Hear that? That’s the sound of RRR fans singing and dancing with joy because the film’s centerpiece number, “Naatu Naatu,” took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
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After a spirited televised performance (albeit one that failed to represent South Asian artists(Opens in a new tab)), the Telugu-language song, composed by M.M. Keeravani and with lyrics by Chandrabose, beat out songs by Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and David Byrne and Mitski. However, “Naatu Naatu”s victory is by no means a surprise. The infectious dance-off banger took home awards at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
This win also makes “Naatu Naatu” the first song from an Indian film to win an Academy Award, although the first song by an Indian songwriter to win was Slumdog Millionaire‘s “Jai Ho” by composer A.R. Rahman.
Keeravani opened his heartfelt speech by saying, “I grew up listening to the Carpenters, and now, here I am with the Oscars.”
He continued his speech to the tune of the Carpenters’ “Top of the World,” singing, “There was only one wish on my mind, so was [director S.S.] Rajamouli’s and my family’s! RRR has to win, pride of every Indian, and must put me on the top of the world.”
Watch the full speech here:
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