Homebound, India's official entry for the Best International Feature Oscar award in 2026, continues to make its mark within and beyond the film industry. The other day, Pa Ranjith lauded director Neeraj Ghaywan's film, starring Ishan Khattar, Vishal Jehtwa and Janhvi Kapoor. The latest to praise the gritty and poignant drama is Malayalam filmmaker Anjali Menon. In her Homebound movie review, Anjali said that the film "is a powerful, searing indictment of our society and a real reminder of what cinema can do," while adding, "The director masterfully focuses on the tender throbbing friendship in a landscape crowded with untold stories."
The filmmaker then went on to underscore how well the film tackles its themes through its story of two longtime friends. "As we watch the world through their eyes, we see clearly how blindingly dark it can get. The light in those beautiful beautiful eyes, extinguished by the ugly and relentless crushing through caste, class and religious divides." She also highlighted the hard-hitting impact of the Neeraj Ghaywan directorial, saying, "The film is a rightful grab at the collars of everyone who has the privilege of looking away... and forgetting."
The filmmaker, known for her deeply moving films about friendship and family, also appreciated the collaborative effort of the team behind Homebound. "Heartfelt appreciation to everyone who brought this film together. Neeraj Ghaywan, you have consistently shined light on dark corners with every work of yours. Thank you for doing so," she wrote.
Neeraj responded to Anjali's Homebound movie review with a brief note of gratitude.
