'Papa Buka' By Dr. Biju, Starring Ritabhari Chakraborty, Becomes Papua New Guinea’s Official Oscars Entry
Indian filmmaker Dr Bijukumar Damodaran, aka Dr Biju, popularly known for his socially rooted cinema, has once again brought pride to Indian film circles.
His latest work, Papa Buka, starring Tollywood actress Ritabhari Chakraborty and actor Prakash Bare, has been officially selected as Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
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The film, a collaborative venture between Papua New Guinea and India, marks a significant milestone in cross-cultural storytelling. Celebrated Tamil filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, one of the producers and presenters of Papa Buka, took to X to announce the news to his followers.
“It is a proud moment for me to state that Papa Buka has been officially selected as Papua New Guinea’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
As one of the producers from India, it has been an honour for Neelam Productions to be part of this co-production between Papua New Guinea and India. I feel privileged to have supported this journey and to stand alongside the creators in taking this story to a global stage,” Ranjith wrote.
It is a proud moment for me to state that Papa Buka has been officially selected as Papua New Guinea’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category. As one of the producer from India, it has been an honour for Neelam Productions to be part of this… pic.twitter.com/3aEkSFP1DM
— pa.ranjith (@beemji) August 27, 2025
He further added, “I wish the entire team of Papa Buka the very best in achieving more accolades and bringing pride to both nations through cinema.”
Papa Buka brings together talent from both nations. Presented by Pa. Ranjith, the film is headlined by Prakash Bare and Ritabhari Chakraborty, who previously collaborated with Dr. Biju in the 2018 Indo-British film Painting Life.
Adding to the film’s global appeal is three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, who has composed the music. The visual aesthetic has been crafted by cinematographer Yedhu Radhakrishnan, while editing is handled by Davis Manuel. The film’s production design is spearheaded by Dileep Daz.
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The film began shooting in mid-July 2024 across stunning landscapes in Papua New Guinea, capturing the essence of the region and its cultural heritage.
Papa Buka is jointly produced by Noelene Taula Wunum (NAFA Productions, Papua New Guinea), Akshay Kumar Parija (Akshay Parija Productions), Pa Ranjith (Neelam Productions), and Indian actor-producer Prakash Bare (Silicon Media), with Parul Agrawal (Executive Producer) and Adhya Prasad (Production Controller) supervising execution.
The project was officially announced by Inbasekar Sundaramurti, High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, alongside Noelene Taula Wunum (NAFA).
The announcement event was attended by key project members, including Parul Agrawal, Adhya Prasad, and other prominent Indian film professionals.
Over the years, Dr. Biju has directed several acclaimed films, including Saira (2005), Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2010), Akasathinte Niram (2012), Perariyathavar (2013), Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal (2016), Sound of Silence (2017), Painting Life (2018), and Veyilmarangal (2019).
A three-time National Film Award winner, Dr Biju’s works have consistently gained international recognition. His films have been showcased at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, earning accolades such as the Golden Goblet Award for Best Artistic Achievement at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2019.
His cinematic journey has taken him to global platforms including Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, Telluride, Moscow, Cairo, Fajr (Iran), Eurasia, Almaty, Jeonju, Tallinn, Oporto, Dhaka, as well as India’s own IFFK and IFFI.
Continuing his exploration of unique narratives, Dr. Biju’s most recent directorial venture, Adrishya Jalakangal (2023), starring Tovino Thomas and Nimisha Sajayan, further solidified his reputation as one of India’s leading voices in parallel and arthouse cinema.
