Oscar Shortlisted Film 'Homebound' Tells Story of Hindu-Muslim Friendship During India's Pandemic Crisis

"Homebound," a film based on a viral photograph from India's early pandemic lockdown, has been shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The movie tells the true story of two migrant workers—Mohammad Saiyub, a Muslim, and Amrit Kumar, a Dalit Hindu—whose friendship became a symbol of solidarity during a period of intense communal polarization in India.

The film centers on a 2020 photograph that captured Saiyub cradling the ill Kumar by the roadside as they attempted to travel nearly 1,000 miles home after India's government shut down industries and transport to contain COVID-19 spread. The image drew widespread attention because it depicted a moment of care between two men from religious and caste backgrounds that have faced systematic discrimination in India over the past decade. Director Neeraj Ghaywan deliberately kept the production confidential during filming, assigning legendary director Martin Scorsese—who served as executive producer—the code name "elder brother" to avoid media scrutiny.

Ghaywan worried the film's central narrative might provoke hostility from Indian media outlets and audiences given the country's political climate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. He told NPR: "I treaded that path , carefully. Like we didn't disclose about the story for a long time. We were being cautious. I thought: Let the film speak for itself." The strategy proved effective; the film received a nine-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival and collected awards across the festival circuit before India selected it for Oscar consideration.

The movie's source material originated from a 2020 New York Times essay by writer Basharat Peer, who discovered the backstory behind the photograph. Peer noted that the image's emotional power—showing dignity and care during crisis—resonated deeply once he learned the men's religious identities. He told NPR: "Just the care and the dignity, the photograph moved me immensely. It was a great act of friendship."

The film's narrative unfolds against the backdrop of India's pandemic response, which displaced approximately 80 million migrant workers according to economist Jayati Ghosh's research. These workers, who survive on low wages, faced hunger and desperation as they attempted to return to their home villages. Peer compared their exodus to the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s in the United States, except migrants were fleeing India's industrial centers back to their villages rather than seeking new opportunities.

Context

India's political environment has shifted over the past decade under Modi's rule and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Religious tensions have intensified, with Muslims facing routine vilification from government officials and nationalist figures. In February 2026, Assam's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma generated an AI video depicting himself shooting Muslims; the video was shared by his party and only removed after public backlash, resulting in the firing of a state BJP social media team member.

The film's achievement marks a rare milestone for Indian cinema. Oscar shortlists in the international feature category typically include films from major film industries; Indian submissions rarely advance this far in the Academy's selection process. The recognition reflects both the film's artistic quality and its resonance with global audiences during a period when communal violence and polarization have become pressing concerns worldwide.

What's Next

"Homebound" is now available on Netflix, expanding its audience beyond festival circuits and art house theaters. The film's path to a potential Oscar nomination will become clear when the Academy announces its final five nominees in the international feature category; the shortlist typically narrows to five finalists before the ceremony. Beyond awards consideration, the film's success may influence how Indian filmmakers approach stories involving religious and caste tensions—demonstrating that audiences and institutions will engage with narratives that directly address the country's deepest social divisions rather than avoiding them.