Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound is at its core an emotional story of two best friends belonging to marginalized communities in India. The film addresses systemic oppression of Indian minorities, caste- and religion-based discrimination, the job crisis in India that is not discussed as often as it should be, and the distress millions of migrant laborers experienced during the 2020 lockdown. Childhood best friends, Shoaib and Chandan had their eyes set on government jobs. They appeared for the recruitment examination for the post of police constable, and they were shocked by the large turnout of aspirants. Chandan was ready to give up; he didn’t think he stood a chance, but Shoaib reminded him of the honor and certainty that came with the job. The police uniform guaranteed respect, something that they were denied based on their caste and faith. Chandan finally agreed to take the exam with Shoaib—and then days slipped into months, and there was no clear word on when the results would be announced. Shoaib had always dreamt of becoming a policeman, but due to the delay, he had no choice but to take up a clerical position at a private company. He always reminded himself that it was only a matter of a few days before his life would completely transform, but unfortunately, for Chandan and Shoaib, the bad days never really came to an end.
Spoiler Alert
Why did Chandan take up a job at the factory?
Chandan had fallen in love with Sudha; she was a second-year college student, and they’d crossed paths at the train station before taking the recruitment examination. Unlike Chandan, Sudha wasn’t the first in her family to have completed her school education. Her father was a government employee (a lineman), and although she’d taken the police examination, she didn’t think that was the job that would take her closer to her goal. She was determined to change the system or at least put a dent in it. Seeing her father, she’d realized that a government job wasn’t enough to guarantee a promotion or even the respect of upper-caste colleagues; she needed to be exceptionally qualified since education was perhaps the only thing that couldn’t be taken away from her.
Chandan was inspired by Sudha, so he too decided to enroll in a college. He struggled with academics, but Sudha came to his rescue. She encouraged him not to settle for an average job and instead aim higher. But when the results were finally announced and Chandan found out that he had been selected, he decided to leave college midway. Although he agreed with Sudha, he was well aware of the needs of his family. He was the only member in his family of four who didn’t have an income, and he knew that his contribution would significantly improve the living conditions of his family. His house had a leaking roof, and his family had been planning on building a house, and Chandan’s income would finally allow them to turn their dream into reality. He chose to fulfill his duty as a son even if it meant becoming a disappointment to Sudha. While she sympathized with his situation, she didn’t think the choice he had made would help him in the long term. As a result of Chandan’s decision, the couple grew apart.
Chandan was told that he had demonstrated an exceptional performance in the practical test and he could expect to soon receive the joining letter at his nearest police station. Chandan waited, but the letter never arrived. He soon learned from the clerk at the police station that the announcement of the result had been delayed indefinitely. Chandan was devastated, and it was only after having an honest conversation with his sister that he realized that he must step up to ease the burden of his family instead of waiting for the right opportunity to find him. Vaishali had been working as a helper at a local school; her job entailed taking the students to the washroom and helping them clean up. As a Dalit woman, her struggle was more layered; unlike Chandan, she wasn’t even given an option to choose higher education. She too had dreamt of going to college, but since the family could only afford to educate one of the two children, Chandan was chosen. Even if he had decided to continue with his college education, his parents would’ve supported his decision, but in reality, they were struggling as a family to make ends meet, and they could really use Chandan’s help. So, Chandan finally decided to take the job at a factory in Surat that his father had initially signed up for. It was tragic that even after completing school education, he had to settle for a job that only required physical labor. But he believed that the system was designed to disappoint the marginalized and corner them to the point that they had no choice but to adjust and settle.
Why did Shoaib resign from his sales job?
