Homebound (2025 film)

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Homebound
Homebound (2025 film).jpg
First Poster
Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan
Screenplay byNeeraj Ghaywan
Story byBasharat Peer
Based onA Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway
by Basharat Peer
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPratik Shah
Edited byNitin Baid
Music by
Production
company
Release date
  • 21 May 2025 (2025-05-21)(Cannes)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Homebound is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, [1] [2] and produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra under the banner of Dharma Productions. [3] The film an adaptation of a New York Times article by Basharat Peer from 2020, stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. It follows two childhood friends, who attempt to pass the national police exam. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The film had its premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard on 21 May 2025. [8] [9]

Plot

Two childhood friends from a small village in North India dream of becoming police officers, hoping the job will bring them the respect they never had. However, as they come closer to their goal, pressure and struggles create problems in their friendship.

Cast

Production

The film's original story was inspired by the New York Times 2020 essay Taking Amrit Home (now retitled A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway by Kashmiri journalist Basharat Peer. It recounts the story of two young migrant workers in Surat, who were caught in the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. [15] [16] [17]

During the pandemic, the story caught the eye of director Neeraj Ghaywan, after it was recommended by producer Somen Mishra at Dharma Productions. This is Ghaywan's second feature after debuting with Masaan (2015), which received widespread acclaim. Subsequently, Dharma Productions bought the rights from The New York Times and script development started, wherein the backstories of both protagonists were fictionalised, while keeping the essence of the original. [18] French producer Mélita Toscan du Plantier brought in Martin Scorsese on board as executive producer. [18] [19] Scorsese also helped Ghaywan in crafting the screenplay and later during the editing process, watching three different cuts of the film. [20] The film was shot in 2024 mainly in and around Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh state. [21]

Release

Homebound premiered on 21 May 2025 at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France. [22] [23] It will close Melbourne International Film Festival in August 2025. [24]

The film is also selected at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in Gala Presentation to be screened on 12 September 2025. [25] [26]

Reception

Neeraj Ghaywan at 2025 Cannes Homebound premiere Neeraj Ghaywan at 2025 Cannes Homebound Photocall 3.jpg
Neeraj Ghaywan at 2025 Cannes Homebound premiere

Namrata Joshi of Cinemaexpress gave 4 out of 5 stars and wrote "There is an authenticity to Homebound that goes beyond the writing and the language. It’s in the realness of the spaces. [27]

Shrishti Negi of news18 cited Variety's praise of Khatter and Jethwa’s performances as immensely endearing and unpredictable. [28]

Santanu Das of Hindusthan Times said "Neeraj Ghaywan film hailed as 'deeply empathetic' with particular praise for Ishaan Khatter". [29]

Anupama Chopra of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote 'Homebound' is A Stunning Portrait of Systemic Cruelty and Defiant Courage [30]

Aseem Chhabra, writing for BBC Culture , highlighted the film’s exploration of caste and religious identities and noted that its depiction of marginalized communities resonated strongly with festival audiences. [31]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Cannes Film Festival 24 May 2025 Un Certain Regard Award Neeraj Ghaywan Nominated [32]

References

  1. "Ishaan Khatter 'Very Proud' Of Homebound Going To Cannes 2025- EXCLUSIVE". Times Now. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. Video | The Ishaan Khatter & Janhvi Kapoor Starrer 'Homebound' Will Be Screened At Cannes . Retrieved 2 June 2025 via www.ndtv.com.
  3. Hungama, Bollywood (11 April 2025). "Cannes 2025: Homebound by Neeraj Ghaywan makes it to 'Un Certain Regard' section : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  4. "Arjun Kapoor Congratulates Team Homebound As Film Heads To Cannes 2025". News18. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  5. "First look at Homebound: Fans celebrate Neeraj Ghaywan's return to Cannes 2025, but Janhvi Kapoor's role causes backlash". 11 April 2025.
  6. "Martin Scorsese boards Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter starrer 'Homebound' as executive producer". The Hindu. 26 April 2025. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  7. "Homebound At Cannes 2025: Karan Johar Reveals Martin Scorsese Was Interested In Neeraj Ghaywan's Next After Masaan". Times Now. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  8. "Cannes 2025: Full Lineup Out; Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound' Part of Un Certain Regard Category". The Hollywood Reporter . 20 May 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  9. Ramachandran, Naman (21 May 2025). "Karan Johar and Neeraj Ghaywan on Star Kids, Martin Scorsese and Their Cannes Selection 'Homebound': 'Living a Cinematic Dream'". Variety. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  10. "Homebound actor Vishal Jethwa feels like a 'misfit' in 'new world' of Bollywood". India Today . 23 May 2025.
  11. "Vishal Jethwa Opens Up About Feeling Like A 'Misfit' In Bollywood". news18.
  12. Hungama, Bollywood (13 May 2025). "Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter to make Cannes 2025 debut with Homebound 2025 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama . Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  13. "Janhvi Kapoor on stepping into a powerful new role and bringing Homebound to Cannes". vogue. 26 May 2025.
  14. "'Homebound' director Neeraj Ghaywan: 'What if we practise empathy and listen to the other side?'". scroll.in. 22 May 2025.
  15. "Homebound at Cannes 2025: The real story behind the film". The Indian Express. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  16. "Homebound: The human story that will stun Cannes". Rediff. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  17. "Kashmiri writer's story inspires Cannes-bound film". BBC News. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  18. 1 2 The Hindu Bureau (24 May 2025). "Cannes 2025: The true story behind Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound', inspired by a pandemic-era New York Times essay". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  19. Chhabra, Aseem (22 May 2025). "Homebound: Scorsese backed Indian film that got a nine-minute ovation at Cannes". BBC Home. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  20. RICH, David (23 May 2025). "Cannes 2025: How Scorsese helped push Indian drama 'Homebound' over the line". France 24. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  21. Madhya Pradesh-shot film ‘Homebound’ creates buzz at Cannes Film Festival The News Mill, May 28, 2025.
  22. "Homebound First Poster Out; Ishaan, Janhvi's Film To Premiere At Cannes 2025 On May 21". News18. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  23. "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  24. "Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa's Homebound to be the closing film at IFFM 2025". Cinema Express . 1 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  25. D'Alessandro, Anthony (21 July 2025). "TIFF Galas & Presentations: World Premieres 'Good Fortune', 'Nuremberg', Sydney Sweeney Pic 'Christy', Angelina Jolie 'Couture'; North American Debuts Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein', Dwayne Johnson 'Smashing Machine'". Deadline . Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  26. "Homebound". Toronto International Film Festival . 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  27. Joshi, Namrata (23 May 2025). "Homebound Movie Review: Solidarity in Suppression". Cinema Express. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  28. "Homebound FIRST Review Out: Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa Shine In Ghaywan's Moving Cannes Film". News18. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  29. "Homebound first reviews: Neeraj Ghaywan film hailed as 'deeply empathetic' with particular praise for Ishaan Khatter". 22 May 2025.
  30. "Cannes 2025 Short Takes: 'Homebound' is A Stunning Portrait of Systemic Cruelty and Defiant Courage". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  31. "Homebound: Scorsese backed Indian film that got a nine-minute ovation at Cannes". www.bbc.com. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  32. "The films of the Official Selection 2025". Festival de Cannes . 10 April 2025. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.