Some films are special not only for their stories, but also for their place in a country’s history. Filmmaker Bijukumar Damodaran’s Papa Buka is an example, becoming Papua New Guinea’s first Oscar entry. Actor Ritabhari Chakraborty considers herself lucky to have been part of the film. “I didn’t know much about Papua New Guinea before. When I landed there, I remember the locals welcoming me, dancing and singing at the airport because they were excited that a film representing them would be made. In that moment, I realised it’s so much bigger than just a film. It’s a nation’s history,” she says.

A still from ‘Papa Buka’

Produced by Pa Ranjith, the film — a collaboration between India and Papua New Guinea — revolves around an army veteran, who helps two Indian historians discover the unknown connection between the two countries. It marks Chakraborty’s second collaboration with the director after Painting Life (2017). “I love the way Biju visualises things and his sensibility,” she shares. 

Shooting in the Kokoda Trail was a novel and challenging experience. “We shot in the national park, which had no toilets. So, my manager and I had to plan when we’d use the facility, an hour in advance, so that we could go all the way out of the national park and to the motel. But I don’t regret any part of it. It was such an interesting experience and the people are so warm. I felt one with the people.”