Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 27 ENTERTAINMENT : BAFTA 2026 February 27, 2026 India’s ‘Boong’ Clinches Best Children’s And Family Film Award, Makes History T he ongoing BAFTA Awards 2026 has brought good news for India this year as the Manipuri-language debut feature, won a major honour on the global stage. India made its mark at the British Academy Film Awards as ‘Boong’ won the Best Children and Fam- ily Film award. The film was the only Indian nominee at the BAFTAs this year. The official BAFTA social media pages shared the announcement. With this, Boong has also created history by becoming the first Indian Indian film to win the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. Boong is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and pro- duced by Farhan Akhtar, along with Vikesh Bhutani, Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani and Shujaat Saudagar. The makers, including Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Lakshmipriya Devi and Alan McAlex, were present at the event held at London’s Royal Festival Hall to receive the award. The film revolves around the story of a young boy named Boong fromManipur. He plans to surprise his mother with a special gift. In his innocent mind, he feels that bringing his missing father back home would be the best gift. His search slowly changes his life and leads to an unexpected new beginning. Boong competed with popular international films such as Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch and Arco and still man- aged to win the award. The film first premiered at the 2024 Toronto Inter- national Film Festival in the Discovery section. It was later screened at many global film events, including the Warsaw International Film Festival 2024, MAMI Mum- bai Film Festival 2024, the International Film Festival of India, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025. Meanwhile, the 79th BAFTA Awards ceremony is being held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Actor- producer Alia Bhatt is also set to present an award at the event. -ANI PHOTO:REUTERS/SUZANNE PLUNKETT PHOTO:ANI Lakshimipriya Devi, Ritesh Sidhwani, Alan McAlex, Farhan Akhtar and Paddington Bear pose in the winner’s room with the award for Children’s & Family Film Award for “‘Boong” during the 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Britain, February 22, 2026. Lakshimipriya Devi and Farhan Akhtar pose with Paddington Bear. Alia Bhatt Greets Audience With ‘”Namaskar” As She Presents Award In Hindi, Fans Declare Her “Iconic” A ctor Alia Bhatt, who never fails to make her presence felt on global platforms, did it yet again when she presented an award at the BAFTA 2026 stage in Hindi. The actor made her first-ever appearance as a BAFTA presenter at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, where she was invited to announce the winner in the “Film Not in the English Language” category. It was a significant milestone in Alia’s international journey, and she chose to make it even more special by opening her presentation in Hindi. Before announcing the winner, Alia spoke about how films go beyond words and borders. The actress started her presentation by briefly addressing the audience in Hindi, greeting them with “Namaskar.” “Namaskar. Agla award ek aise film ke liye hai, jo Angrezi mein nahi hai. Don’t reach for the subtitles just yet. I was only saying in Hindi that the next award is for a film not in the English language. Because while film speaks in countless voices, what we always celebrate is the language of cinema.” Soon after she presented the award, videos started going viral on internet. Soon after she presented the award, videos began going viral on the internet. Fans quickly took to their social media handles to give their reactions, with some even calling her “ICONIC.” The category featured a strong lineup of international films, including ItWas Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sirat, and The Voice of Hind Rajab. Sentimental Value eventually took home the honor. For the evening, Alia Bhatt stepped out in a custom Gucci silver sequined gown with a high neckline and a fitted silhouette. The shimmering ensemble stood out under the lights, paired elegantly with a soft white fur stole that added a classic touch. She completed the look with sleek hair and nude-toned makeup, keeping things polished and understated. Alia’s BAFTA moment adds to her growing list of international appearances, following outings at events such as the Met Gala and the Cannes Film Festival, as she continues to bridge Indian cinema with global platforms. Meanwhile, the awards night largely belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which dominated the British Academy Film Awards with six wins, including Best Film. The ceremony also saw notable wins for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and first-time BAFTA victories. -ANI Aliya Bhatt PHOTO:ANI