India, Sept. 4 -- Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej has composed the background score for Papa Buka, Papua New Guinea's first-ever official entry to the Oscars. Directed by three-time National Film Award winner Dr Biju (Bijukumar Damodaran), the film has been selected in the Best International Feature Film (Tok Pisin) category.

Calling it a proud moment, Padma Shri awardee Kej says, "It's the first step on the Oscars race, but for me, the joy lies in creating music rooted in history that dates back over 3,000 years. This collaboration between India and Papua New Guinea tells the story of Indian historians searching for an indigenous World War II veteran to uncover forgotten secrets."

For the score, Kej drew inspiration from tribal soun...