Acclaimed filmmaker Dr. Dev Kanya Thakur’s documentary film “Mein Hoon Pabuch” has been selected for screening at the prestigious 19th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2026. The film will have its Indian Premiere on 16 June 2026 at 10:00 AM at Audi-2, FD-NFDC Complex, Pedder Road, Mumbai.
The documentary has been selected in the highly regarded Prism Section under the Documentary category. The Prism Section showcases outstanding, innovative, and path-breaking films from India and around the world, celebrating exceptional cinematic achievements and unique storytelling.
“Mein Hoon Pabuch” documents the remarkable and relatively lesser-known cultural heritage of the Pabuch Brahmin community of Khadkahn village in Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, belonging to the Hatti community. The film explores a living knowledge tradition that has survived for centuries and continues to flourish in the remote Himalayan region.
The documentary traces the roots of this unique tradition to ancient Kashmir, once a renowned centre of learning and scholarship. The celebrated Sharada manuscript tradition attracted scholars from across the Indian subcontinent. Among them were Brahmins from present-day Himachal Pradesh, who travelled to Kashmir to study the Sharada script and associated knowledge systems. Upon their return, they adapted and evolved localized traditions of learning and script.
One of the most significant outcomes of this intellectual legacy is the Pavuchi Manuscript Tradition, preserved by the Pabuch Brahmin community. The film highlights the community’s distinctive knowledge system known as Sancha Vidya. “Sancha” represents a concise yet profound compilation of Vedic wisdom through which Pabuch Brahmins offer guidance and solutions to people seeking their counsel.
The documentary reveals how this living knowledge system continues to thrive in the village, where manuscripts dating back to the 15th century are carefully preserved. Nearly every household safeguards these invaluable texts, while generations have dedicated themselves to preserving and transmitting Pavuchi Vidya through the Sancha tradition. The film stands as a powerful testament to India’s rich intellectual heritage and the importance of safeguarding indigenous knowledge systems.
Established in 1990, the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) is South Asia’s oldest and largest festival dedicated to non-feature films. Organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, MIFF has evolved into a globally respected platform for documentary, short fiction, and animation cinema. The festival attracts filmmakers, cineastes, and industry professionals from across the world, fostering dialogue, cultural exchange, and creative collaboration.
The selection of “Mein Hoon Pabuch” in the prestigious Prism Section marks a significant recognition of Himachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage and offers a national and international platform to showcase an extraordinary living tradition that has preserved centuries-old knowledge systems in the Himalayan region.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
