Homebound: Friendship and hardship in IndiaCEFR A2
10 Jan 2026
Adapted from Abhimanyu Bandyopadhyay, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Indrajit Rana, Unsplash
Homebound is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and is based on a New York Times report published in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The story follows two childhood friends, Chandan and Shoaib, from a remote village. They travel by truck at night to sit a police constable exam. Both want a steady job, a home and dignity.
When the results arrive, Chandan passes and Shoaib does not. Shoaib takes a job selling water filters and faces daily humiliation. Chandan refuses to use the caste reservation and competes in the General category. The film also shows how the family gives priority to the boy over the girl.
Difficult words
- direct — to make or control a film or performancedirected
- base — to use as a starting point or sourcebased
- pandemic — a disease that spreads to many countries
- remote — far away from towns or other places
- constable — a police officer with a rank or job
- dignity — being respected and feeling good about yourself
- humiliation — strong feeling of shame or public embarrassment
- reservation — a rule giving places to a specific social group
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What job does Shoaib take after he fails the exam?
- Why does Chandan compete in the General category?
- Who does the family give priority to, the boy or the girl?
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