‘Naatu Naatu’ to be Performed at the Oscars by Singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava
- Composed by M.M. Keeravaani, with lyrics by Chandrabose, the foot-tapping number is nominated for best original song.
The “Naatu Naatu” fever will grip the Oscar stage next week as singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava perform the foot-tapping song from “RRR,” at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12. Composed by M.M. Keeravaani, with lyrics by Chandrabose, it is nominated for Best Original Song. However, it’s not clear whether the stars, Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, will be involved in the performance. The popular number has already won the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Award for best song.
“Naatu Naatu” is competing for the Best Song Oscar against “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All At Once, which will be performed by David Byrne, Stephanie Hsu and Son Lux, “Applause” from Tell It Like A Woman, to be performed by Sofia Carson and Diane Warren at the ceremony, “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick and “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, to be performed by Rihanna.
Set in 1920s India, “RRR” centers around two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), their fictional friendship and their fight against the British Raj. It also stars Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and Olivia Morris.
Fans, critics, actors, filmmakers, and first-time Indian movie watchers have been praising the film for Rajamouli’s vision, high-octane fight sequences and Keeravaani’s rousing musical soundtrack. It is Rajamouli’s second film to attain success after “Baahubali: The Conclusion.”
Variety noted that the song is “a large part of why American audiences took an interest in the film in the first place, as a short clip of the song and the “hook step” dance performed by the lead actors which came out months before the movie went into U.S. release, became a TikTok phenomenon.” When the film finally reached American screens and audiences got to see” the full four-minute number, few were disappointed,” Variety said.
The New York Times reported that while “RRR” was “already a worldwide box office success when it was released in March, it has now become the rare Indian hit to catch on with American viewers outside the Indian diaspora, thanks to word-of-mouth social media buzz and an unusual theatrical rerelease strategy.”