‘The Odyssey’ is about a man trying to go home; so are these Bollywood films

Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey’ brings Homer's ancient Greek epic to life on a grand cinematic scale. But beneath its breathtaking visuals and spectacle lies a simple, timeless story, a man determined to find his way back home against all odds. It's a universal theme that has resonated across cultures for centuries.

Bollywood, too, has explored the idea of homecoming in many memorable ways. Whether it's a physical return to one's roots or a long journey back to loved ones, several Hindi films have centred on characters whose greatest quest was finding their way home. As The Odyssey arrives in cinemas, here's a look at some Bollywood titles that echo its enduring narrative.

Karwaan (2018)

‘Karwaan’ is the story about three individuals who embark on a long journey to return a dead body to its home. Avinash (Dulquer Salmaan), along with Shaukat (Irrfan Khan) and Tanya (Mithila Palkar), reluctantly joins a road trip from Bengaluru to Kochi after Avinash’s father’s dead body gets involved in a mix-up. Though it’s the homecoming of the dead body, which finally reaches its home, the journey that goes through many emotional obstacles and challenges for the trio, transforms them personally.

PK (2014)

Starring Aamir Khan in the titular role alongside Anushka Sharma, ‘PK’ is truly a story about an alien trying desperately to return to its home planet. As PK loses his remote, which will take him back to his home, he embarks on a journey to search for the remote, which takes him through multiple cities and challenges. At the heart of the film is a character, just like Odysseus, who is trying to find his way back home, but faces different sets of challenges.

Highway (2014)

Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Highway’ is a very symbolic example of a person finding a way home. In this movie, Alia Bhatt’s character, Veera, is kidnapped from her home just before her wedding. She cuts through several states with her kidnapper, Mahabir (Randeep Hooda), as she comes across people from different walks of life. Every stop on the journey helps Veera in shaping herself into a new person, rediscovering herself, and finally finding a new home.

Swades (2004)

In Ashutosh Gowariker’s drama film ‘Swades’, Mohan Bhargav (Shah Rukh Khan), a NASA scientist, returns to India after many years to take his childhood caretaker back with him to the United States of America. However, his journey to rural India, which was to be a short visit, turns into one that brings him self-discovery about social inequalities, and also helps him reconnect with his roots. Mohan’s journey transforms him in many ways, returning home as a changed man and one with a new purpose.