Some films make you laugh, and then there are ones that make you shiver. Neeraj Ghaywan’s most recent movie, Homebound movie 2025, definitely falls into the latter group. This Hindi-language drama is one of the most anticipated films for moviegoers who are keeping track of the impending release schedule, and for good reason.
As a matter of fact, how often do you see a major Hindi picture that was produced by Dharma and supported by Martin Scorsese make its Cannes premiere in the Un Certain Regard category?
A Return to Cannes, A Reminder of Reality
Homebound movie 2025 marks Ghaywan’s comeback after he first walked the Cannes red carpet with Gangs of Wasseypur and then triumphantly returned with Masaan. Although the Hindi movie Homebound has not yet been formally announced, it debuted on May 21, 2025. However, word on the street? It is anticipated to be released in theatres in late 2025 or early 2026.
Interesting fact: Homebound was given a standing ovation in Cannes for nine minutes. That award is not often given to Indian cinema!
The Story That Sparked a Film
A spooky photo from the 2020 lockdown, showing two young guys on an empty roadway with one holding the other in his arms, is the essence of Homebound. Journalist Basharat Peer’s inquiry, which served as the central theme of this film, was sparked by that actual incident. Ghaywan uses that potent image to tell the tale of Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), two Muslims and Dalits, who are attempting to flee India’s long-standing caste and religious systems.
“Poora naam kya hai, beta?”
“Chandan… Kumar.”
A thousand words are expressed in the little pause. It was all crammed into one moment: the stress, the judgment, the weight of identity.
A Journey Fueled by Hope, Hindered by Reality
Shoaib and Chandan are more than simply fictional characters. These represent the aspirations of innumerable Indian teenagers seeking dignity inside a system that is intended to exclude them. In the hopes that a uniform would dispel caste and religious prejudice, both aspire to be police trainees. Their dreams, however, are in limbo because bureaucracy has other ideas.
Even though they start as brothers, reality erodes their closeness. In a heartbreaking scene, Chandan silently protects Shoaib from a mob during a group fight. It’s such an unvarnished gesture that it bleeds through the screen.
