Homebound

one of the most poignant films i have ever watched. i sat through the entirety of homebound, with tears in my eyes, full of anger and desperation. desperate for change, and for revolution. but how can that be possible? in a country where your future is determined by your last name, where communalism is at an all time high, where do we even start?  maybe it's not my place to say this as an nri, but india, as we know it, is a failed nation. neeraj ghaywan shows that, to be born as a dalit or muslim, in the most populous country in the world, is to be born under an overbearing shadow of oppression. a shadow which forces them to prove their worth and loyalty to a society which doesn't deserve them. i saw a review on twitter recently critiquing the film about its lack of subtlety. what on earth is so subtle about chandan and his family being berated and humiliated because of their caste? about shoiab's indian identity being questioned and mocked simply because he's muslim? what need is there to be subtle in the face of oppression? india needs more filmmakers like neeraj ghaywan. this was, for me, the most important film to come out this year. a film which doesn't shy away from the realities of modern india. for those still stuck in their bubble of privilege, this is a wake up call.