The sweet taste of success for Bengali scriptwriter Sumit Roy came literally with a bowl of traditional mishti doi. This celebration followed the thrilling news that Neeraj Ghaywan's film 'Homebound' has been shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards. Roy, who co-authored the story, is now eagerly awaiting a potential meeting with the film's executive producer and mentor, the legendary Martin Scorsese, with one burning question in mind.
From Sleep to Celebration: An Early Morning Surprise
On the night the Oscar shortlist was to be announced, Roy was conflicted about indulging in his favourite sweet curd before bed, completely forgetting the impending news. "When I woke up at 6 am to a flood of congratulatory messages on my phone, I realised we made it," he shared. Believing he had earned the treat, he finally enjoyed the mishti doi for breakfast. The film's journey to this point began in September, when it was announced in Kolkata as India's official Oscar entry. The selection was made by a 14-member committee chaired by producer N Chandra, appointed by the Film Federation of India (FFI). 'Homebound' triumphed over 24 other submissions from across India's diverse linguistic and regional landscape.
Scorsese's Sharp Notes and a Ray of Inspiration
Roy revealed the instrumental role played by mentor Martin Scorsese, who provided detailed voice notes on the script. "His feedback was incredibly sharp and insightful," Roy explained. One major change came at Scorsese's suggestion: the removal of an entire romantic subplot for actor Ishaan Khatter's character, a move that helped sharpen the film's focus. Although Scorsese was unwell during the Cannes festival, the director, along with cast members, later met him in New York.
Roy now hopes to ask Scorsese if he detected the influence of another cinematic master, Satyajit Ray, in 'Homebound'. "I know he's a fan of Ray, and we tried to capture some of the same humanism," Roy stated. He specifically highlighted Ray's unparalleled skill in portraying poverty without stripping characters of their dignity, citing the example of Sarbajaya from Pather Panchali. Roy drew a parallel to a scene in 'Homebound' where Ishaan's character, despite desperate need, quits his job after facing insulting communal slurs. "In my mind, I always thought that's his Sarbajaya moment," Roy added, emphasizing the theme of preserved self-respect amidst hardship.
Addressing Narrative Structure and Oscar Hopes
Some critics have noted that the film's two halves tackle seemingly distinct issues. Roy addressed this, explaining that the story was based on a New York Times article about the Covid migration. However, he insisted on deeply establishing the characters first. "I told Neeraj we need to know who these boys are as people... So they don't just seem like statistics but full-blown human beings," he said. This character-building focus in the first half, he believes, is crucial for connecting the audience before delving into the tragedy of the migration in the second half.
Regarding the monumental Oscar recognition, Roy remains grounded yet honoured. "The foreign film Oscar is the hardest category because you're competing against 90 or so of the best films from all over the world," he remarked. To be acknowledged alongside such esteemed global cinema is, for him, a profound honour as a writer. The journey from Kolkata's announcement to the Oscar shortlist has been a testament to the film's powerful storytelling, now sweetened by a well-deserved bowl of mishti doi.
