Oscars 2023: RRR’s ‘Naatu Naatu’ wins Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, MM Keeravani sings ode to India on stage

Watch RRR’s Naatu Naatu here:

The song is competing against Applause from Tell It like a Woman (Diane Warren), Hold My Hand from Top Gun Maverick (Lady Gaga and BloodPop), Lift Me Up from Black Panther Wakanda Forever (Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson), This Is a Life from Everything Everywhere All at Once (Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski).

The song was also performed on the Oscars stage by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava. However, Ram Charan and Jr NTR did not perform stage. Deepika Padukone introduced the performance, which received a standing ovation at the ceremony. You can watch it here:

Watch the live #Oscars performance of #RRR‘s “Naatu Naatu” from inside the Dolby Theatre, along with director S. S. Rajamouli pic.twitter.com/EQ9aLz0c0y

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 13, 2023

Choreographed by Prem Rakshith, the song’s hook steps became a rage around the world. In an earlier chat with indianexpress.com, the choreographer shared that he composed “more than 118 steps for this song.” He credited director SS Rajamouli and said, “I have done more than 1000 songs but those songs never went to Oscars. Because of this movie (RRR), it went there. Otherwise, I can’t imagine going there. It is because RRR is so good and the way it is presented that everyone has enjoyed the movie and the song. I am so thankful to Rajamouli sir. This is his vision and his hard work.”

In a recent chat with Vanity Fair, Rajamouli spoke about Prem Rakshith’s work on the song and shared, “He had a difficult job as I told him that the song should (look) nice, the steps shouldn’t be too difficult so people can also replicate, and it should suit the style of the actors. You won’t believe this, but Prem came up with more than 100 variations for the hook line of Naatu Naatu, so credit to him.” The song was shot at Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine.