‘Naatu Naatu’ Receives Standing Ovation At Oscars 2023

The electrifying performance of the Telugu track “Naatu Naatu” by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava at the Academy Awards stage brought the Dolby Theatre to life with dancers of all ethnicities acing the hook step of the international music sensation from “RRR.”

‘RRR’ dance performance receives a standing ovation

The energetic performance received a standing ovation at Oscars 2023.

The performance was introduced by Indian cinema star Deepika Padukone, who had to pause at least thrice in between owing to the loud cheers from the A-list audience.

At the Academy Awards, Deepika Padukone was seen dressed23 in a custom Louis Vuitton black gown and a statement Cartier neckpiece said the Telugu chartbuster — composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Chandrabose — illustrates the film’s “anti-colonial themes” and is “also a total banger”.

“It plays during a pivotal scene in ‘RRR’, a movie about the friendship between real-life Indian revolutionaries — Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. In addition to being sung in Telugu and illustrating the film’s anti-colonial themes, it’s also a total banger,” the “Pathaan” star said.

The global sensation song, “Naatu Naatu”, which features in SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus film “RRR” (Rise Roar Revolt), celebrates the inclusive spirit of dance and bonhomie and features Ram Charan and Jr NTR matching steps to its catchy rhythm. The title of the track translates to bucolic in Telugu. It demonstrates the spirit of fun in country music in its over 4.35 minutes of runtime.

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Deepika hails RRR’s Naatu Naatu song at Oscars

While introducing the performance, actress Padukone also raved about the song’s popularity on social media highlighting that it is the “first song from an Indian production to be nominated for an Oscar”.

“Do you know ‘Naatu’ because if you don’t, you’re about to? From the film ‘RRR’, this is ‘Naatu Naatu’,” Padukone added, introducing the performance.

For the over two-minute-long act, the organisers recreated the set of the song which was originally shot on the lawns of the Presidential Palace of Kyiv, Ukraine.

The two male dancers — who were dressed as Ram Charan’s Ram and Jr NTR’s Bheem — were lip-syncing the song. American dancer Lauren Gottlieb, who has worked extensively in the Indian film industry, was also part of the dance troupe.

The Indian actress, Deepika Padukone joined the likes of Emily Blunt, Samuel L Jackson, Glenn Close, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B Jordan, Janelle Monae, Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Connelly, Riz Ahmed and Melissa McCarthy among others as presenters for the awards gala.