In this film, based on the comic novel of Trinidad life by Nobel Prize
winner V.S. Naipaul, the hero, Ganesh Ransumair, is a schoolteacher in
the island's capital city, Port of Spain. He learns that his father has
died, and he travels back to his country village where he arranges for
the burial.
Once there he realizes that if he is to fulfill his dream
of becoming a writer, he should probably stay in the village and write.
He is determined to make something of himself in the world and thereby
honour the memory of his father.
Ganesh is encouraged by his boisterous aunt, and by a neighbor,
Ramlogan, to pursue his dreams. He decides to seek peace and quiet and
moves to another village, but before he does so he marries Ramloan's
daughter, Leela. Once they arrive in the new village Ganesh settles
down to write. However, money is in short supply and his wife's
patience begins to wear thin.
Eventually she moves back to her father's house, leaving Ganesh by
himself. A lonely Ganesh is befriended by a local shopkeeper, Beharry,
who both encourages and helps him. Eventually, Ganesh finishes his
first book, but despite the efforts of Beharry, his ever faithful aunt,
and his wife - who returns to Ganesh - the book fails to sell.
In an effort to make money, Ganesh turns his hands to 'healing' and
couples his life as a 'writer' with his life as a village healer. When
he 'cures' a young boy named Partap, the son of his former Port of
Spain landlady, word spreads of Ganesh's remarkable skills. Curing
Partap makes a turning point in Ganesh's fortunes. His aunt convinces
him that he has his father's 'gift', and people soon flock to Ganesh
and buy his books. He is a success and eventually he makes a run for
politics. It is only when he decides to move back to Port of Spain, as
a newly elected Member of Parliament, that his fortunes begin to wane.
Ganesh is a country boy: Trinidad is on the verge of political
independence. This 'Man of the People' is out of his depth in the
metropolis, and eventually he retires to obscurity. But his rise to
'power' has been a spectacular and moving 'rags to riches' tale of
decency and hard work triumphing over chicanery and double dealing.
Ganesh refuses to let the city corrupt him, and his retirement is one
of serenity and peace.
