Some movies are good to laugh at, and there are movies to cry at, the movies that will linger in your memory even after the final credits. Homebound (2025) is one of them. The movie by Neeraj Ghaywan, the author of the masaan, which received a critical acclaim, sinks into the issue of friendship, identity and staying afloat during one of the most gloomy times of our age the pandemic.
Homebound is a gap between unpolished indie film-making and commercial film-making, with Martin Scorsese as its executive producer and Dharma Productions as its support. It is not a movie, this is a sentimental feeling on what it is like to go home when everything around you collapses.
A Powerful Collaboration and How It Came to Be
The Homebound movie took shape from a real story — a New York Times article written by journalist Basharat Peer, titled Taking Amrit Home. Following the example of that heartrending work, Ghaywan and his crew turned the story into a movie about manhood and friendship.
The film, made by Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra and Adar Poonawala under the Dharma Productions is a bold move by the studio, which is used to making glossy romances and family-centered movies. This was the first occasion that Dharma leapt into the realms of socialism – and it was well rewarded.
Probably the most interesting fact? The participation of Martin Scorsese. The iconic director joined the project as an executive producer and guided Ghaywan during the editing process and provided creative comments on different cuts. Such an international cooperation is hard to get by itself and this is a tribute to the fact that the Indian cinema is gaining international recognition.
Homebound was also filmed primarily in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and filmed between 2024 and early 2025. It was subsequently revealed to the world in Cannes film festival.
The Story: Friendship in the Face of a Pandemic
The Homebound film is set in the background of the rural Indian setting where two childhood friends Chandan (Vishal Jethwa) and Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) meet the storyline. They both have a lowly background but have a common dream; that of becoming a police officer. The friendship betweens them is founded on loyalty, laughter and common ambition.
But life throws them curveballs, as life usually does. The COVID-19 pandemic closes the world down before their dreams can fly. What starts as a lockdown that is temporary turns out to be a test of time.
Spearheaded Chandan and Shoaib are left at a long distance away, without a home to go back to, Chandan and Shoaib embark on a torturous mission by crossing the borders of states in a bid to get back to their village. In the process, they experience hunger, fatigue, social stigma, and prejudice. What is more heart-wrenching is how religion and class gradually creep into their relationship which puts the friendship of the two in question.
Janhvi Kapoor also has a minor part, giving the story a classy emotional music. Nevertheless, fail to confuse this with an ensemble film since this film is the property of two actors, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, who deliver the acting of their lives, with their flaws and silent strength.
A Glimpse Behind the Camera
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Director & Co-Writer: Neeraj Ghaywan
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Producers: Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra
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Cinematography: Pratik Shah
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Editing: Nitin Baid
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Music: Amit Trivedi, Benedict Taylor, and Naren Chandavarkar
The dialogue written by Ghaywan and Sumit Roy reads like a slow flowing river – pensive and lyrical. Dubey and Varun Grover add some realism with the down-to-earth dialogues in the film.
The music by Amit Trivedi, in its turn, does not command the scenes, but, instead, breathes in them. His background score is the combination of melancholy and hope which are two of the feelings that characterize Homebound.
Cannes Glory and Beyond
The premiere of the film The Homebound in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes film festival was met with a nine-minute standing ovation, an extremely uncommon honor, and this is a statement of the impression it left on the audience. Its storytelling power helped it to receive high laudation by critics worldwide who termed it as a hauntingly tender piece of friendship and faith.
The film was subsequently taken to other significant film festivals such as TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), Warsaw Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne after Cannes. Wherever it came, it received a name:
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TIFF 2025: Second runner-up for the People’s Choice Award
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Warsaw Film Festival: Winner of the Audience Award
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Zurich Film Festival: Best International Feature Film
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Indian Film Festival of Melbourne: Best Director (Neeraj Ghaywan)
And, most importantly, Homebound was selected to be an Indian nominee in the official nomination categories of the 98 th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category – a feat never seen before by both Ghaywan and the Indian cinema at large.
Critical Praise and Emotional Resonance
The heart of the Homebound movie is what makes it absolutely special. According to its critics, it is a very sympathetic examination of two friends who are torn between hope and despair. It does not sensationalize the pandemic it humanizes it.
The Guardian called it a poignantly emotional exploration of friendship in India, in the countryside.
ScreenDaily acclaimed its reserve and naturalness, stating that the Ghaywan direction is not melodramatic and is rather realistic.
The movie is driven by the chemistry between Khatter and Jethwa who are sometimes more silent than they are vocal. You feel the weariness of their eyes, the silent perversity of their choice, the crude sensitiveness of their friendship.
The message of the film is understandable even when religion and social identity put them in danger of being divided: humanity is above all.
Audience Response and Box Office
Homebound received critical praise but nonetheless did not do great at the box office – gathering approximately [?]3 crore. This is not a movie that is meant to be mass consumed but it is a slow-burn drama that should be experienced.
It has been described by many viewers as a soulful journey and has been valued by them due to its candidness and naturalness. As it will finally appear on streaming, Homebound is likely to attract a broader audience that likes to watch thoughtful, meaningful cinema.
Why Homebound Matters
Homebound is a refreshing reminder of the effectiveness of simplicity in an age of big-budget releases. It is a tale which has big feelings in a small package – one that everyone can identify with.
Here’s why the film stands out:
- Real Life Storytelling: It will show the human price of lockdowns without capitalizing on tragedy.
- Cultural Richness: It treats caste, religion and friendship in a subtle organic manner.
- International Impact: It creatively connects the East and the West due to the mentorship of Scorsese and his worldwide fame.
- The development of Dharma Productions: It turns out that even mainstream producers can support effective, content-based cinema.
- Representation: When India has selected Homebound as its Oscar nomination, it is sending a message that it is willing to tell the truth and empathy-based stories.
Final Thoughts
The Homebound movie is fundamentally not about the pandemic but a person(s). It involves two friends holding on to the human race as the world fails. It is the way in which the concept of home becomes not a place but a state of feeling, something that we all missed some time in the recent years.
Neeraj Ghaywan approaches Homebound with the same discretion as he did in making Masaan a modern classic. All the frames appear occupied, all the silences seem intentional, and all the moments are heartbreakingly real.
Homebound makes us stop in a world where we are always rushing ahead and makes us look back, reflect and remember about the importance of kindness, friendship, and belonging.
