Two childhood friends from a small village in North India take center stage in Homebound, a film that follows their shared dream of becoming police officers in the hope of earning the respect they’ve long been denied. But as they inch closer to that ambition, the weight of pressure and personal struggles begins to test the strength of their friendship.
The film has already made an impressive journey on the global festival circuit. At the 50th Toronto Film Festival, Homebound competed for the TIFF People’s Choice International Award and secured the position of second runner-up. The top honor went to Korean frontrunner No Other Choice, while Sentimental Value was named first runner-up. Later, at the Cannes Film Festival, the film received an extraordinary nine-minute standing ovation.
Speaking about the story, director Neeraj Ghaywan explained, “It’s about people who are often unseen, and the quiet strength they carry in a world that rarely pauses for them,” adding that he hopes the film “helps us look closer with empathy and see what we’ve been conditioned to ignore.”
Adding to its accolades, Homebound has now been chosen as India’s official submission for the Oscars. The announcement came on September 19 in Kolkata, made by filmmaker N Chandra. Featuring performances by Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, the film makes its theatrical debut today. Here are live updates as the film releases.
