New Delhi, May 30 -- Neeraj Ghaywan returned to Cannes 10 years after his debut feature film Masaan premiered there. Homebound, his sophomore feature, which premiered to heartfelt applause and tears at the festival on 21 May, follows two young men in rural India-Muhammed Shoaib Ali, played by Ishaan Khatter, and Chandan Kumar, played by Vishal Jethwa-determined to escape a life marked with bigotry and poverty.

As a Muslim, Shoaib faces constant discrimination and as a Dalit, Chandan's place in the social hierarchy is all but pre-determined. The two best friends grew up down the road from each other and we meet them at an age where their concerns about providing for their families and transcending their circumstances have taken centre sta...