India, Jan. 1 -- Srishti Lakhera's Ek Tha Gaon is a meditative and deeply moving account of the rural depopulation in the Himalayan village of Semla, Uttarakhand. The documentary is infused primarily with the energy and vitality of Leela Devi, an 80-year-old woman, who is one of the seven remaining inhabitants of an abandoned village. As she ruminates about her life in the village, Ek Tha Gaon presents a powerful story about migration, alienation, and persistence.

The film went on to win two National Awards in the Non-feature film category, for Best Film and Best Audiography. Ahead of the film's premiere on Mubi India, HT caught up with the filmmaker for an exclusive chat. Lakhera opened up about the seed for the story, how the journey s...