Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), India

Homebound is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and co-written by Ghaywan and Sumit Roy, with Martin Scorsese serving as an executive producer. The film's narrative is inspired by a 2020 New York Times essay by Basharat Peer, recounting the experiences of two childhood friends from a small North Indian village who aspire to join the police force. Their journey towards this goal is fraught with pressures that strain their friendship, while one of them is also encouraged to pursue higher education.

The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, receiving a significant standing ovation. It was later released theatrically in India to critical acclaim, though it proved to be a commercial failure. Despite its box-office performance, Homebound garnered widespread critical praise for its direction, writing, performances, and thematic depth, particularly its exploration of caste and social commentary. The film was also among the 15 shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. However, the film faced controversy due to alleged plagiarism of a novel with the same title and faced censorship requests from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), leading to debates about film certification standards.

The cinematic endeavor 'Homebound' draws its foundational narrative from a 2020 New York Times essay by Basharat Peer, titled 'Taking Amrit Home,' later revised to 'A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway.' This essay documented the plight of two young migrant laborers in Surat caught in the midst of the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Director Neeraj Ghaywan's attention was drawn to this story, recommended by producer Somen Mishra of Dharma Productions. Ghaywan, whose directorial debut 'Masaan' (2015) was critically lauded, saw potential in adapting Peer's work. Dharma Productions acquired the rights, and the script development involved fictionalizing the protagonists' backstories while preserving the core essence of the original account. Esteemed filmmaker Martin Scorsese joined as an executive producer, contributing to the screenplay's crafting and the film's editing process. Principal photography took place in 2024, primarily around Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

'Homebound' made its international debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 21st, within the Un Certain Regard category, where it reportedly received a nine-minute standing ovation. It subsequently played at the Melbourne International Film Festival and was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film's theatrical release in India on September 26, 2025, was met with universal critical acclaim. Reviewers lauded Ghaywan's direction, the script, dialogues, performances, and the film's handling of sensitive themes like caste and social issues. Despite the overwhelmingly positive critical reception, indicated by high scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, the film was a significant box-office disappointment, earning less than ₹5 crore against a budget exceeding ₹25 crore. The film's critical success was further highlighted by its shortlisting for the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

Prior to its theatrical release, 'Homebound' encountered challenges with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in India. The board reportedly mandated 11 modifications, resulting in the censorship of approximately 1 minute and 17 seconds of footage. These changes included muting and replacing certain words, deleting specific dialogues like 'Aloo gobhi…khaate hai,' and censoring a brief visual of a religious ritual. A significant portion of a cricket match scene was also edited. These demands sparked considerable debate, with critics labeling the CBFC's approach as 'arbitrary and whimsical.' Actor Ishaan Khatter voiced his perspective on censorship, advocating for a more equitable and open-minded application of standards across all films, particularly social dramas. Additionally, in December 2025, author Puja Changoiwala alleged that the film plagiarized her 2021 novel, also titled 'Homebound,' claiming substantial reproduction of her work. Dharma Productions denied these allegations, asserting that all rights were lawfully acquired based on the New York Times article, while screenwriter Sumit Roy stated he was unfamiliar with the accuser's novel and that the claims were unfounded.