March 13, 2023:
The song Naatu Naatu from the hit Telugu film RRR has made history by becoming the first Indian film song to win an Oscar.
The blockbuster track won Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, beating heavyweights like Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
Its catchy tempo and choreography has captivated audiences around the world.
The song already made history in January by winning a Golden Globe for best original song – a first for India. It also won the Critics’ Choice award for best song the same month.
The song was shot over the course of 15 days, with 150 dancers and a crew of 200 working 12 hours a day.
The song features beats commonly used in folk songs in Telugu-speaking states, and several folksy references.
India won a second Oscar for The Elephant Whisperers which won in the Best Documentary Short film category.
The documentary tells the story of a couple who care for an injured baby elephant after it gets separated from its herd.
Shot in the picturesque Nilgiri mountains in southern India, The Elephant Whisperers explores the warm bond that develops between the human and animal as they begin to coexist.
This is the first time that two Indian productions have won the Oscar awards.
The 95th Academy Awards Function was held earlier in the day in Los Angeles.
