SS Rajamouli’s RRR created history by winning the Best Original Song category at the Oscars 2023 for the energetic anthem ‘Naatu Naatu’. The song featuring Ram Charan and Jr NTR beat out tough competition from ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,’ ‘Tell It Like a Woman,’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ M.M. Keeravani composed the music, and Chandrabose wrote the lyrics.
The song celebrates the inclusive spirit of dance and bonhomie, and Charan and Jr NTR match steps to its catchy rhythm. Singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava lend their voice to the original track, and they performed it live at the Oscars alongside Keeravani and American dancer Lauren Gottlieb.
For the first time, India earned three nominations at the prestigious international stage with ‘Naatu Naatu’ and two documentaries ‘All That Breathes’ and ‘The Elephant Whisperers’. Keeravani’s song earned a nomination for Best Original Song, while the documentaries were nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short Film categories, respectively.
The RRR team arrived in style at the Dolby Theatre for the ceremony. Director SS Rajamouli, actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan, and singer MM Keeravani graced the red carpet in ethnic outfits. Jr NTR wore a black velvet custom-made bandhgala with gold metallic embroidery by Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta, which drew parallels to the national animal of India, the Tiger.
Overall, it was a big night for the Indian film industry, and RRR’s win is a testament to the talent and creativity of the team behind the blockbuster film.