Documentary 'Where The Heart Is' draws packed audience at screening in IFFI 2025
Panjim, November 23
The critically acclaimed short documentary 'Where The Heart Is' premiered at the 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Sunday.
After impressive showings at both the Kolkata International Film Festival and the Jagran International Film Festival, the documentary 'Where The Heart' drew a packed audience at the screening in IFFI 2025.
The documentary was screened at the Indian Panorama section. It was written and directed by Ulka Mayur.
The film had its international premiere last month at Toronto's International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA). It is produced by Mayur Puri, with Mannan Shaah and Ulka Mayur as co-producers.
According to the press note shared by the makers, 'Where The Heart Is' chronicles Umesh Garate's yearly journey from Mumbai to his ancestral village to celebrate the Ganapati festival.
Through this intimate homecoming, the film explores themes of family bonds, migration, belonging, and the subtle yet powerful changes taking place in rural life.
"It's wonderful to see the film receiving such warm appreciation on the festival circuit. We had a houseful screening today. The film is charting its own path from Toronto to Kolkata, Mumbai, and now Goa. It's gratifying that audiences are embracing storytelling across diverse formats," said director Ulka Mayur.
The documentary is scheduled for its second screening at IFFI on November 24.
The 56th International Film Festival of India is currently underway in Goa. It will run till November 28.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Attended the screening yesterday and it was absolutely moving! The way they captured the Ganapati festival traditions and the emotional conflict between city life and village roots was beautifully portrayed. More such authentic Indian stories need to be told!
While I appreciate the cultural significance, I wish the documentary had explored more about the economic challenges of rural migration. The emotional aspect is important, but the practical realities facing villagers moving to cities deserves equal attention.
The Ganapati festival theme is so relatable! Every year, our entire family travels back to our native place in Maharashtra for the celebrations. This documentary sounds like it captures exactly that feeling of homecoming and tradition that we Indians cherish so much ðŸ™
Wonderful to see Indian filmmakers exploring such universal themes through our cultural lens. The journey from Toronto to IFFI shows how our stories can resonate globally while staying true to our roots. Looking forward to watching this!
IFFI continues to be a great platform for meaningful cinema. Documentaries like this are much needed in today's times when we're losing touch with our traditions. Hope this gets a wider release so more people can watch it beyond film festivals.
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