Makes it to the shortlist of 15 for the 98th Academy Awards
Producer Karan Johar and director Neeraj Ghaywan’s masterly study of social inequality and male bonding, Homebound, has made it to the shortlist of 15 films in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Director Neeraj Ghaywan is over the moon. “I am of course pleased for myself and for our producer Karan Johar,” he says. “After I directed Masaan in 2015, I received many scripts from studios, but I was searching for something where my identity and my work could merge — something that truly challenged me and resonated deeply with my values and my search for meaning in an increasingly disoriented world,” Neeraj said.
Now to the wider question – Considering the blanks it has been drawing, has India been sending the wrong films to the Oscars? Films selected for the Academy Awards often don’t have the massive funds to lobby for votes in Los Angeles. In 2020, many felt Jallikattu, the chosen Malayalam film, would crack it. But the team barely had ticket fares for Los Angeles.
Legendary filmmaker the late Shaji Karun, who headed the 2021 jury for selecting Oscar entries from India, told this writer then, “We should know what we are up against. Looking at the films which win awards at festivals across the world, they all have one common thread — humanism, or the triumph of the human heart over all obstacles. That concept is common to all cultures. Select a film that celebrated humanism. If we selected a political film or one on a specific cultural event, it could have been easily overlooked if it didn’t match the political ideologies of the people viewing the film at the Oscars.”
The real test begins now
Making it to the Oscars shortlist, to be announced on January 12, is an active and demanding process, especially as the film competes against top contenders in the category. Sustained promotion and multiple targeted screenings are crucial to ensure the film is widely seen and seriously considered by Academy members. The challenge intensifies beyond the shortlist stage, as a serious awards campaign requires deep financial backing, strategic positioning, and constant visibility. With Adar Poonawalla backing the film, Homebound has the resources to stay in the race. It is a long and expensive road-but not an impossible one-provided the campaign remains sharp, consistent, and relentless.
We should know what we are up against. Looking at the films which win awards at festivals across the world, they all have one common thread — humanism, or the triumph of the human heart over all obstacles. That concept is common to all cultures. We wanted to select a film that celebrated humanism. If we selected a political film or one on a specific cultural event, it could have been easily overlooked if it didn’t match the political ideologies of the people viewing the film at the Oscars.”
Karan Johar is elated | We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'! All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...,” He posted on X.
