Where The Heart Is

"Where the Heart Is" is a captivating documentary that follows Umesh Garate, a dedicated fitness trainer from Mumbai, as he visits his ancestral village of Sonarwadi for the vibrant Ganapati festival. His homecoming mirrors the arrival of Lord Ganapati -both welcomed with love, both destined to depart. And Umesh is not the only one. Entire two generations of Garates, like his father, have migrated to the cities and for all of them, this annual repatriation is full of irony as they invite their deity into their ancestral abode, only to arrive as visitors themselves.

Over five days brimming with rituals, the film beautifully encapsulates the warmth of reconnection, the daily rhythms of village life and the sheer joy brought by collective celebration. The narrative gracefully extends from Umesh’s immediate family to nine other households within the expansive Garate clan, revealing the quiet transformation of once-bustling homes that now stand largely empty. Through this perspective, the documentary resonates on both personal and universal levels, offering a profound contemplation on migration, memory, rural sustainability and the inexorable passage of time.

The deity plays a pivotal role in reuniting families, becoming more than a mere symbol; it is a warm, playful, and familial presence, mirroring the spirit of the villagers themselves.

Filmed during the lush monsoon, "Where the Heart Is" provides a visually stunning experience, richly immersing viewers in landscapes, rituals, cuisine and music. Beneath its aesthetic beauty flows a poignant yearning—for return, for roots and for a connection to what is gradually fading away. As both deity and visitors depart, the documentary leaves us with a moving tribute to home as a place that is both fleeting and timeless.