Fans of Indian cinema have reason to celebrate. On December 17, Dharma Productions announced via social media that “Homebound” has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Directed and written by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film is inspired by a 2020 New York Times article by Basharat Peer. It stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, with Janhvi Kapoor, Harshika Parmar, and Shalini Vatsa among the cast.
India’s Journey at the Academy Awards
Nominated Feature Films
India has seen three films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film: “Mother India” in 1958, “Salaam Bombay!” in 1989, and “Lagaan” in 2002.
Directed by Mehboob Khan, “Mother India” featured Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar. The story follows a village woman named Radha as she struggles to raise her sons in poverty. It was the first Indian film nominated at the Oscars.
Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!” (1988) depicted the lives of children in Mumbai’s slums. Featuring Shafiq Syed, Raghuvir Yadav, and Nana Patekar, it won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes and the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
“Lagaan,” set in 1893 and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, starred Aamir Khan and Gracy Singh. The film tells of villagers who challenge a British officer to a cricket match to avoid taxes.
Shortlisted Feature Films
Besides “Homebound,” the 2021 Gujarati film “Last Film Show” (Chhello Show) was also shortlisted but did not make the final list. Directed by Pan Nalin, it starred Bhavin Rabari and Bhavesh Shrimali.
Documentary Nominations and Wins
Indian documentaries have also been recognized at the Oscars. “The Elephant Whisperers,” directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, won Best Documentary Short Subject at the 95th Academy Awards. It highlights a couple’s bond with an orphaned elephant.
Other nominated documentaries include “Writing with Fire” in 2022, “All That Breathes” in 2023, and “To Kill a Tiger” in 2024.
Oscar Wins with Indian Connections
Several films, either independently submitted or with Indian connections, have won Oscars.
- Gandhi – In 1982, it won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Richard Attenborough. Bhanu Athaiya won for Best Costume Design, becoming the first Indian Oscar winner.
- Slumdog Millionaire – In 2008, Danny Boyle’s film won multiple Oscars, including Best Original Score for A.R. Rahman and Best Original Song for “Jai Ho.”
- RRR – In 2022, S.S. Rajamouli’s film won Best Original Song for “Naatu Naatu” by M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose.
About Homebound
“Homebound” follows friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa) as they pursue careers in the police force. Janhvi Kapoor adds emotional depth to the narrative. The film, which debuted on Netflix on November 21, has been acclaimed at film festivals worldwide.
Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and others, with executive production by Martin Scorsese, “Homebound” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It is inspired by Basharat Peer’s article “Taking Amrit Home.”