Shoaib didn’t qualify for the examination, and it completely shattered his confidence. He realized that working a clerical job at a private company was the only option he really had. But he was determined to make something out of his situation instead of accepting defeat. The sales head of the company, Vikas Tripathi, believed that Shoaib had an instinct for sales, so he had tried to convince the company CEO to hire him as a sales employee. But he didn’t think Shoaib was qualified for the post, and he’d also stated that just having good sales instinct didn’t guarantee sales. So, to prove him wrong, Shoaib sold four purifier units and showed the bill for four confirmed orders to him. None of his employees had managed to pull what Shoaib did in one morning, so while he was upset at first because he didn’t approve of his method, he ultimately applauded Shoaib for proving him wrong. Shoaib joined the sales team, but the HR manager, Mr. Mishra, wasn’t happy about it. He had been harassing Shoaib from the day he’d joined the company solely because he was a Muslim man. One evening, during an after-office watch party, the humiliation escalated beyond control. Shoaib didn’t pay heed to his comment when he insinuated that Shoaib was secretly supporting the Pakistani cricket team. He didn’t even hesitate to accuse the Muslim players on the Indian team of intentionally missing catches. After Pakistan lost the match, he went on to state that Shoaib wasn’t in a good mood because ‘his’ team had lost. Shoaib wasn’t surprised that Mr. Mishra could stoop so low, but it pained him to see his other colleagues and bosses laugh at his Islamophobic comments. When Mishra suggested that the ‘halwa,’ Shoaib’s mother had mostly prepared, was also ‘Lahori,’ he lost his calm. Shoaib finally raised his voice and announced that he’d decided to resign from his job. Vikas tried to stop him, but Shoaib refused to work with people who didn’t think it was wrong to humiliate him based on his faith. Shoaib had tried his best to work a ‘reputable’ job, but he had come to realize that his hard work wasn’t enough to help him fight the discrimination and prejudice that society had against him. Time and again he was reminded by extremists that he wasn’t welcomed in his own country. Shoaib ultimately decided to head to Surat and work at the factory where Chandan had joined.
How did the pandemic affect Chandan and Shoaib’s lives?
Shoaib and Chandan were reunited once again, and through their individual experiences, they had figured out that the oppression didn’t disappear with a job or the promise of one; it stayed, and every other day there would be an individual reminding them how they didn’t ‘deserve’ to live a dignified life. From chasing the dream of becoming a policeman to working at a factory, Shoaib’s life didn’t turn out as he’d pictured. It was almost as if society had succeeded in showing him ‘his place,’ and now that he was working at a factory and not trying to climb the socio-economic ladder, he wasn’t a threat anymore. But Shoaib enjoyed the momentary peace of not having to deal with Islamophobic individuals. He made enough money to pay the loan he had taken for his father’s medication treatment, and he was glad to have Chandan by his side for company. Chandan and Sudha had sorted out their differences; she had realized that she wasn’t in the position to dictate Chandan’s life or assume his struggles. He was trying his best given his circumstances, and she wanted him to know that she would always be by his side.
The most gratifying feeling for Chandan was watching his parents build their house from scratch, and that was reason enough for him to gulp his ego and continue working at the factory. Just as their lives were finally getting back on track, the world entered the lockdown stage. Chandan and Shoaib, like the rest of India, thought it would just be a few days of wearing masks and surviving a couple of ‘no work’ days, but they gradually realized that the situation was only getting worse. Their factory was closed indefinitely, and a nationwide lockdown and nighttime curfew were announced. They could either stay in Surat until things got better, or they could risk their lives and attempt to head home. With no source of income, staying in a rented room with barely any food to eat wasn’t really an option, so although it was risky, Chandan and Shoaib decided to join the countless migrant workers who had hit the road to go home. They’d paid a truck driver who agreed to take them along with a few other workers and desperate individuals trying to return home amidst the chaos. Chandan and Shoaib didn’t get a seat at the back of the truck, so they had to climb to the top. They didn’t complain and simply thought of the hot pot of biryani Shoaib’s mother would lovingly cook for them once they reached home. On their way, when Shoaib asked Chandan if he intended on returning to Surat after the lockdown ended, he stated with confidence that he planned on completing his graduation. He had helped his family build the house of their dreams, and he believed he finally had the opportunity to invest his time in education. Shoaib planned on moving to Dubai as soon as he paid back the loan. Chandan was slightly disheartened by his response; he realized he wouldn’t get to be with his friend as much as he did now. He wasn’t blind to Shoaib’s financial responsibility towards his family, so he knew the reason behind his decision, and all he ended up saying was that they would have conquered the world if they were allowed the chance to become graduates.
Does Chandan die in the end?
Chandan fell sick halfway into the journey, and since he was coughing, the rest of the passengers asked the driver to kick him out of the truck. Shoaib tried to explain that Chandan hadn’t contracted COVID; he was simply suffering from a flu because of the heat and wind they were exposed to. But no one cared to listen. The film underlines how the fear of the disease turned humans heartless—a slight sneeze was enough reason to ostracize an individual and even turn violent towards them. Considering there wasn’t a vaccine or a cure, the fear was understandable, but there is no justification for the way the situation was handled, especially in the case of migrant laborers, who in the time of crisis weren’t offered assistance; instead, they were forced to cover hundreds (even thousands) of kilometers on foot to go back to their native home. It is reported that over ten million stranded migrant laborers had no choice left but to walk in the scorching sun, in the hopes of finding some respite amidst their loved ones at home.
