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.
