Homebound: Heartbound

The name says it all…

By Akshita G.

Starring: Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor

Directed by: Neeraj Ghaywan

Screenplay by: Neeraj Ghaywan

Dialogues by: Neeraj Ghaywan, Varun Grover, Shreedhar Dubey

Story by: Basharat Peer, Neeraj Ghaywan, Sumit Roy

Produced by: Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra

Cinematography: Pratik Shah

Edited by: Nitin Baid

Music by: Naren Chandravarkar, Benedict Taylor (Score);

Amit Trivedi (Song)

Production Company: Dharma Productions

Based on: A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway by Basharat Peer

Release Date: 21 May 2025 (Cannes), 26 September 2025 (Worldwide)

Homebound Movie Review

Homebound had been making the rounds of the most reputed film festivals across the world - starting with its premiere at The Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, followed by the Toronto Film Festival, before gracing the big screen for us all. Not only this, but the film was also chosen as India’s official entry for the 2026 Oscars, even ahead of its official worldwide release. While these can often seem like marketing stunts, I can assure you that this is not the case here.

Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, is his second feature film in 10 years. His first - the gut-wrenching Masaan that broke one in almost unknown ways - provided excellent material for therapy sessions for years to come (or maybe that’s just me…). Homebound is no less. It is a story that, on the surface, seems based on a vital yet singular subject, but once you experience it, you realize just how many threads have gone into making this cinematic fabric come to life.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in a Still from Homebound

Fact: The film received a nine-minute standing ovation at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year. But why is it that a story set in rural India, told in pure Hindi, resonated so deeply with an international audience and jury? Because the film transcends geography. It conveys emotions and experiences so universal that they resonate with everyone in their own language.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in a Still from Homebound

Homebound follows the story of two friends, Shoaib Ali (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa), who live in a village, both belonging to sections of society that are continuously belittled and oppressed, making their lives a constant reminder of their “place in society”. Two young boys, who want to change their circumstances, not just for themselves, but for their family and people who are just like them, suffering through this myopic construct of society. Their solution? Joining the police force to bring about change from within. What ensues is their journey down this road - the obstacles and oppressions that follow, testing not only their spirit but also their friendship.

The more I say about Neeraj Ghaywan, the less it feels. He has an extremely unique voice. His treatment of his frames is rooted in pauses - pauses that force you to notice more — things that you wouldn’t otherwise (rant: owing to the ever-increasing decay of attention spans), to make you feel a little deeper, think a little harder, and introspect a little further. He adds in scenes that may not seem like they are doing much, but when they linger long enough, you hear what they are trying to whisper.

Through this film, Neeraj has craftily started a conversation on oppression and privilege that is THIS layered. Not only are we talking about privilege that’s awarded in the name of caste or religion, but also about the fractures that crack within these sections themselves. Between siblings (girls and boys), educated and uneducated, we see how privilege multiplies, hiding in plain sight. It is everywhere, woven into every bond, in every relationship with one person holding just a little more power than the other. That is Neeraj’s reminder: privilege is omnipresent, shifting shape, refusing to disappear.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in a Still from Homebound

Homebound dares to hold many conversations but, unlike most, does not lose itself in doing so, owing to its beautifully paced narrative. No arc or conversation feels rushed or dragged out; each is given its deserved screen time. Above all else, the movie effortlessly weaves in the most beautiful human relationship known: friendship. How masterfully this story comes to life is, in itself, a case study for cinema.

In exploring this subject, Neeraj avoids stark black and white, choosing instead the full spectrum of shades. The world he builds mirrors our own, where people are often unkind and entitled, yet within the same frame exist others who hold privilege but with an awareness that softens entitlement, allowing space for kindness and genuineness toward those on the other side. Still, even they fall short, either lacking the tools, resources, or simply the knowledge to create a lasting impact. This reflection of reality softens the film’s harshness, with fleeting glimpses of kindness bringing moments of hope to the narrative.

Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa in a Still from Homebound

My vocabulary (in every language I know) fails me when I try to describe the performances in this film. Each and every actor goes above and beyond, their craft reaching straight for your heart. Ishaan, as Shoaib, is a revelation in restraint — holding emotions close, letting them swell and erupt only in fragments, yet always contained, because even Shoaib’s expression does not have the privilege to be loud. That is the sign of a truly phenomenal actor. And it feels like a tragedy that we don’t experience his talent as often as we should. He is, dare I say, the most gifted actor of his generation (nepo who?).

Vishal Jethwa in a Still from Homebound

Vishal Jethwa is equally responsible for breaking your heart into pieces. Even in his debut film Mardaani 2, his ability to convey entire worlds of emotion through his eyes was on full display. As Chandan, he preserves the character’s naivety, sometimes riding the wave around him, but when the waters turn still and demand he become his own current, he rises with force while still keeping innocence alive. He becomes the best friend you long for — proof of a performance so phenomenal that it demands more space for him on our screens. The bond between the leads will ache your heart - with joy and sadness.

Homebound is not your typical Indian film. There are no songs, no illustrious soundtrack; only a background score used with exceptional precision. This makes the film far harder to market and recoup profits on, which in turn must have made it even more financially challenging to produce. And yet, the production house still moved ahead, giving us the chance to witness it. That act alone deserves love and accolades. We need this kind of fearlessness from filmmakers and producers. And that only happens when we, as an audience, refuse to fail these stories and instead encourage them by giving them the theatrical love they deserve.

Homebound is now playing in theatres.