"Apne hi paani mein pighal jaana barf ka muqaddar hota hai..." With this hauntingly poetic line, Neeraj Ghaywan marks his powerful return to the big screen with Homebound, a film ten years in the making — and a story that now belongs to the audience, as much as it did to its makers.
Released in theatres today, Homebound is Ghaywan’s first feature since his critically acclaimed Masaan (2015), and the weight of that gap is deeply felt in the film’s soul. This Hindi-language drama tells the story of two childhood friends — a Dalit and a Muslim — from a small North Indian village, both dreaming of becoming police officers to escape the invisibility imposed by caste, class, and social identity. But as they inch closer to that dream, reality chips away at their bond, forcing them to confront uncomfortable truths about their place in society — and in each other’s lives.
Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, Homebound has already travelled the world — premiering at Cannes and TIFF, and earning the honor of becoming India’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars. Yet, as Ghaywan says, its true identity lies in its return — its homebound journey to the motherland. The director’s note is a candid reflection on the battles — personal, professional, and political — that shaped this film and its long path to release.
Produced by Dharma Productions, Homebound may carry the packaging of a mainstream release, but its independent heart beats loud. At its core, it is a deeply human story about friendship, fractured dreams, and survival under pressure — especially during a pandemic that exposed and amplified the social fault lines we often ignore.
So, forget the noise and the rumours. This is a film to be felt, discussed, and remembered. As Ghaywan writes, "Maybe you will find something in it that you’ve lost along the way."
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