Producer
Parul Agrawal
Parul Agrawal is a visionary producer, cultural advocate, and creative strategist with a strong commitment to developing impactful cinema and strengthening international collaboration within the film industry. A long-time resident of Papua New Guinea, she has played an active role in advancing creative exchange, youth development and cultural empowerment through arts-driven initiatives. In her current role as Producer under NAFA Productions, she brings together creative vision and strategic leadership to guide projects from development through to global positioning. Her work spans film production, audience development, media strategy, event planning and international collaboration, ensuring that each project is both artistically compelling and effectively positioned for wider reach and impact.
Previously, as part of the landmark India-Papua New Guinea feature film Papa Buka, Parul served in as the Executive Producer, where she contributed significantly to the films outreach, promotional strategy, and cultural engagement , helping it achieve strong visibility across international platforms and meaningful community impact. With MUSSAU: The First Song, she now steps into a more direct production leadership role, focusing on shaping the film as a culturally grounded narrative with global resonance. Through her work, Parul represents anew generation of producers who actively shape cultural narratives, build sustainable creative ecosystems and champion storytelling with purpose and global vision.
Executive Producer
Noelene Taula Wunum
Noelene Taula Wunum is Papua New Guinea educator, creator leader and film producer with over two decades of experience in youth development, education and cultural storytelling. She serves as the Chairman of Guru foundations and a key driving force behind the Native Arts and Fashion Academy (NAFA), where she played an instrumental role in shaping programs that empower young people through both academic learning and creative expression. Through her work with Wizzkids Coaching Center and NAFA’s training platforms, she has consistently focused on building structured pathways for youth development, combining education with the arts to nurture disciple, confidence and opportunity for emerging talent across Papua New Guinea.
In film and media, Noelene is a respected Producer and creative coordinator, working on documantery and feature projects that highlight Papua New Guinean identity, history, and culture. Her work on Papa Buka placed her at the heart of a significant PNG-India collaboration, bringing a wartime story to international attention. In MUSSAU: The First Song, she serves as the Executive Producer, taking a more hands-on role in the film’s execution from development through production. The project is especially meaningful as it is based on her grandfather’s life, adding personal depth to her commitment to preserving and sharing Papua New Guinean heritage through film.
Line Producer
Adhya Prasad
Adhya Prasad is a vibrant and driven young leader who represents a new generation of production professionals dedicated to crafting purposeful, culturally grounded narratives. Having previously served as the Production Controller for the landmark feature film Papa Buka, where she held comprehensive responsibility for the project’s financial and logistical architecture including budget management, resource allocation, and risk oversight, she now brings that high level operational foundation to her current role as the Line Producer for MUSSAU: The First Song.
In this capacity, Adhya bridged the gap between creative ambition and fiscal disciple, guiding the project with a steadfast commitment to leadership and efficiency. her expertise lies in navigating complex logistics and fostering collaborative environments where cast and crew are empowered to excel. By balancing meticulous planning with creative empathy, she ensures that each production she leads remains on schedule and fully aligned with the directors artistic vision.
Director
Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran
Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran (Dr.Biju) is a three time National Award winning Indian Filmmaker known for his socially conscious, poetic realist cinema and deeply human storytelling. A distinctive voice in contemporary world cinema, he has directed over 14 acclaimed feature films that have screened at major international festivals including Cannes, Cairo, Chicago, Jeoniu and Dhaka. His debut Saira premiered at Cannes in 2007., launching an internationally recognized career and his work has since earned honors such as the Golden Goblet Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. He also serves on prestigious juries including India’s National Film Awards and Oscar selection committee.
His Indo-Papua New Guinea co-production Papa Buka marked a historic milestone as PNG’s first official Oscar submission, highlighting his commitment to cross-cultural storytelling. For MUSSAU: The First Song, Dr.Biju brings his signature observational style to Papua New Guinea once again, shaping an intimate coming-of-age story rooted in island life. The film explores themes of tradition, identity and transformation told with authenticity and cinematic poetry that continues his vision of storytelling beyond borders.
Story By
Dr. Hilda Tanimia
Dr. Hilda Tanimia is a senior maternal and neonatal health clinician with over a decade of experience in advancing obstetric and gynaecological care in Papua New Guinea. Based at Port Moresby General Hospital, she has played a key role in strengthening maternal and newborn health services through evidence-based clinical protocols, SOPs and training curricula tailored to PNG’s resource-limited settings. She has also contributed significantly to national capacity building through her work with UNICEF on the Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) curriculum, training healthcare facilitators across the country.
Beyond her clinical and academic contributions, Dr, Tanimia is actively engaged in community and faith-based initiatives as Secretaary of the Imona Foundation, where she supports health and education programs, including initiatives like Lavelai School. Her work reflects a strong commitment to linking clinical excellence with community development and cultural preservation, particularly though her interest in the history of Mussau and its role in sustaining local heritage and resilience.
Screen Play
Dr. Jennifer Litau
Dr. Jennifer Litau is a social scientist, linguist and cultural consultant from Mussau Island, New Ireland province with over 40 years of experience in translation, research and cultural preservation. Fluent in English, Tok Pisin and the Eastern Mussau dialect, she specializes in documenting and translating oral histories, traditional knowledge and cultural narratives. She has also contributed to language preservation through her translation work for the Mussau Bible and continues to provide expertise in cultural research and translation across Papua New Guinea.
Dr. Joses Imona
Dr. Joses Imona is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Humanities, Education and Theology at Pacific Adventist University with extensive experience in teaching history, theology, research and youth culture. His academic work focuses on cultural narratives, ethics, and the impact of media and storytelling on contemporary society, particularly within Papua New Guinea context. As a co-writer of Mussau: The First Song, he contributes valuable academic expertise, cultural perspective and narrative insight, helping to shape a screenplay that is both historically grounded and culturally authentic.