LONDON, Dec 15 – Ten years after his critically praised debut Masaan, Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan returns with a second feature that aims to amplify the voices of those who often feel unseen.
Inspired by real events, Homebound follows two childhood friends from a village in northern India who pin their hopes on becoming police officers as a way to improve their social standing. Shoaib, a Muslim, and Chandan, a Dalit – historically labelled “untouchable” – are among some 2.5 million candidates vying for just 3,500 police posts. As they await their exam results, their friendship is strained by uncertainty, social pressures and the need to support their families.
Drawing on Basharat Peer’s 2020 New York Times piece Taking Amrit Home, the film also explores the struggles of India’s vast migrant population and the harsh impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ghaywan said the project allowed him to address issues that mainstream Indian cinema often avoids, particularly the experiences of marginalised communities who are frequently reduced to statistics.
The film is deeply personal for the 45-year-old director, who wove his own experiences of growing up as a Dalit into the narrative. He spoke of concealing his caste identity for years, a period marked by fear and anxiety, before eventually confronting and moving past that shame.
To prepare for their roles, lead actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa spent time in Barabanki in northern India, living among local residents who welcomed them into their homes.
Khatter said the story reflects the lives of countless people across the country, adding that the film strives to remain faithful to their realities.
Homebound has been chosen as India’s submission for best international feature film at the 98th Academy Awards, part of a country-by-country selection that will eventually be narrowed to five nominees. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, the film is available to stream on Netflix.
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