Homebound: Case Filed Against Neeraj Ghaywan's Direction Over 'Plagiarism' Claims By Author

Oscar shortlist Neeraj Ghaywan's direction Homebound has landed in legal trouble recently. Author Puja Changoiwala has filed a complaint against this Ishaan Khatter starrer claiming that the film has unlawfully

plagiarised her 2021 novel of the same name. This came after she sent a email to a leading news portal mentioning that, 'producers have not only misappropriated the title of my book, but have also blatantly reproduced substantial portions of my novel'. For the unversed, the film also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa.

Homebound is plagerised?

In a email sent to Hindustan Times, journalist and author Puja Changoiwala has explained that Homebound film has similarities from her novel of the same name and also revealed that the makers have ignored her claims. She said, "The subject of both (her novel and the film) is the COVID-19 migrant exodus of 2020. Upon watching the film, I discovered that the producers have not only misappropriated the title of my book, but have also blatantly reproduced substantial portions of my novel in the second half of the film-including its scenes, dialogue, narrative structure, sequence of events, and other creative expressions."It is believed that her lawyer had already sent a legal notice to Dharma Productions on October 15 regarding this, "providing a detailed, scene-by-scene account of their infringement of (her) rights." Despite this, the author claims that the production house 'refused to acknowledge the violation'.Concluding her statement, she has concerned that, this 'cannot be a coincidence'.

More about the film

Homebound, written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan is based on a New York Times article by Basharat Peer from 2020. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor and follows two childhood friends, who attempt to pass the national police exam.