Jaya Bachchan addresses North vs South debate after RRR, The Elephant Whisperers’ Oscar win: ‘Market of our cinema is here, not US’

Responding to the comments, Jaya said, “I am so happy and I am so glad that we are discussing the most important ambassadors of this country. And they are the film folks. It doesn’t matter where they are from – north, east, south or west – they are Indians… I stand here with pride and with dignity for our film fraternity, who have represented this country number of times, have won number of awards starting from Satyajit Ray onwards.”

“I also want to contribute and say I know Mr SS Rajamouli very well… The writer (KV Vijayendra Prasad), he is not just the scriptwriter, he is also the story writer as well, he is a member of this House (Rajya Sabha). And it is a great honour. There have been many, many such people from the creative world, who have been nominated here in this House earlier and today as well,” Jaya further said.

“Main kehna chahti hoon ki yeh shuruyat hai, aur main Bharat ki janta ko dhanyawad dena chahti hoon jinke khatir videsh ke log aaj humari janta ko recognise kar rahe hai (This is just the beginning and I would like to congratulate the Indian population, because of whom people in the West are recognising great work by Indian filmmakers). The market of cinema is here, it is not in America,” she concluded

Earlier, speaking to ANI, Jaya congratulated and shared how proud she is of the international recognition of Indian Cinema. She said, “I am proud to be an Indian, I am proud that our talent has been recognized internationally. It was found earlier also and it is still found and it is also very important. These are the films which give international shape to the image of our country. These are the films that shape our country’s image at international level.”

On Monday, RRR’s power-packed song “Naatu Naatu” won the Oscar for Original Song and The Elephant Whisperers won in the Best Documentary Short film category at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, making it a historic day for Indian filmmakers and the audience.

“Naatu Naatu” is the first Telugu song to be nominated in the Original Song category at the Oscars. “Naatu Naatu” has won the award trumping big names like Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Composer MM Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose accepted the award on behalf of the team. Singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava and composer along with director SS Rajamouli and lead actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan were present at the big event.

Talking about “Naatu Naatu”, the song, as mentioned, the lyrical composition by MM Keeravani, high energy rendition by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, unique choreography by Prem Rakshith, and lyrics by Chandrabose are all the elements that make this RRR mass anthem a perfect dance craze.

The song competed against “Applause” from the film Tell It Like A Woman, “Hold My Hand” from the movie Top Gun: Maverick, “Lift me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and “This Is Life,” from Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The film is a fictional story based on the lives of two Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Ram Charan and Jr NTR played lead roles, respectively. The film collected over Rs 1,200 crore worldwide. Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran also starred in the film.

Earlier the Indian documentary film The Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category. Producer Guneet Monga along with director Kartiki Gonsalves took centre stage to accept the honour.

Talking about Guneet Monga’s The Elephant Whisperers. It’s a documentary directed by Kartiki Gonsalves paved way for many to believe that India truly can take the centre stage globally. It won the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Film category against Haul Out, How Do You Measure A Year?, The Martha Mitchell Effect, and Stranger At The Gate.

The film’s plot revolves around a family who adopts two orphan baby elephants in Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.Not only the winners but the entire nation is celebrating this historic win.