“Naatu Naatu” recently won India’s first-ever Oscar for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards.
The hit song, composed by M. M. Keeravani with lyrics written by Chandrabose, is part of the soundtrack of S. S. Rajamouli’s Indian Telugu-language film “RRR.”
Keeravani paid tribute to The Carpenters during his acceptance speech at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday night. He even sang some altered lines from the American band’s 1972 song “Top of the World.”
“Naatu Naatu” bested other hit songs, including “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.”
The official “RRR” Twitter account celebrated the historic victory in a tweet on Sunday.
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“We’re blessed that #RRRMovie is the first feature film to bring INDIA’s first ever #Oscar in the Best Song Category with #NaatuNaatu! No words can describe this surreal moment. Dedicating this to all our amazing fans across the world. THANK YOU!!”
“RRR,” which stands for “Rise, Roar, Revolt,” follows the journeys of two friends-turned-enemies in India’s struggle for independence. The movie was released in the United States in March 2022.
“Naatu Naatu” was notably performed at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday before it won an Oscar.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, Kaala Bhairava, one of the song’s singers, believes that one of the main reasons why “Naatu Naatu” is award-worthy is because it is “rooted to its nativity.”
“That’s the most beautiful part of the Oscars – people from all over the world coming together, representing their own culture and their own art forms and being appreciated by people from other countries and communities,” the singer said.
