Dr. Dev Kannya Thakur’s documentary film “Mein Hoon Pabuch” To Be Screened at MIFF 2026
2 min read
Shimla, 12 June 2026:
Acclaimed filmmaker Dr. Dev Kannya 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 in 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 top-class, path-breaking and outstanding films from India and across the world, highlighting exceptional cinematic achievements and unique narratives.
“Mein Hoon Pabuch” documents the remarkable and little-known cultural heritage of the Pabuch Brahmin community of Khadkahn village in Sirmaur district of 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 historical roots of this unique tradition to ancient Kashmir, once a renowned center of learning and scholarship. Kashmir’s Sharada Manuscripts were among India’s most significant repositories of knowledge, attracting scholars from across the subcontinent. Among them were Brahmins from Himachal Pradesh who travelled to Kashmir to study the Sharada script and associated wisdom traditions. Upon returning to their native regions, they adapted and evolved localized systems of knowledge and script.
One of the most remarkable outcomes of this intellectual journey is the Pavuchi Manuscript tradition, preserved by the Pabuch Brahmin community. The film sheds light on the community’s distinctive knowledge system known as Sancha Vidya. “Sancha” is a concise yet profound compilation of Vedic wisdom through which the Pabuch Brahmins provide guidance and solutions to people seeking their counsel.
The documentary reveals how this complete and living knowledge system continues to thrive in the village, where manuscripts dating back to the 15th century are preserved with great care. Nearly every household safeguards these invaluable texts, and generations have dedicated themselves to maintaining and transmitting Pavuchi Vidya through the Sancha tradition. The film serves as a powerful testimony to India’s rich intellectual heritage and the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge systems.
Established in 1990, the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) is the oldest and largest festival for non-feature films in South Asia. 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 is a significant recognition for 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.
