Oscars 2023: RRR's Naatu Naatu wins Best Original Song Award

RRR's Naatu Naatu won The Best Original Song Award at the 95th Academy Awards. 

The song is composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Chandrabose. It is sung by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava. Meanwhile, singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava performed the number live at the ceremony.

As the composer-lyricist duo walked up to the stage, the announcer told the audience that Chandrabose pursued a degree in Electrical and Electronics engineering before becoming a lyricist. She also mentioned the trivia on John Williams being one of Keeravani’s musical influences.

Accepting the Award, Keeravaani said, "Thank You Academy. I grew up listening to The Carpenters. And now here I am with the Oscars." He further sang Top of the World with tweaked lyrics to express his gratitude,"There was only one vision in my mind...So was Rajamouli’s and my family’s... RRR has to win pride of every Indian. And must put me on top of the world. Thank you Karthikeya and various friends for making this possible. Love you all." Lyricist Chandrabose also received the Award with Keeravaani 

Naatu Naatu competed with '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 in the Best Original Song category at the Oscars. 

Naatu Naatu also won the Golden Globe awards earlier this year, becoming the first Asian song to achieve the feat. 

MM Keeravani is the second Indian composer to win an Academy Award after AR Rahman, who won two Oscars in 2009 under the categories Best Original Score and Best Original Song (Jai Ho) for the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). 

Directed by SS Rajamouli, the epic action-drama features Jr NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles.  The film's ensemble star cast includes Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris.  RRR is a fictional story that revolves around two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr NTR), and their fight against the British Raj. The film opened to positive reviews and fared well at the box office.

(Inputs from Abhilasha Cherukuri)