Ek Tha Gaon: Film Screening + Q&A

Ek Tha Gaon 🎬 | Film Screening + Talk & Q&A

What happens when a village slowly empties out, leaving behind only echoes of a life once lived? Beyond the statistics of distress migration lie profound human stories of loneliness, resilience, and the difficult choice between a fading home and an alienating city.

Join us at the*spark for a screening of Ek Tha Gaon (Once Upon a Village), a deeply moving documentary that captures the invisible crisis of abandonment in a Himalayan village through the lives of Leela and Golu, followed by an engaging conversation with the filmmaker, Srishti Lakhera.

You should attend if you…
Care about rural futures, youth aspirations, and the shifting dynamics of our communities.
Want to explore questions of home, belonging, and how identity, caste, and gender shape our ties to the land.
Enjoy films that move beyond headlines to offer intimate, human perspectives.
Are interested in meaningful conversations about rural livelihoods, local enterprise, and moving from reflection to action.

What you’ll take away
A human understanding of distress migration and the emotional reality of a dying village.
Fresh perspectives on rural opportunity, elder care, and what we lose when places are abandoned.
The opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect with like-minded people who care about sustainable development.
An interactive talk, Q&A, and networking over tea and coffee with the filmmaker and fellow changemakers.

Meet the filmmaker: Srishti Lakhera
Srishti is a filmmaker and media trainer from the Indian Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. Her debut feature documentary, Ek Tha Gaon, has won over a dozen awards, including the prestigious John Abraham Award and two National Film Awards for Best Film and Best Audiography. Her extensive work with international organisations like the United Nations, Deutsche Welle, and Channel News Asia has earned global recognition, including Gold for Social Justice at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.

Event details
📅Date: Saturday, 21 November 2026
🕐Time: 5:00–7:00 PM
📍Venue: the*spark | Pullur Centre, Whitefield, Bengaluru

Come for the film, stay for the conversation, and leave with new perspectives on rural futures, community, and the true meaning of home. ☕