In colonial 1940s Trinidad, schoolteacher Ganesh is a man determined to write a book. Moving from the Port of Spain to his country village, Ganesh sets up shop as a masseur to support himself and his new wife, Leela, while pursuing his dream. He soon becomes an expert on Hinduism and mystical "healing" and proclaims himself the Mystic Masseur; propelled by fame, Ganesh enters politics, a move that forces him to face an inherent conflict between his ambitions and his values.