India’s official entry to the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles will be Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, a film about two childhood friends, one Dalit and one Muslim, who struggle against “caste and religion-based systemic discrimination” while chasing their dream of becoming policemen. Ironically, the film is based on aa New York Times article by Basharat Peer from 2020, who was also the writer of the film Haider which portrayed the Martand Sun temple in Kashmir as “Shaitan Ki Gufa”.
The Film Federation of India (FFI) announced the selection on Friday after reviewing 24 films across languages. Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, was produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It has since toured Toronto and Melbourne, winning critical acclaim.
Director Neeraj Ghaywan said the film is “rooted in the love for our land and our people,” while producer Karan Johar described it as a “labour of love” that could resonate with global audiences.
However, the selection has also drawn criticism for the kind of image India repeatedly projects abroad. While many countries send films celebrating their culture, creativity, resilience, or achievements, India has a track record of sending films about poverty, slums, oppression, misogyny, and discrimination. Observers argue this reinforces international stereotypes of India as a nation defined solely by inequality and human rights struggles.
Critics argue that such films feed the global narrative that suits those who want to see the country divided, pointing out that such films provide ammunition to international lobbies that seek to portray India as a civil rights oppressor.
The criticism comes in the backdrop of recent attempts in the West to weaponize caste as a political tool. In 2023, California debated legislation to criminalize caste discrimination despite there being no real incidents on record. In 2024, a high-profile case at CISCO collapsed after a court dismissed a claim of caste bias as fabricated, revealing the employee had actually been terminated for unprofessional conduct.
Critics argue that officially selecting Homebound for the Oscars strengthens these manufactured narratives and risks amplifying the very stereotypes that India’s adversaries abroad are eager to promote.
The Oscars will be held on 15 March 2026. Whether Homebound makes the shortlist will be known on 22 January 2026.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.