Album: RRR soundtrack (2021)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Naatu Naatu" is the showstopper from the acclaimed Indian movie RRR. The film is set in the 1920s and tells the story, in musical form, of the real-life revolutionaries Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju. The song plays as the actors who play them, N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan, do a very exciting dance routine.
  • The song is in Telugu, a language spoken in India. "Naatu" doesn't have a direct translation to English, but the song illustrates the movie's anti-colonialist theme and speaks to pride in Indian heritage. The song itself is a celebration of the dance.
  • The song was written by M.M. Keeravani (music) and Chandrabose (lyrics). Both are well known for their work on the music to Indian films. It's sung by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, two popular singers in Indian cinema.
  • The "Naatu Naatu" scene in RRR was shot in Kiev at the Mariinskyi Palace before Russian invaded Ukraine. It was supposed to be shot in India, but monsoon season made it too precarious.
  • The music video is a clip of the scene from the movie, complete with dialogue. It took off on YouTube and quickly spread to TikTok, where users emulated the dance moves, igniting a full-on dance craze.
  • "Naatu Naatu" was the surprise winner at the Oscars in 2023, taking the trophy for Best Original song. It defeated songs from American blockbusters sung by megastars: "Lift Me Up" (sung by Rihanna and used in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and "Hold My Hand" (sung by Lady Gaga and used in Top Gun: Maverick).

    Accepting the award, M.M. Keeravani said, "I grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here I am with the Oscars." He then sang a verse of his own version of the Carpenters song "Top Of The World":

    There was only one wish on my mind
    So was Rajamouli's an my family's
    RRR has to win, pride of every Indian
    And must put me on the top of the world


    When Chandrabose took his turn at the microphone, he said just one word: "namaste."
  • Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava sang the song at the Academy Awards, sharing the stage with the dancers from the film. The popular Indian actress Deepika Padukone introduced it, warning viewers they were about to hear a "banger." For many older viewers who stay off TikTok, it was their first look.

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