India has made history at the 95th Academy Awards, as the song “Naatu Naatu” from the film “RRR” won the Best Original Song category, becoming the first ever Indian song to win in the category. Composer MM Keeravaani and writer Chandrabose took the stage to accept the prestigious award.
MM Keeravaani was ecstatic as he accepted the award, expressing his heartfelt gratitude towards the director SS Rajamouli, stating that “There was only one wish on my mind…RRR has to win …the pride of every Indian…and it must put me on the top of the world.” The composer also paid a special tribute to The Carpenters, whose music had inspired him throughout his career, by singing his own version of their classic “Top of the World” number in his acceptance speech.
The ceremony was introduced by actor Deepika Padukone, who looked stunning in a black off-shoulder Louis Vuitton dress. The “Naatu Naatu” performance saw a squadron of dancers grooving with high energy, with MM Keeravaani, and actors Ram Charan and NTR Jr cheering for the singers from the audience. The performance also earned a standing ovation in the ceremony.
Naatu Naatu has become an international phenomena
The official Twitter handle of “RRR” posted after the historic win, dedicating the award to their fans across the world and expressing their gratitude towards the Academy for recognizing the song’s potential. The song has become an international phenomenon in recent months, with audiences hooting and dancing to it in cinemas in the west.
Released last March in cinemas, “RRR” is a fictional story set in the 1920s pre-independent era and is based on the lives of two real heroes and well-known revolutionaries – Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. While Ram Charan played Ram, Tarak was seen as Bheem.
“Naatu Naatu” competed alongside other nominations that included “Tell It Like a Woman” from the movie of the same name, “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.
Kaala, one of the singers of the song, expressed his gratitude towards the Academy for giving them the opportunity to perform “Naatu Naatu” on the stage. He also emphasized the beauty of the Oscars, where everyone comes together to represent their culture and art forms.
This historic win for “Naatu Naatu” is not only a great achievement for the Indian music industry, but also a testament to the power of music to transcend cultural boundaries and bring people together.