Dharma Productions released the first trailer of filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s much-awaited feature Homebound on Wednesday, following its impressive run across international film festivals. The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 26. Homebound marks Ghaywan’s return to feature-length storytelling after nearly a decade. His last film, the National Award-winning Masaan (2015), earned him critical recognition worldwide. Since then, the director has made episodes of Made in Heaven, Sacred Games, and the short film Geeli Pucchi, but not a full length feature film.
Homebound trailer
The film has already made waves on the global stage. Homebound premiered in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, before securing the position of second runner-up in the People’s Choice Award race at the Toronto International Film Festival, drawing appreciation from critics and audiences alike.
The trailer sets up the story of two childhood companions, Mohammed Shoaib (played by Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa), growing up in a village in Uttar Pradesh. United not only by friendship but also by their shared background as members of marginalised communities, the two aspire to break free from systemic inequalities. However, their professional lives expose them to persistent prejudice and daily indignities rooted in caste and faith.
Janhvi Kapoor appears as the duo’s close friend, a young woman determined to carve her path despite gender restrictions in her surroundings. The story draws inspiration from a New York Times article by Kashmiri author Basharat Peer, which reflected on an iconic 2020 photograph. The image depicted two exhausted men attempting to cover a 1,500-kilometre journey from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh during India’s sudden nationwide lockdown, one cradling the other who had collapsed under the scorching heat.
Although the trailer avoids directly referencing the COVID-19 crisis, there are subtle references – the subtle imagery, migrant crowds trekking along highways, police wielding batons, and masked faces which all hint at the nationwide lockdown. At its heart, however, the film appears focused on portraying resilience, solidarity, and the unwavering friendship between Shoaib and Chandan.
Watch the trailer here:
About Homebound
Produced by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions and backed by executive producer Martin Scorsese, Homebound has an early festival acclaim already which has led to anticipation among viewers. Homebound is being positioned as one of the most significant Hindi releases of the year.