Aijaz Khan’s Hamid and Danish Renzu’s Half Widow are the names that easily come to my mind when it comes to movies about husbands going missing. But both the aforementioned films have the backdrop of the political crisis in Kashmir. This is where filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi’s Manipuri movie Boong stands apart. It is more of a personal story of a boy whose father goes missing not due to any political tensions.
Boong is set in a small village in Manipur, which is close to the border of Myanmar. It tells the story of a school-going kid Boong (Gugun Kipgen) and his mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam Ningthoujam). Boong’s father Joykumar (Hamom Sadananda) left for Myanmar some time back in search of work and hasn’t returned yet. He is untraceable. Mandakini is managing the household all by herself. The mother-son duo refuse to believe murmurs about his death.
Boong’s best friend Raju Agarwal (Angom Sanamatum) and his father Sudhir (Vikram Kochhar), whose family relocated to Manipur from Rajasthan since over a 100 years, share their pain. Circumstances ensure that Boong and Raju secretly team up to find the former’s missing father. Whether they succeed forms the rest of the story.
Although the above synopsis might sound sad or serious, the film is anything but that. In fact, for a large part of the duration, it will make you giggle with occasional laugh out loud moments as well. However, the narrative and presentation doesn’t take the seriousness of the issue away even for a bit.
Lakshmipriya Devi has captured the minutest details of life in this part of the world while keeping the entertainment factor alive. Along with this, the lens of cinematographer Tanay Satam has provided a visual treat of this eye-pleasing location.
But what stands out the most are the conversations between the four pivotal characters, especially Boong and Raju. Their innocence is fully visible, even while they perform naughty acts. Apart from the writing and the direction, this has been possible also because of the brilliant acts by the child actors Gugun Kipgen and Angom Sanamatum.
Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, in the role of a single mother, displays various emotions with ease, at times saying a lot without saying much. Vikram Kochhar, known for his work in a number of mainstream Hindi films, performs his task well and speaks fluent Manipuri.
Boong, however, would have been even superlative if there was more clarity and background on Boong’s father’s disappearance. Fortunately for the makers, the film has so much working for itself that you can somehow ignore this point, especially due to the moving climax. Thankfully, is not a film that only provides a glimpse into the lives of the main character. It has a proper closure.
Overall: Boong is a fine blend of heart-touching moments and natural humour.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Director: Lakshmipriya Devi
Producer: Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures
Cast: Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar
Runtime: 94 minutes
Boong was screened at the recently-concluded 27th MAMI Mumbai Film Festival
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