‘Naatu Naatu is not an awards song, it is just a vast commercial number’: MM Keeravani

In his opinion, the song became a hit because of its choreography and the way it narrated a small story within a movie. The composer added, “What made the song attention-worthy is the contribution of the director and the choreographer. It’s a scene by itself, a short story in itself, very unique dance steps which became viral, so all the credit goes to SS Rajamouli and Prem Rakshit.”

NTR Jr and Ram Charan in Naatu Naatu.

Keeravani would also not like to be addressed as an ‘Oscar-winning’ music composer, as he thinks that it is a reductive view of his work. “Oscar is a big name, people want to add tags, ‘Oscar winner so and so’, ‘Oscar winner XYZ’, once ok, twice ok, but if you say it repeatedly, then that XYZ has got no value, only if he is an Oscar winner, he is valued,” he said.

Keeravani’s ‘Naatu Naatu’ became the first Indian film song to win an Oscar. He was accompanied by lyricist Chandrabose as he lifted the trophy on stage, while Rajamouli, along with the film’s lead actors, Ram Charan and NTR Jr, cheered from the audience.