Neeraj Ghaywan: Always feels patriotic to do a film that goes to a prestigious festival

'Homebound' receives 9-minute standing ovation
When
Neeraj Ghaywan
first attended Cannes, it was in 2015 for his directorial debut Masaan . The film was selected in the Un Certain Regard and won two awards – FIPRESCI Award and the Prix de l'Avenir Prometteu.
A decade later, he's back at the fest with Homebound (2025), another human story, but this time with a little help from some very big names including Martin Scorsese and
Karan Johar
.
As Ghaywan's new film made the screening in the Un Certain Regard section this year, the filmmaker was joined by the team at the red carpet, the makers discussed Homebound at the Bharat Pavillion at Cannes.
'WE SEE URBAN STORIES IN FILMS, AND THEN THERE IS A GAZE THAT IS TOWARDS SMALL-TOWN INDIA'
'The story that I wanted to say was about these two friends,' Neeraj said during a discussion at the India Pavilion at Cannes ahead of Homebound 's screening.
He added, 'What I also feel is that more than 60 per cent of our economy, our people, live in villages, and in our films, we don't see villages anymore. We see urban stories in films, and then there is a gaze that is towards small-town India. But where are we talking about the stories from the heartland? That was one of the motivators for Homebound .
' The filmmaker continued, 'Whenever we talk about films across the world, say, people of colour, creed, they're all spoken of in numbers.
They are part of the statistics. And when you say that, it's like you're trying to persuade your urban guilt – like hiding your apathy by showing false sympathy. I felt, what if we pick one person out of that statistic and see what happens in their life and how they arrive at this point? That will make for some great story, and will truly represent the kindness, empathy – that has been my intent so far.'
NEERAJ AND I WANT TO TELL EMPATHETIC, HUMAN STORIES: KARAN JOHAR
'Neeraj Ghaywan and I come from two different schools of cinematic syntax,' Karan Johar said, 'but I think one thing that lies common in both our belief systems is that we want to tell empathetic, sensitive human stories.
That is common in both our cinemas. And it has nothing to do with syntax – it has to do with the heart the film offers.' He explained, 'I think when you see Masaan and when you see Homebound , you realise that interpersonal relationships, the handling of the emotional aspects of both the movies, and the spectrum of emotions they cover are the same.
'
Karan said that's what he tries to do in his films too. 'My syntax is more theatrical, more opulent, a little more on-the-nose, because that is the kind of filmmaking I love and what I grew up watching.
But even when I was eight or nine years old, while I loved the glory of Yash Chopra and the social drama with the opulence of Raj Kapoor, I also loved the empathy of Guru Dutt and the deep-rooted messaging of Bimal Roy. I could enjoy the brilliance of Satyajit Ray and dance to a song from a Raj Kapoor film in the same breath,' he said.
Neeraj Ghaywan
I feel this collaboration is quasi-disruptive in a way: Neeraj Ghaywan
Talking about collaborating with Karan, Neeraj said, 'I've been wanting to work with Karan.
(He also directed Geeli Pucchi , a part of the Ajeeb Daastaans anthology in 2021). I feel this collaboration is quasi-disruptive in a way. Independent filmmakers are always trying to figure out how to go about it.
Either we're doing co-productions or seeking government funding, which comes with a lot of paperwork. But here, if Karan is producing my film, then it's a different thing altogether – it paves the way for different kinds of possibilities.
Our default perception is: go to a co-production, make it happen. But for me, this is a new model.'
'We're beaming with pride that we have this kind of representation'
About
Indian cinema
finding global resonance, Karan said, 'One important thing for me is: how to take our cinema to the world, apart from catering to our domestic audience. Last year, we had Payal Kapadia shine at Cannes with All We Imagine As Light (2024), and now she is on the Cannes jury.
This makes my heart so full. We are all beaming with pride.'
He added, 'And the very next year, we have Homebound – this means we really are on the global map. I know these are baby steps. Every year, we have to make sure our stories continue to travel.'
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