Homebound - Poignant, Powerful and Soaked with Pathos

Homebound - Poignant, Powerful and Soaked with Pathos

Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound," presented by Dharma Productions. This powerful, poignant, and pathos-soaked story revolves around two friends, played by the immensely talented Ishan Khattar and Vishal Jethwa, who hail from the lower strata of society. Their journey is filled with dreams of an aspiring future and a hope for respect and equanimity. Through the masterful lens of one of our finest filmmakers, Ghaywan, this narrative is brought to life in the most compelling manner.

"Homebound" has been chosen as the official entry from India for the Oscars, and it truly deserves this honour in every aspect. The film is deeply moving and unnervingly devastating, tugging at your heartstrings, touching your soul, and leaving you breathless. Ghaywan's craftsmanship shines through as he creates a masterpiece, drawing from the remnants of his previous work, ‘Masaan’. If ‘Masaan’ was soft reminder of the ugly and scathing prejudices as part of the societal rot, then ‘Homebound’ screams it.

The journey of Chandan and Shoaib, somewhere in the hinterland of our Northern part, feels unmistakably lived-in and devastating – both literally and figuratively. ‘Homebound’ offers a solid and piercing gaze at the fractured state of our society and its deep-rooted biases, stemming from the director’s astute observations.

Their dream of making it into the Police, to landing up in a textile factory is uplifting and heartbreaking is etched with solid emotions. Neeraj weaves the pathos of the Covid pandemic masterfully with the narrative, and even though it disrupts of the trajectory of the young boys, it does add a layer of empathy and compassion in their hardships.

The performances by Ishan and Vishal, are nothing short of brilliant, and they greatly contribute to the film's impact. "Homebound" is a hard-hitting film that will leave you emotionally stirred, so I recommend carrying a couple of hankies before you watch it. Trust me, you must watch this film – it's an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Janhvi, who had started out with Ishan seven years back with Dharma’s ‘Dhadak’ stars here, and not opposite him, but Vishal. Her Sudha is defiant, but solemn. Janhvi eschews glamour and flamboyance and rather adorns her character with artsy shades. Neeraj surrounds them with a staggeringly brilliant support  ensemble – Shalini Vatsa( of Peepli Live, Sacred Games, Ludo fame) is too sharp and wonderful as Chandan’s mother. Her breakdown moment in the climax with Ishan leaves you dumbfounded. The other actors, comprising, Harshuka Panwar, Pankaj Dubey and Dadhi R Pandey leave a long-lasting impact.