Movies
Satyajit Ray’s work to be exhibited in UK
NEW DELHI: The British Film Institute (BFI) is hosting a special two-month festival of selected films of Satyajit Ray in London and will also put up an exhibition of Ray’s design works.
The exhibition, the first to be held in the United Kingdom, will take place at the BFI Southbank from 14 August until mid-October.
Before Ray directed Pather Panchali in 1955, he worked as a graphic designer for an advertising agency in Kolkata. In addition to creating over 30 films throughout his career he also designed many of their sets, costumes, credit sequences and posters.
A selection of the director’s poster designs will be on show in the Atrium at the BFI Southbank. It will include both original and facsimile posters, showcasing the best of Ray’s creations.
The BFI website said: “Ray’s unique graphic style owed as much to Indian art and indigenous folklore as it did to Western traditions. His wide-ranging poster designs encompass surreal photographic collages, ornate portraits as well as bold, typographic experiments, their imagery and lettering borrowing from scenes and motifs in his cinema. Far more than just a beautiful, eye-catching advertisement, each poster offers Ray’s own interpretation of his film as he distilled it into one image.”
The exhibition has been organised by Isabel Stevens, Maggi Hurt and Claire Smith. The posters have been sourced from the BFI National Archive and the Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Archives and Ray Estate, Kolkata.
The films to be screened as part of Ray season in association with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in August are Pather Panchali, Aparajito,Jalsaghar, Apur Sansar, Devi, TeenKanya, Charulata, Kanchenjungha, Nayak,Kapurush, Chiriakhana, Abhijan and Parash Pathar. Mahanagar is also being screened to mark the 50th anniversary of the film.
Two documentaries directed by Ray- commemorating writer, artist and composer Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray’s father Sukumar Ray will also be screened.
A Masterclass on Pather Panchali by filmmaker and teacher Mamoun Hassan who headed the BFI in 1970s is also a part of the programme.
Movies
“Boong” wins BAFTA for Best Children’s and Family Film
Manipuri-language debut by Lakshmipriya Devi triumphs over Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2 at 2026 awards.
MUMBAI: A little boy from Manipur just taught the BAFTAs a big lesson sometimes the smallest journeys pack the mightiest emotional punch. “Boong”, the tender Manipuri-language coming-of-age tale directed by Lakshmipriya Devi in her feature debut, clinched the BAFTA for Best Children’s and Family Film on 23 February 2026. The film beat out heavyweights including Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, animated sequel Zootopia 2, and the science-fantasy Arco to claim the prize.
The story follows young Boong (Gugun Kipgen), who believes reuniting his mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam) with his long-absent father Joykumar would be the perfect gift. When rumours swirl that his father has died after migrating to the border town of Moreh for work, Boong together with his loyal friend Raju (Angom Sanamatum) sets off on an innocent, determined quest for truth and a fresh start. What begins as a child’s simple wish unfolds into a heartfelt exploration of family, hope, and resilience.
Backed by actor-producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani via Excel Entertainment, and co-produced by Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures, “Boong” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 before a theatrical release in September that year. It later screened at the Warsaw International Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, 55th International Film Festival of India, and Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Lakshmipriya Devi, who previously served as first assistant director on films including Luck by Chance, Talaash, PK, and Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, brings a grounded yet lyrical touch to her debut. The win marks a proud milestone for Indian regional cinema on the global stage.
While the main BAFTA best film race features heavy-hitters like One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and Sentimental Value, and the British film category includes The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, I Swear, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, “Boong” stands out as the sole Indian contender to take home gold this year.
In a night where directing nods went to Paul Thomas Anderson, Josh Safdie, Ryan Coogler, Yorgos Lanthimos, Joachim Trier, and Chloé Zhao (who could become the first woman to win two BAFTA directing awards after Nomadland), “Boong” quietly proved that heartfelt storytelling from distant corners can resonate louder than any blockbuster budget.
For once, a six-year-old’s dream outshone Disney magic and the BAFTA stage just got a little more colourful.
