There are some films that grow larger than life; when they come together, they create a thunderous sound of collective applause. Homebound is one such film. It is essential viewing, regardless of its Cannes premiere. Homebound is the Indian feature film that premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was also selected under the Best Indian Film category. Produced by Dharma Productions and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film stars Ishaan Khattar, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor.

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Since 2015, Neeraj Ghaywan has consistently represented marginalized voices through his work—most notably the award-winning Masaan, as well as short films like Juice (2015) and Gilipuchi (2021). His cinema has always sought to expose the cruelty embedded within the social fabric of Indian society.

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Homebound follows two childhood friends who dream of passing the national police examination. Ghaywan introduced the film with an appeal for peace and harmony across the world. At its emotional core lies the story of two daily wage workers from Uttar Pradesh who undertook an arduous journey of nearly 1,700 kilometres—from Surat back to their village—during the nationwide lockdown in 2020. This story was authored and narrated by Basharat Peer. Ghaywan delved into the narrative even before The New York Times published the story with a photograph that brought international attention to the subject.

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The film opens with two young men running to catch a train to a city where they hope to appear for a competitive exam to join the police force. Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa) and his best friend Shoyab Ali (Ishaan Khattar) encounter Sudha Bharti (Janhvi Kapoor), who is also waiting amidst the chaos. Chandan, a Dalit, grows uneasy whenever he has to reveal his surname, fearing rejection. However, Sudha, who belongs to the same social class and is an Ambedkarite, puts him at ease, and the two instantly form a bond. As the train arrives, people dangerously run across the tracks to board it. Chandan remarks, “Pareeksha dene jaa rahe hai ya jung ladne?” (Are we going for an exam or to fight a battle?).

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A year passes. Sudha and Chandan enrol in a college course, while Shoyab refuses a labourer’s job in Dubai, fearing exploitation. Instead, he takes up work as a peon in a water filter company’s office. Both men take up temporary work to sustain themselves while preparing for the police constable examination. They believe the uniform can resolve issues of caste and class. Ghaywan, along with co-writer Sumit Roy and dialogue writers Varun Grover and Shridhar Dubey, portrays them as intelligent, hardworking men for whom upward mobility remains elusive. Circumstances beyond their control repeatedly pull them back.

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At the heart of the film lies a striking image: one boy carrying another. Earlier, the audience witnesses this piggyback ride as a moment of laughter and joy; later, it becomes a desperate act of resistance against death. Chandan and Shoyab are constantly reminded that, by virtue of their birth, they are perceived as lesser. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes features Chandan’s mother, Phool (played by Shalini Vats), who works in a school but is forbidden from cooking for children due to her caste. When the children’s parents are reminded of the Constitution, an angry father retorts, “Apne gyaan ko apne paas rakhe!” (Keep your sermon to yourself!). The next scene cuts to Phool sitting alone, gazing at a photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

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The precision, emotional depth, and beauty of Homebound rest heavily on its excellent writing. The screenplay is by Ghaywan, while the story is by Basharat Peer and Sumit Roy. Performances by Ishaan Khattar and Vishal Jethwa are outstanding, marked by authenticity and emotional restraint. Janhvi Kapoor, though effective, has comparatively less screen time. The portrayal of the friendship between the two men feels deeply real and earned.

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After watching this film, I felt both grateful and unsettled—grateful that I survived a pandemic during which countless people lost their livelihoods and lives. What is particularly surprising is that Homebound is produced by Dharma Productions, a banner often associated with glamour, yet here delivers something raw and profoundly real. The film ends on a powerful note, leaving the audience contemplative, absorbing the weight of what they have witnessed.

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I would rate Homebound 8.5 out of 10, primarily for the exceptional performances by Ishaan Khattar, Vishal Jethwa, and Shalini Vats.