Homebound (2025) is a poignant Hindi-language drama by Neeraj Ghaywan that explores the emotional aftermath of friendship and loss during the pandemic. Read the full review of this Cannes 2025 selection starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor.
Movie Title: Homebound
Language: Hindi
Genre: Drama
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Screenplay: Neeraj Ghaywan
Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor, Reem Shaikh
Producers: Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra
Executive Producers: Martin Scorsese, Pravin Khairnar
Runtime: 119 minutes
Release Date: 21 May 2025 (Cannes Film Festival)
Rating: 8.5/10
Introduction
Neeraj Ghaywan returns to the director’s chair with Homebound, a meditative and deeply affecting film based on Basharat Peer’s moving essay “A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway.” Set against the backdrop of India’s second wave of COVID-19, the film is not just a pandemic story but a powerful exploration of friendship, caste, guilt, and grief. Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Homebound is a film that doesn’t shout—it speaks softly, and its message lingers long after the credits roll.
Plot Summary
Homebound follows Imtiaz (Ishaan Khatter) and Arun (Vishal Jethwa), two childhood friends from different social backgrounds—one Muslim, one Dalit—reunited by tragedy and circumstances during India’s COVID-19 crisis. When Arun dies of COVID-19 on the side of a highway during the desperate migrant exodus, Imtiaz embarks on a haunting journey to return his friend’s ashes to their village, confronting layers of personal guilt, societal injustice, and buried memories.
On this emotionally turbulent road trip, Imtiaz is joined by Meher (Janhvi Kapoor), a journalist covering stories of loss and survival, and Ruksar (Reem Shaikh), Arun’s younger sister. Through flashbacks and silent glances, the narrative pieces together a story not only of a pandemic death—but of a fractured country and the invisible weight of caste and communal trauma.
Performances
Ishaan Khatter gives the most mature performance of his career as Imtiaz. With restrained expressions and aching eyes, he conveys the burden of survivor’s guilt and the complicated nature of friendship shaped by systemic inequality. His performance anchors the film, especially in the final act, which requires emotional vulnerability without overt melodrama.
Vishal Jethwa, though present mostly in flashbacks, is a revelation. As Arun, he brings a fiery optimism and innocent charm that makes his absence feel like a raw wound throughout the film. His chemistry with Ishaan is authentic and touching.
Janhvi Kapoor as Meher delivers a subdued yet sincere performance, carefully balancing empathy with journalistic detachment. Reem Shaikh also impresses in a small but powerful role as a grieving sister carrying quiet rage and sorrow.
Direction and Screenplay
Neeraj Ghaywan’s direction is subtle, poetic, and emotionally precise. Like his previous work (Masaan, Geeli Pucchi), Ghaywan focuses on character moments rather than grand gestures. He uses silence, ambient sound, and body language to let the audience feel the emotions rather than be told what to feel.
The screenplay is both personal and political. It weaves in themes of caste, religion, systemic failure, and the migrant crisis without being preachy. The narrative unfolds through nonlinear storytelling, blending present-day realism with poetic flashbacks. Every scene feels deliberate—crafted with compassion and realism.
Cinematography and Technical Brilliance
Pratik Shah’s cinematography elevates the narrative. India’s deserted highways, refugee camps, cremation grounds, and village lanes are shot with haunting minimalism. The framing often isolates characters within vast, empty spaces—visually reflecting their inner desolation and disconnection.
Nitin Baid’s editing is seamless, allowing the emotional beats to breathe while maintaining narrative momentum. The music by Naren Chandavarkar and Benedict Taylor is hauntingly minimal, often relying on ambient sounds and occasional soft strings. It adds a melancholic tone to the journey without overwhelming the narrative.
Themes and Symbolism
At its core, Homebound is about guilt—both personal and collective. Imtiaz’s journey mirrors India’s own reckoning with its failures during the pandemic: the abandonment of the poor, the caste-based discrimination, and the privilege of forgetting. The “home” Imtiaz returns to isn’t just a physical place—it’s a confrontation with his own complicity, biases, and unspoken shame.
The film also touches upon the media’s role in documenting pain, the dual identity crisis faced by minorities, and the enduring burden of caste and class.
Positives
- Outstanding performances by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa
- Emotionally powerful screenplay rooted in realism
- Sensitive direction by Neeraj Ghaywan
- Beautiful, minimalist cinematography
- Thoughtful exploration of caste and grief without didacticism
Negatives
- The slow pacing might not appeal to mainstream audiences
- Lack of conventional dramatic arcs or commercial elements
- Flashbacks could have been expanded slightly to deepen Arun’s backstory
Final Verdict
Homebound is not an easy film to watch, but it is a necessary one. Neeraj Ghaywan crafts an intimate, politically charged, and emotionally devastating narrative that leaves a lasting impact. With powerful performances, nuanced storytelling, and visual poetry, Homebound is one of 2025’s most important Indian films. It reminds us that behind every death statistic is a human story—a story of love, dreams, injustice, and unspoken goodbyes.
Best Movie Review(BMR) Rating: 8.5/10