Know The Odisha Connect In Papua New Guinea's Official Oscar 2026 Entry 'Papa Buka'

Know The Odisha Connect In Papua New Guinea’s Official Oscar 2026 Entry ‘Papa Buka’

Bhubaneswar: ‘Papa Buka’, inspired by Odisha’s Paika Bidroha (rebellion) of 1817, has been officially selected as Papua New Guinea’s Best International Feature Film category entry to the 98th Academy Awards of 2026.

This film has been co-produced by Akshay Kumar Parija, a twice-National Award-winning director from Odisha, and the Papua New Guinea government. It has been directed by three-time national award-winning filmmaker Bijukumar Damodaran, who is known for his socially conscious cinema.

‘Papa Buka’ reveals the hitherto forgotten tale of Indian soldiers who battled in Papua New Guinea during World War II as part of the allied forces.

The movie’s storyline is inspired by significant events, such as former President Pranab Mukherjee’s 2016 visit to Papua New Guinea and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2023 homage at Bomana War Cemetery, where numerous unidentified Indian soldiers are buried. The plot centres on a journalist’s quest to find her grandfather, a soldier lost during the War, while exploring the evolution of the cultural landscape of Papua New Guinea.

Through an emotional exploration of history, akin to Odisha’s Paika Bidroha, the film honours unsung heroes whose sacrifices deserve to be etched in global memory. It was made to mark the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence.

Eminent Indian actors Ritabhari Chakraborty and Prakash Bare headline the ensemble of historians documenting this lost legacy. The project also boasts music composed by Grammy Award-winning composer and Padma Shri recipient Ricky Kej. The multilingual film features dialogue in Tok Pisin, Hindi, Bengali and English has been shot entirely in Papua New Guinea.

“It is indeed a proud moment for everyone associated with the film to be nominated for an Oscar. The story of Papua New Guinea’s lost soldiers resonated with the poignant story of Paika Bidroh (rebellion) of Odisha. So, when the idea was conceived and perceived, the narrative amazed me; it connects history, identity and cultural transitions in a way that speaks to both local and global audiences,” Parija told TOI.

Odia film, ‘Jiaanta Bhoota’, produced by the filmmaker won the national award in 2008. A Hindi movie, ‘Kadvi Hawa’, co-produced by him, also won the national award in 2016.