Why Homebound Lost Out in the Oscar Race

Neeraj Ghayawan’s Homebound saw its Oscar aspirations end in disappointment after failing to make it to the final five nominees in the Best International Feature Film category. Despite being viewed as a strong contender — buoyed by high-profile screenings at international festivals from Toronto to Cannes — industry insiders say the Academy remains a notoriously difficult body to impress.

Trade analyst Sumit Kadel believes the film’s thematic familiarity may have worked against it. “Despite its sincere intentions, the theme felt too familiar to make a strong impact,” he says. “The COVID-19 migrant crisis and stories of class oppression have been explored extensively in global cinema. That raises the question — what was its USP?”

Beyond creative considerations, the sheer scale and cost of Oscar campaigning emerged as a major hurdle. Producer Karan Johar has previously described the awards campaign process as a “bottomless pit.”

As Kadel explains, “Securing a nomination requires aggressive campaigning and lobbying across international platforms. That’s an area where Indian films often lag. You need very deep pockets.”

Industry observers also point out that Homebound struggled to sustain awards-season buzz. While the film received a standing ovation at Cannes, such reactions are increasingly routine on the festival circuit. A film critic draws a comparison: “Take the Gaza documentary that received a 23-minute ovation at Cannes. It stirred intense emotion, triggered political discourse, and dominated international conversations. That’s the kind of sustained impact needed to build Oscar momentum — continuous global press and conversation.”

Other factors may have contributed as well. Despite critical acclaim, Homebound recorded a modest domestic box office collection of around Rs 5 crore, which some insiders feel reflected limited grassroots support.

Additionally, allegations of plagiarism surfaced when author Puja Changoiwala claimed the film had unlawfully borrowed from her 2021 novel of the same name. While the matter did not reach a legal conclusion, industry insiders note that the Academy tends to be cautious about negative publicity. Even the perception of controversy can prove detrimental during awards season.