‘Exceptional!’: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, others congratulate RRR, The Elephant Whisperers’ crew over Oscar win

Exceptional!

The popularity of ‘Naatu Naatu’ is global. It will be a song that will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations to @mmkeeravaani, @boselyricist and the entire team for this prestigious honour.

India is elated and proud. #Oscars https://t.co/cANG5wHROt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2023

In another tweet, he praised the makers of The Elephant Whisperers and said: “Congratulations to @EarthSpectrum, @guneetm and the entire team of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ for this honour. Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature. #Oscars.”

Congratulations to @EarthSpectrum, @guneetm and the entire team of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ for this honour. Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature. #Oscars https://t.co/S3J9TbJ0OP

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2023

Mentioning that the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ has “truly gone global”, Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi congratulated M M Keeravaani and Chandrabose and the entire RRR team for their win.

Thanking the crew of RRR for “bringing so much joy and happiness to India”, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said: “We join millions of Indians in rejoicing at the great news of #NaatuNaatu from ‘RRR’ winning the #Oscar for Best Original Song. Many Congratulations to the entire team of @RRRMovie!”

A heartwarming story of India’s efforts in Elephant conservation from the Madumalai Forest Reserve has brought accolades to the country and made every Indian proud.

Congratulations @guneetm for winning the #Oscars for the Best Documentary, short film.

Truly, well deserved. pic.twitter.com/pRjD05P62M

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 13, 2023

“A heartwarming story of India’s efforts in Elephant conservation from the Madumalai Forest Reserve has brought accolades to the country and made every Indian proud. Congratulations @guneetm for winning the #Oscars for the Best Documentary, short film. Truly, well deserved,” he said in another tweet.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also congratulated India’s Oscar winners “The Elephant Whisperers” and “RRR” and said their accolade was a proud moment for every Indian.

“It is a proud moment for the Indian film industry as well as for the entire nation. Congratulations to the entire team of RRR film for winning the Oscar Award for your wonderful song,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

In a separate tweet, the Delhi CM mentioned: “Huge congratulations to the entire team behind “The Elephant Whisperers” for winning the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short film category. You have made every Indian proud.”

Huge congratulations to the entire team behind “The Elephant Whisperers” for winning the Oscar in the Best Documentary Short film category. You have made every Indian proud. https://t.co/wRlFd26aic

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 13, 2023

Sharing two clips from the respective movies, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri wrote: “As the world looks at India with hope & confidence in all spheres, the soft power of our entertainment industry continues its brilliant run! Even as we #NaatuNaatu with joy, the message of conservation reverberates loud with #TheElephantWhisperers! Two #Oscars across genres!”

As the world looks at India with hope & confidence in all spheres, the soft power of our entertainment industry continues its brilliant run!
Even as we #NaatuNaatu with joy, the message of conservation reverberates loud with #TheElephantWhisperers!
Two #Oscars across genres! pic.twitter.com/CqDaveCCCz

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) March 13, 2023

Mentioning it was a phenomenal moment, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “Such a proud moment for all of us Indians at the #Oscars! Congratulations #India. What an achievement by team #RRR and team #TheElephantWhisperers! Congratulations @mmkeeravaani, @boselyricist! #NaatuNaatu has not only captivated audiences across the globe, it now etched in history! & The Elephant God has blessed team  #TheElephantWhisperers. Many congratulations to @EarthSpectrum, @guneetm for the Oscar! You’ve inspired millions. Your work is a strong reminder to the humankind that it is incomplete without mother nature.”

“RRR song #NaatuNaatu creates history by winning the Academy Award ie. #Oscar for Best Original Song. Congratulations to @ssrajamouli & Team RRR for this marvellous feat. Kudos to @mmkeeravaani for crafting this masterpiece. The world is noticing & appreciating our cinema too,” Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tweeted.

RRR song #NaatuNaatu creates history by winning the Academy Award ie. #Oscar for Best Original Song. Congratulations to @ssrajamouli & Team RRR for this marvellous feat. Kudos to @mmkeeravaani for crafting this masterpiece. The world is noticing & appreciating our cinema too! pic.twitter.com/gDZP8rorzl

— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) March 13, 2023

Congratulating Guneet Monga and the team for The Elephant Whisperers’s performance, Bommai, in another tweet said: “Guneet Monga’s ‘The Elephant whisperers’ wins #Oscars in the Best Documentary Short Film category. The film depicts an unbreakable bond between two abandoned elephants. Congratulations Guneet Monga & the team! Yes , “the future is audacious and the future is here.”

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also stated that RRR’s Oscar win was a proud moment for Indian cinema and extended his hearty congratulations to the entire team of the flick.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday congratulated music director M M Keeravani and team for bagging the Oscar for the song ‘Naatu Naatu’. According to the Chief Minister, the song had amplified notations in a variety of genres, including pace, effect, beat and depth, showcasing the Telugu prowess at an international scale, creating history. He conveyed his wishes to the entire unit of the film – ‘RRR’-, directed by SS Rajamouli, for striking the ‘Oscar chord with music to the ears of the global audience.’ Reddy said the Academy award is the icing on the cake for the India cinema which recently celebrated its centenary.

Similarly, N Chandrababu Naidu, former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo noted that ‘Naatu Naatu’ has sealed its place in history by winning the award for best original song at the 95th Oscar awards. “This is probably the finest moment for Indian cinema and Telugus achieving it is even more special,” said Naidu congratulating Rajamouli, Keeravani, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Chandrabose, Sipligunj, Kala Bhairava and choreographer Prem Rakshit.

Composed by MM Keeravani, with lyrics by Chandrabose and vocals by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, “Naatu Naatu” became massively popular soon after its release in March 2022.

Produced by Achin Jain and Guneet Monga, and directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, the 41-minute-long The Elephant Whisperers follows the family from Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Tiger Reserve who end up adopting two orphan baby elephants.

(With inputs from PTI)