Oscar To Golden Globes: A Look At The International Glory Of RRR Song 'Naatu Naatu'

SS Rajamouli's RRR journey has been phenomenal both in India and abroad and with the latest win at Oscars 2023, the film's song ' Naatu Naatu' has added another acclodes to the long list. The song not only won the best original score at 95th Academy Awards that took place at Dolby Theatres but also propelled the Hollywood mavericks to perform its hook step on stage.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, one of the presenters this year, graced the Oscars 2023 stage to announce the performance of RRR's 'Naatu Naatu' and even gave a special mention briefing the audience about the song amidst loud cheers. "An irresistibly catchy chorus, electrifying beats and killer dance moves to match have made this song a global sensation. It plays during a pivotal scene in 'RRR', a movie about the friendship between real-life Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. In addition to being sung in Telugu and illustrating the film's anti-colonialist themes, it's also a total banger!"

"It's earned millions of views on Youtube and Tik Tok. Has audiences dancing in movie theatres all around the world and is also the first song ever from Indian production to be nominated for an Oscar. Do you know Naatu? Because if you don't you're about to. From the film RRR this is Naatu Naatu."  The performance was followed by a standing ovation," she said.

Composed by veteran Telugu music director M.M. Keeravani, featuring the vocals of Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava and lyrics by Chandrabose, 'Naatu Naatu' took over the award defeating 'Applause' from Tell It Like a Woman, '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 thereby making India proud again at the global stage.

With the win, the film became the first song from any Indian film to win the award. Also, it is the second Indian song to win this prestigious award, after Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire won one in 2009 in the same category.

Before making wave at the Oscars, the song has also gone on to win Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2023. It was nominated alongside Taylor Swift’s “Carolina” from Where The Crawdads Sing, “Ciao Papa” by Guillermo del Toro, Roeban Katz and Alexandre Desplat from the auteur’s film Pinocchio, Rihanna’s comeback song “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Lady Gaga’s soaring song “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.

'RRR' also got wider acclaim at this year's Critics Choice Awards with 'Naatu Naatu' winning Best Song award, as well as Best Foreign Language film. RRR was also nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Visual Effects

The film has also won big at the Hollywood Critics Association Awards after winning Best International Film along with 3 big awards, including Best Action Film, Best Stunts, and Best Original Song for the Oscar-nominated Naatu Naatu. On the official Twitter handle of the film RRR, the makers shared a picture of SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan, MM Keeravani along with the film's team, accompanied with hearts on fire emojis and the hashtags #RRRMovie and #HCAFilmAwards.

Accepting the award for Best International Film, SS Rajamouli said on stage, "Aaah! The best International film...Again to all my fellow filmmakers in India, it is for all of us to believe we can truly make International films! Thank you HCA for that...it means a lot. Thank you very much...a lot. Jai Hind."

So looking at the winning stride of the film and the song, it's definitely a 'Naatu Naatu' time for all the Indians.