March 14, 2023
NEW DELHI – India has scripted history by winning two Oscars at 95th edition of Academy Awards ceremony as the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from the film ‘RRR’ clinched the Oscar under the Best Original Song category while ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ won an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category.
‘Naatu Naatu’ was picturised on Ram Charan and NTR Jr from the film ‘RRR’.
This is the first time that two Indian productions have won the Oscar awards. The 95th Academy awards function was held in Los Angeles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated music director MM Keeravani and lyricist Chandra Bose after their song “Naatu! Naatu!” from the Telugu film “RRR” won the prestigious Oscar award. He also congratulated the team of documentary film “The Elephant Whisperers” for winning the Oscar in the “Best Documentary Short Film” category.
“Exceptional! The popularity of ‘Naatu Naatu’ is global. It will be a song that will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations to @mmkeeravaani, @boselyricist and the entire team for this prestigious honour,” Modi tweeted after “Naatu! Naatu!” won the award.
He further added that the country is “elated and proud” of their achievement.
The prime minister wished producer Guneet Monga and her team for their documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” winning the Oscar award. “Congratulations to @EarthSpectrum, @guneetm and the entire team of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ for this honour. Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature,” he tweeted.
Leaving behind names such as Lady Gaga, Diane Warren and Rihanna, ‘Naatu Naatu’ made history after contending against songs such as ‘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’.
Music composer MM Keeravaani said on receiving the honour: “Thank you Academy. I grew up listening to The Carpenters… and here I am at the Oscars. There was only one wish on my mind… So was Rajamouli’s and my family… ‘RRR’, pride of every Indian. Thank you.”
‘Naatu Naatu’ has already won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award this year.
‘RRR’ stars NTR Jr, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt and Shriya Saran and tells the fictional story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem and their fight against the British Raj.
Set in the 1920s, the plot explores the undocumented period in their lives when both the revolutionaries chose to go into obscurity before they began the fight for their country.
At the 95th edition of the Academy Awards, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ clinched the Oscar for the Best Documentary Short Film. The film’s producer Guneet Monga has reacted to her film’s big win. The ‘Elephant Whisperers’ marks Kartiki Gonsalves’ directorial debut.
Lauding the film’s director, she said: “This is an incredibly powerful and historical moment. We, as two women from India, stood on that global stage making this historical win. I’m so proud of this film, this moment and proud of my amazing team at Sikhya Entertainment, that an independent production house from India has made the history to be the first ever Indian film by an Indian production to win an Oscar. My heart is racing with all the joy, love, excitement in the moment. I’m so grateful to Kartiki, the wonderful visionary that she is.”
The documentary is about the bond that develops between a couple and an orphaned baby elephant called Raghu, who was entrusted to their care.