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New Delhi : An
Indo-Pacific historical drama becomes PNG’s official entry for the 98th Academy
Awards, celebrating India’s global storytelling reach.
History has been
written. Papa Buka, the first-ever Indian-Papua New Guinean cinematic
partnership, will be PNG's entry in the Best International Feature Film
category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026. This milestone is led by Odisha's
two-time National Award and 40-plus State Award-winning producer, Akshay Kumar
Parija, and the Papua New Guinea Government.
Spearheaded by
three-time National Award-winning director Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran, the film is
a tribute to PNG's Golden Jubilee of Independence. Its core revolves around a
long-forgotten chapter of common history, Indian soldiers who battled in PNG
during World War II and whose bodies lie anonymously in the Bomana War
Cemetery.
The movie derives
dramatic power from cross-cultural references to Odisha's Paika Vidroha of
1817, weaving themes of revolt, sacrifice, and identity. It was conceived in
response to pivotal state visits, President Pranab Mukherjee in 2016 and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, both of which renewed India-PNG cultural ties.
The movie has Ritabhari
Chakraborty and Prakash Bare in the cast, with a haunting score by Grammy
winner Ricky Kej. The entire technical team is Indian, highlighting the
nation's skill set in the global arena.
For Parija, Papa Buka
is not just a cinema, it is a bridge of culture. With his focus on historical
and socially based storytelling in all of Odia, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam
cinema, he takes the film on to bring Odisha's cinematic heritage into the
global spotlight.
Coproduced with Pa
Ranjith, Prakash Bare, and PNG's NAFA Productions, Papa Buka adds its name to
the list of Indian films that have left their mark on the world, cementing the
country's place among the top echelons of global cinema.