India, Dec. 17 -- There is a strong possibility that 'Homebound' in the coming New Year would do what 'Lagaan' didn't more than two decades ago.

'Homebound', independent filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan's sophomore feature, landed a place on the shortlist for Best International Feature Film announced early Wednesday, following a feverish campaign in the United States in the run-up to the Oscar vote.

The Hindi language film, which continues Ghaywan's exploration of social prejudices through the eyes of the country's youth, becomes only the first Indian film to make the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature Film (formerly Best Foreign Language Film).

When Ashutosh Gawariker's 'Lagaan' won the nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in...