After being abandoned midway in their journey, Chandan and Shoaib too were forced to walk back home. They didn’t have food, they barely had any water left, and the people they met on their way refused to help them. It was only a mother who stepped out of her house to offer the two young, visibly fatigued men water. Her kindness reminded Chandan of his mother; the heat and dehydration made him hallucinate, and he momentarily thought that the woman was his mother who had come to rescue him. They continued their journey, but Chandan could barely stand anymore. They had walked miles together, but the fatigue, sickness, and heat stroke made it impossible for him to go on any longer. Shoaib desperately tried to keep his friend awake, but in the end, Chandan’s body gave up. Shoaib held on to his dear friend; he was in disbelief. The man who proudly expressed his desire to continue with his education the previous day was no more. He screamed and cried, but his friend didn’t respond. An ambulance eventually arrived and carried Chandan’s body. Since he didn’t die of COVID, they allowed Shoaib to take his body home. Had only this help arrived when Chandan was alive, then perhaps things would’ve been different.
While going through his documents, Shoaib discovered the college form that Chandan had filled out. He always used to be apprehensive about marking his caste and usually opted for the general category, mostly because he feared that he wouldn’t be considered ‘worthy’ or ‘deserving’ if he chose a reserved category. But life had taught Chandan that he mustn’t be ashamed of his identity. For generations the marginalized communities have been oppressed, and the reservation system was created for their upliftment, and considering the rampant caste discrimination that continues to be a reality even to this day, Chandan figured that choosing a reserved category isn’t an ‘easy way’; it was his right. Shoaib was in tears when he discovered that Chandan had filled out a form for him as well; this explains why Chandan had remarked that if they both completed their graduation, they would become unstoppable. Chandan’s mother was devastated, and the pair of slippers her son had bought for her was a glaring reminder of how even in the face of crisis, he thought of his mother and had tried to ease her pain.
What does the final scene suggest?
Months had passed since Chandan’s demise; the world had gradually opened up again. Chandan’s family was ready to move into the new house they built, and Shoaib continued to be an integral part of their family. A postmaster called out to Shoaib, and he was taken by surprise. He asked Shoaib if he was ‘Chandan Kumar,’ and he instinctively responded with a ‘yes’ (he wanted to deal with the situation on his own and not involve Chandan’s parents). Shoaib was startled when the postmaster explained that he had a letter from the Police Recruitment Board. It was an appointment letter for the constable position Chandan had applied for. Shoaib had a smile on his face; this was the letter his friend had been waiting for for months, and yet when it arrived, he wasn’t there anymore to celebrate the news. He chose not to discuss it with Chandan’s family because the letter would only bring them more agony and frustration.
In Homebound’s ending, we discover that Shoaib chose to respect the decision Chandan had taken on his behalf, and he enrolled in a college. He was doing it for himself and for Chandan—his dream of becoming the first graduate in his family was now Shoaib’s dream and goal as well. In the final scene, Shoaib visited the usual spot he and Chandan used to spend time at, and he noticed a white pigeon that flew and stayed right by him. At that moment, Shoaib knew that he wasn’t alone; Chandan was watching over him. Shoaib was ready to overcome every struggle that life would throw at him because his life’s mission was now to honor the dreams of his best friend, who had dared to aspire for greatness.
Is it based on a true story?
The story of the film protagonists, Chandan and Shoaib is based on the real-life childhood friends, Amrit Kumar and Mohammad Saiyub, whose journey home to the village of Devari during the pandemic had gained global attention. They were migrant laborers who had moved to Surat for work and were forced to return home during the lockdown. As shown in the film, Amrit had fallen sick during the journey and they were forcefully kicked out of the truck. In real life, Amrit was taken to a local hospital in Kolaras when he and Saiyub were stranded on a highway, but it was already too late. He was extremely weak due to the heat stroke and dehydration, and although the doctors began oral rehydration therapy, he didn’t show any sign of improvement. He was later transferred to a hospital in Shivpuri and was admitted in ICU for severe dehydration, but he ultimately didn’t survive.
