Anurag Basu Says He Was 'Really Affected' After Watching Homebound: 'I Felt Small'

Filmmaker Anurag Basu has revealed that he was very moved by Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound. In a recent chat with Zoom, the director said that he felt quite small after watching the film and that he had never

been this moved by a film.

Anurag said, “Neeraj ka film dekhke, I really felt small. I messaged him also. Cinema itna accha hai na shayad aise logon se aapki mulaqat na ho. Aise situation pe aap na jaye lekin jab aap voh jeete hai na vahan baithke film ko, it really affected me. I have never been so affected. Shalini ka chappal wala scene aata hai, main toh hil hi gaya (After watching Neeraj’s film, I really felt small. I messaged him also. Cinema is so good that even if you’re not going to meet those people and be in that situation, you live that moment sitting in a theatre. It really affected me. I have never been so affected. Shalini Vatsa’s chappal scene shook me).”

Earlier, the filmmaker had praised the film via social media. “Saw #Homebound last night and I’m still in its beautiful hangover. A timely, aching film that deserves every conversation and, yes, an Oscar nod. Neeraj @ghywan made me feel wonderfully inferior as a filmmaker, #IshanKhattar #Vishal #JhanviKapoor #Shalinivats are simply brilliant,” he had posted on X.

Meanwhile, Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor were seen in the lead roles, and they received an overwhelming response from the audience for their performances. Homebound tells the story of Chandan and Shoaib, two friends navigating deep-rooted societal injustices related to caste and religion. Their bond is put to the test as the COVID-19 pandemic alters the course of their lives, adding emotional and social complexity to the narrative.

The International Feature Film shortlist features movies from across the globe, including Argentina’s Belén, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, Iraq’s The President’s Cake, Japan’s Kokuho, Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, Norway’s Sentimental Value, Palestine’s Palestine 36, South Korea’s No Other Choice, Spain’s Sirât, Switzerland’s Late Shift, Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl, Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, and India’s Homebound. Academy members from all branches participate in preliminary voting, which requires viewing the eligible films. For the final nomination round, members opting in must watch all 15 shortlisted films before casting their votes.