National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan&rsquo;s latest film Homebound closed the curtains at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025 with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. The film, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, not only marked a powerful finale but also bagged two of the festival&rsquo;s top honors &ndash; Best Film and Best Director.
Sharing his excitement, Ghaywan said, &ldquo;To bring Homebound to Melbourne, and to win these two awards is extremely special. To be in a room full of such diverse people feels truly incredible. One feels so special to see the Australian government and ministers doing so much for this festival, I have never seen such kind of support anywhere else in the world.&rdquo;
Festival Director Mitu Bhowmik Lange called Homebound a perfect way to conclude the event. &ldquo;We could not have imagined a more powerful and fitting way to close IFFM 2025 than with Neeraj Ghaywan&rsquo;s Homebound. The film embodies everything we celebrate at this festival&mdash;fearless storytelling, stellar performances, and narratives that are both deeply personal and universally relatable,&rdquo; she said.
The closing night witnessed packed auditoriums with two screenings, where audiences resonated deeply with the story of two childhood friends from northern India who dream of becoming police officers as a way out of their struggles&mdash;only to find their bond tested when dreams clash with reality.
Mitu Bhowmik Lange added, &ldquo;Watching the audience rise to their feet in applause was a moment of pride not just for the team of Homebound, but for Indian cinema as a whole. This year&rsquo;s edition has been about honoring stories that spark empathy and conversation, and Homebound is exactly that kind of story.&rdquo;
Homebound had earlier premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year, further cementing Ghaywan&rsquo;s reputation as one of India&rsquo;s most fearless storytellers.
Having started his journey as an assistant to Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly, Ghaywan made his independent directorial debut with Masaan in 2015, which won two awards at Cannes, including the FIPRESCI Prize. He later co-directed Sacred Games 2 and helmed the acclaimed short Geeli Pucchi in Netflix&rsquo;s Ajeeb Daastaans.
IFFM 2025, which ran from August 14 to 24, ended on a high with Homebound, a film that is both a personal story of friendship and an exploration of ambition, identity, and sacrifice.

Neeraj Ghaywan’s film wins Best Film & Best Director at Melbourne festival

Standing Ovation for Homebound at IFFM

Neeraj Ghaywan’s film wins Best Film & Best Director at Melbourne festival

August 25, 2025 | 09:56 IST