“Ek Lakdi Thi” (2020) by Tarannum Pasricha

A printing block that wants to leave her imprint everywhere ends up as an objet d’art, waiting on a shelf, unable to meet her destiny.

This week we look at an experimental short film about a chunk of wood. This awkwardly sized piece of wood is personified with a deep desire to be more, to leave a mark. The artisan who holds the power to give it a shape and a purpose is able to fulfill its desire and craft it into a beautiful printing block. But the artisan fails to control the printing block’s destiny.

‘Ek Lakdi Thi’ aka ‘Imrpint’ uses an unusual storytelling space, overlapping what seems like non-fiction and theatre. The soulful, distant soundtrack elevates the film into much more than what is visible on screen. The poetic and layered narration doubles up as musings on the intention and utility of art. While the artisan creates an object of utility, who is to say if it will be used in the way it was intended? Is it the artist’s failure or success if their creation of utility is considered to be art? Is art passive or is it meant to inspire, evoke and compel its viewers to action? These questions will leave a mark on this film’s viewers, serendipitously fulfilling the printing block’s true destiny.