13 March 2023
Hyderabad
In what is a rare double (after the Golden Globe), SS Rajamouli’s period epic has bagged the coveted Oscar for Best Original Song, for the barnstorming and high-octane number, Naatu Naatu, seeing off competition from leading singers like Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
It is a historic moment for Indian cinema and particularly Telugu cinema from where the film was made. The award is also a first for cinema coming from Asia.
The award was picked up by composer MM Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose. The former said: “I grew up listening to 'The Carpenters' and now here I am with the Oscars."
Picking from the The Carpenters' track 'Top of the World', he added in a singing tone, "There was only one wish on my mind, so was Rajamouli's and my family's. RRR has to win, pride of every Indian and must put me on the top of the world. Thank you Karthikeya and Variance Films for making this possible. Love you all, thank you.” Chandrabose, on the other hand, just said “Namaste” before concluding.
The hit song, crooned by Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj, the duo of who performed for the song live at the ceremony, was filmed in front of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's official residence in 2021– before Russia’s invasion.
A four-and-a-half-minute stomper of a song, it features Charan and Jr NTR, two of the best dancers of the industry, and blends multiple dance styles, and has sparked viral imitations online.
Naatu Naatu’s historic win comes more than a decade after ace composer AR Rahman bagged an Oscar in the category of Best Score-Motion Picture for hype song ‘Jai Ho’ (Slumdog Millionaire) in 2009.
RRR, set in the 1920s, is about the fictional friendship of two real-life Indian revolutionaries and the paths they take to fight against the British Raj.
