India’s recent twin triumphs at the 95th Academy Awards was a historic moment, and so was witnessing the team of the Telugu action drama RRR (2022) erupt into joy upon winning the Oscar for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu.

However, it has now emerged that the film’s director S S Rajamouli had to pay Rs. 20 lakhs per ticket to attend the Oscars live at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and so did the film’s lead pair Ram Charan and Jr NTR.

As is the tradition, the only members of the team who received invites to attend the event were Naatu Naatu composer M M Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose. The 49-year-old filmmaker, who was at the Oscars night along with his wife and son, also purchased invites worth $25,000 each for the rest of the team that attended the event.

The information has drawn sharp reactions from fans on social media, who have expressed their surprise at the film’s team not being given a pass, while some are also upset that everyone in the team, except Keeravani and Chandrabose, were seated in rows towards the end.