Composed by MM Keeravani, ‘Naatu Naatu’ became the first Indian song to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards.
SS Rajamouli’s RRR has moved a few more inches closer to winning the Oscars 2023 Awards.
Naatu Naatu, the popular catchy number from the film, has been shortlisted in the Best Original Song category for the Academy Award.
It is the first Indian song to be shortlisted for the award. Featuring Jr NTR and Ram Charan Tej, the song was composed by music maestro MM Keeravani, and sung by Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj, and Kala Bhairava.
Meanwhile, three other Indian movies have also been shortlisted for the Academy Awards 2023: Chhello Show (The Last Film Show) in the International Feature Film category, All That Breathes in the Documentary Feature Film category and The Elephant Whisperers in the Documentary Short Film category.
Naatu Naatu is among 15 songs shortlisted in the Best Original Song category. The other songs are:
“Naatu Naatu” from #RRR movie becomes the first Indian song to be shortlisted for Oscar Award. Total of 15 songs advanced in the Original Song category for the 95th Academy Awards. @tarak9999 @AlwaysRamCharan pic.twitter.com/rjZ8OvnGjb
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 22, 2022
This is huge! #NaatuNaatu the energetic number from @ssrajamouli epic #RRRMovie shortlisted in #Oscars2023 Original Song category list. Congrats to @mmkeeravaani ! pic.twitter.com/a8ANTE7a3E
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) December 22, 2022
“Fifteen songs will advance in the Original Song category for the 95th Academy Awards. Eighty-one songs were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees,” said the official website of the Academy Awards.
Soon after the news broke, the makers of RRR took to social media to share their joy and pride.
Here we go… #NaatuNaatu becomes 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards! 🤩🙏🏻
THANK YOU everyone for supporting us throughout our journey ❤️#RRRForOscars #RRRMovie https://t.co/8VsXwhQ5C3 pic.twitter.com/E1pLfbCvGb
— RRR Movie (@RRRMovie) December 22, 2022
Here we go… #NaatuNaatu becomes 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards! 🤩🙏🏻
THANK YOU everyone for supporting us throughout our journey ❤️#RRRForOscars #RRRMovie https://t.co/4GbEYnd28r pic.twitter.com/m4VbiCX0Fy
— DVV Entertainment (@DVVMovies) December 22, 2022
What a historic moment for the entire Indian Film Industry… Couldn’t be more honoured to note that #NaatuNaatu becomes the first Indian song to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards! @ssrajamouli garu and @mmkeeravaani garu, it’s all your vision and magic..🙏❤️ #RRRForOscars pic.twitter.com/hdJuce16Zl
— Ram Charan (@AlwaysRamCharan) December 22, 2022
Similarly, Rajamouli’s RRR bagged two nominations in the London Critics’ Circle Awards: Foreign Language Film of the Year and Technical Achievement Award. It also secured two nominations in the Golden Globe Awards 2023: Best Picture (Non-English Language) and Original Song (Motion Picture).
Besides, the magnum opus won nominations in other international film festivals such as Critics Choice Awards (five nominations). It won the Hollywood Critics Association’s Spotlight Winner Award and Atlanta Film Critics Circle’s Best International Feature Award. Further, it secured three Philadephia Film Critics Circle awards in Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography and Best Score/soundtrack categories.
Elated to share that #RRR is soaring high in the sky🤩#RRRmovie bagged two nominations at the London Critics’ Circle Awards for
– Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year
– Technical Achievement Award (stunts)#penmovies pic.twitter.com/4zpjnOkOY4— PEN INDIA LTD. (@PenMovies) December 21, 2022
Thank you @PhilaFCC for awarding us with 3 Trophies 🏆🏆🏆!! 🤩❤ #RRRForOscars #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/s9S6aE0PKf
— DVV Entertainment (@DVVMovies) December 19, 2022
On 21 December, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists in 10 categories: documentary feature film, documentary short film, international feature film, makeup and hairstyling, music (original score), music (original song), animated short film, live action short film, sound, and visual effects.
According to the Academy, Chhello Show will compete with 14 films, All That Breathes with 15 documentary feature films and The Elephant Whisperers with 15 shorts.
India’s official entry to upcoming Oscars ‘Chhello Show’, acclaimed documentaries ‘All That Breathes’ and ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, and ‘RRR’ song ‘Naatu Naatu’ make it to 95th Academy Awards shortlist, organisers say
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2022
The shortlists have been determined by the members of that corresponding branch, except for the international feature film segment. Members from all branches have been invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting.
They must meet a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category, the Academy said.
While the nominations will be announced on 24 January, the Oscars ceremony will be held on 12 March at Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles.