Ricky Kej Composes Score for Papua New Guinea’s First Oscar Entry

Meanwhile, music composer and Padma Shri awardee Ricky Kej is drawing global attention for his latest project, a collaboration between India and Papua New Guinea.

Speaking about the film, Kej called it “a proud moment” and said, “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. The collaboration tells the story of Indian historians searching for an indigenous World War II veteran to uncover forgotten secrets.”

For the score, Kej studied tribal sounds, indigenous instruments, jungle rhythms, archival recordings, and natural soundscapes to match the subtle tone of the film. The cast includes Sine Boboro, John Sike, Ritabari Chakraborty, and Prakash Bare in lead roles.

Kej’s illustrious work includes Adrishya Jalakangal (2023), Wild Karnataka (2020), and Hollywood’s MR-9: Do or Die (2023). He is also working on Wild Tamil Nadu and recently released the album Gandhi: Mantras of Compassion, created with Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi and over 200 musicians from 40 countries.

Known for choosing projects with strong social impact, Kej has not yet composed for Bollywood, saying, “I love watching Hindi films, but I can’t do item numbers or misogynistic songs. I’ve stuck to music that represents me, and perhaps that’s why I’ve won three Grammys. Still, I’d love to compose for Bollywood someday.”