21092025-LSTL-01.qxd 9/20/2025 10:03 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL I BIGGER THAN US “This is the film I’ve been proudest of and even if it wasn’t my film, I would feel the same way. Some films are much bigger than us.. @neeraj.ghaywan I love you so much brother, you deserve this and more. You’ve made the most humane film in some of the most isolated of times and it’s my honour to be a vessel for your vision. Only you could make such an Indian film at its heart with a universal language. @karanjohar for enabling us, deeply understanding and protecting this film like a Ryan Gosling is set to enter the Star Wars universe with the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter. Director Shawn Levy shared the first look at Gosling from the film’s shoot. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 Oscar-bound, can Mona NDIA has officially chosen Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards. Set against the backdrop of rural northern India, it revolves around two childhood friends who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied. But as they inch closer to their dream, mounting desperation threatens the bond that holds them together. Following critical acclaim at international festivals including Cannes and Toronto, Homebound now steps onto the global stage — carrying with it India’s hopes for a long-awaited Oscar breakthrough. Homeboundactors Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa are on cloud nine. Suit up Life Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James has reportedly died in a plane crash in North Carolina. He was 57. He wrote hits for Carrie Underwood, including Jesus, Take the Wheel and Cowboy Casanova, Kenny Chesney’s When the Sun Goes Down and Out Last Night and Dierks Bentley’s I Hold On. HOMEBOUND break India’s drought? LABOUR OF LOVE INDIAN IDENTITY We are deeply honoured and humbled that Homebound has been selected as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards… Neeraj Ghaywan’s labour of love is sure to a find home in a million hearts across the world. I’m deeply honoured that Homebound has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars. Rooted in the love for our land and our people, it carries the essence of the home we all share. To take our stories to the world and represent India at one of the biggest global stages for cinema is both humbling and a matter of pride, and for this I’m deeply grateful. KARAN JOHAR NEERAJ GHAYWAN father,” Ishaan Khatter wrote on Instagram. DREAM RUN Janhvi Kapoor also expressed her delight on Instagram and wrote, “Every part of this film has been nothing short of a dream. The journey, the people, what this story means, and how personal it’s been for everyone in our team. At every step, I have been thankful I could witness this journey, which in my mind was truly the reward in itself. Everything since has been a celebration of all these people that I love and respect so much, for their talent, their goodness and their courage.” SHARED SUCCESS This moment feels absolutely surreal it’s the kind of news every actor dreams of hearing one day. To know that Homebound is representing India on the world’s biggest cinematic stage is beyond anything I imagined when I began my journey in films. I’m incredibly thankful to Neeraj Ghaywan for not only believing in me but for entrusting me with a role that challenged me as an artist and transformed me as a person. Working with Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor was equally special they were more than just co-actors; they were supportive collaborators who made every scene richer with their energy and generosity. This recognition isn’t just a milestone for me c m y b personally it’s a testament to the entire team’s hard work, passion, and the power of Indian storytelling. I feel proud to be a part of a film that carries a piece of our culture and heart to an international audience. To be standing alongside such incredible talent and representing my country on a global platform is truly humbling, and I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. — Vishal Jethwa Produced by Dharma Productions, Homebound will now embark on its Oscar campaign journey, aiming to bring India closer to another historic win at the Academy Awards. The film is all set to be released in Indian theatres on September 26. INDIA’S OSCAR CARD 2025 Laapataa Ladies (Hindi) 2024 2018: Everyone Is A Hero (Malayalam) 2023 Chhello Show Last Film Show (Gujarati) 2022 Koozhangal: Pebbles (Tamil) 2021 Jallikattu (Malayalam) Laapataa Ladies, 2018: Everyone Is A Hero, Koozhangal, Jallikattu did not make it to the shortlist stage. Chhello Show made it to the shortlist but didn’t make it to final five. This confirms a pattern: while India continues to send films that receive critical and festival attention, breaking into the final nominations remains elusive. WHILE WE WON… In the last five years, India has made remarkable strides at the Academy Awards, with two historic wins in 2023. At the 95th Oscars, Naatu Naatu, the electrifying track from S. S. Rajamouli’s blockbuster RRR, won the Best Original Song award. In the same year, another major win came with The Elephant Whisperers, a Tamil-language short documentary directed by Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga. Those wins in 2023 stand out because they weren’t in the Best International Feature Film category (where India submits entries every year). Instead, they came in other competitive categories: a song category and a short documentary. NAATU NAATU FROM RRR