 2026.
  • The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.
  • Its win is significant because it marks a major global recognition for Indian regional cinema, especially from the Northeast.
PointExplanation
Boong is significant for Northeast cinemaIts BAFTA win brought Manipuri cinema into global discussion.
Indian cinema’s global recognition is no longer limited to BollywoodRegional films from Manipur, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra have gained global visibility.
Documentaries have performed strongly internationallyThe Elephant Whisperers and Writing with Fire show India’s strength in documentary storytelling.
Cannes, Oscars, BAFTA, Venice, and Rotterdam are major global platformsIndian films have recently gained recognition across all these spaces.
Regional authenticity is becoming a strengthFilms rooted in local cultures, languages, and landscapes are increasingly receiving international appreciation.

Context and Current Relevance

  • Boong’s BAFTA win is important for the visibility of Northeast Indian cinema, especially Manipuri storytelling.
  • It shows the growing international recognition of regional Indian films, beyond mainstream Hindi cinema.
  • The win also highlights how children’s and family films can carry strong social and cultural narratives.

Table: Important Recent Indian Films in Global Awards / Festivals

FilmDirectorRegion / Language ContextAward / RecognitionSignificance
BoongLakshmipriya DeviManipur / Indian regional cinemaBAFTA Children’s and Family Film categoryFirst Indian film to win in this BAFTA category
All We Imagine as LightPayal KapadiaMalayalam, Hindi, Marathi contextGrand Prix at Cannes Film Festival 2024First Indian film in decades to compete in Cannes main competition and win Grand Prix
The Elephant WhisperersKartiki GonsalvesDocumentary, Tamil Nadu contextOscar for Best Documentary Short Film, 2023First Indian production to win an Oscar
RRRS. S. RajamouliTelugu cinemaOscar for Best Original Song for “Naatu Naatu”, 2023First Indian film song to win an Oscar
Writing with FireRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshDocumentaryOscar nomination, 2022First Indian feature documentary nominated for an Oscar
Village RockstarsRima DasAssamese cinemaIndia’s official entry to Oscars 2019Major recognition for independent Assamese cinema
CourtChaitanya TamhaneMarathi / multilingualVenice Film Festival awards; India’s Oscar entryGlobally acclaimed Indian courtroom drama
NewtonAmit V. MasurkarHindi cinemaIndia’s Oscar entry 2018Known for political satire and electoral democracy theme
Koozhangal / PebblesP. S. VinothrajTamil cinemaTiger Award at International Film Festival RotterdamStrong recognition for Tamil independent cinema
JallikattuLijo Jose PellisseryMalayalam cinemaIndia’s Oscar entry 2021Showcased global interest in Malayalam experimental cinema

Table: Indian Films and BAFTA-Related Recognition

Film / PersonalityYear / PeriodBAFTA RecognitionImportance
Boong2026Won BAFTA Children’s and Family Film categoryFirst Indian film to win this category
The Lunchbox2015BAFTA nomination for Film Not in the English LanguageRecognition of Indian independent cinema
Dev Patel2009BAFTA Best Supporting Actor for Slumdog MillionaireBritish-Indian actor’s major global recognition
Slumdog Millionaire2009Multiple BAFTA winsThough British-produced, it brought Indian settings and talent into global focus
Gandhi1983Multiple BAFTA winsInternational film on Indian history; major global awards success
Mira Nair’s filmsVariousFestival and award recognition, including BAFTA-linked visibilityImportant for Indian diaspora and South Asian storytelling

Table: Important Indian Cinema Achievements by Category

CategoryIndian Film / WorkAchievementWhy It Matters
Children’s and Family FilmBoongBAFTA winLandmark for Indian regional and Northeast cinema
Documentary ShortThe Elephant WhisperersOscar winFirst Indian production to win an Academy Award
Original SongNaatu Naatu from RRROscar winGlobal recognition of Indian film music
Cannes Main CompetitionAll We Imagine as LightGrand PrixMajor recognition for contemporary Indian art cinema
Documentary FeatureWriting with FireOscar nominationHighlighted grassroots journalism and women-led media
Independent Regional CinemaVillage RockstarsOscar entry and festival recognitionShowcased Assamese cinema internationally
Experimental Regional CinemaJallikattuOscar entryShowcased Malayalam cinema’s global appeal
Social Realist CinemaCourtVenice awards and Oscar entryReflected India’s legal and social realities

Table: Indian Regional Cinema and Global Recognition

Region / LanguageRepresentative FilmRecognitionBroader Point
Manipuri / Northeast IndiaBoongBAFTA winHighlights underrepresented Northeast Indian cinema
MalayalamAll We Imagine as Light, JallikattuCannes Grand Prix; Oscar entryStrong global appeal of Malayalam storytelling
TamilPebbles, The Elephant WhisperersRotterdam Tiger Award; Oscar winTamil-linked stories gaining international recognition
TeluguRRROscar for Best Original SongMainstream Indian spectacle gaining global attention
AssameseVillage RockstarsOscar entryRegional independent cinema can compete globally
Marathi / MultilingualCourtVenice recognition; Oscar entryLegal-social realism from India received global appreciation
Hindi / IndependentThe Lunchbox, NewtonBAFTA nomination; Oscar entryUrban and political themes found international audiences
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