Hyderabad: Popular dance number ‘Naatu Naatu’ from Telugu film RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli of ‘Bahubali’ fame, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song beating songs by Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Lady Gaga among others. The song, starring actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan, was composed by M M Keeravaani and penned by lyricist Chandrabose.

Congratulations poured in for the team, including from A R Rahman, who had won a Golden Globe for Best Original Score for the 2009 film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Sushil Rao reports.

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Hyderabad: A grand idea meticulously developed as a huge spectacle on the screen earned the film “RRR” a big award in the global arena on Wednesday. Music director M M Keeravaani received the Best Original Song award for RRR film song “Naatu Naatu” at the 80th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Keeravaani and lyricist Chandrabose were the winners of the award.

The film also got a nomination for the Best Non-English Language Film award but lost to the Argentinian film “Argentina, 1985”. This is the first time that a Telugu film has won recognition at the Golden Globes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the RRR team for the achievement. “A very special accomplishment! Compliments to M M Keeravaani, Prem Rakshith, Kaala Bhairava, Chandrabose and Rahul Sipligunj,” Modi tweeted. He also congratulated Rajamouli, actors Jr NTR and Ram Charan and the entire movie team. “The prestigious honour has made every Indian very proud,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Keeravaani said the credit for the award rightfully belongs to Rajamouli. “I am very happy to share this excitement with my wife who is sitting right there,” Keeravaani said, pointing to M M Srivalli in the audience. “It has been an age old practice to say that this award actually belongs to someone else. I was planning not to say those words when I get an award like this. But I am going to repeat the tradition because I mean my words. This award belongs to, in order of priority, my brother and director of the movie Rajamouli for his vision,” Keeravaani said.

Rajamouli later tweeted: “SPEECHLESS. Music truly knows no boundaries. Congratulations and thank you PEDDANAA (elder brother Keeravaani) for giving me Naatu Naatu. This one is special. I thank each and every fan across the globe for shaking their leg and making it popular ever since the release. ”Warangal-born lyricist Chandrabose was ecstatic. Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Chandrabose said, “I never imagined the song would get such a big award though I wished it did.”

The song was sung by Rahul Sipligunj of Hyderabad with Kaala Bhairava. Prem Rakshit is the choreographer. “I’ve danced to many songs throughout my career but Naatu Naatu will forever stay close to my heart,” Jr NTR said.

In typical Telangana language, Sipligunj put out a post saying “Kotteshnammmm kaaakaaaa (We’ve grabbed it!). What a moment!” “The world is Naatufieddd (sic),” Bhairava, who also sang the song, said in a social media post.

“RRR” is the highest grosser from India at worldwide box office from India and has won several awards in recent months.

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It wasn’t too long ago that foreign-film viewers would poke fun at Indian cinema’s song-and-dance routine. Slowly and surely, it caught their interest, and eventually won them over. M M Keeravaani’s win at the 80th Golden Globe Awards yesterday represented just that—a celebration of a song that was all things Indian. RRR’s Naatu Naatu, which was adjudged the best original song, has an upbeat traditional score and a choreography that’s as desi as it can get. Indian musicians say it is this rare combination that has been admired by the West.

Composer Sachin Sanghvi of Sachin-Jigar fame believes it is Keeravaani’s catchy beat, coupled with filmmaker S S Rajamouli’s vision, which made the song stand out. “Naatu Naatu is catchy and infectious. The world hasn’t seen this sort of energetic and crazy dance; it is a rarity for them. It is the song’s energy that has appealed to people, worldwide,” he reasons.

With this win, the RRR composer left behind American mammoths like Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, who were vying for the gong. International portal Variety referred to the development as the win of ‘the underdog’. On home turf, though, Keeravaani is far from an underdog. His musician friend Sivamani is glad that the world has “finally recognized such a great composer”. “He is the king of melody.

Even his funk, rock music will have melody. This song is such an enjoyable watch. The choreography that sees the leading men compete, is a treat.” Singer-musician Daler Mehndi seconds his opinion. “Keeravaani’s music can be ethnic, folk, and classical, all at once. A man with a golden heart has won the Golden Globe.”

Keeravaani may have brought home the trophy, but no one would dismiss the role of choreographer Prem Rakshit in making the number — featuring Ram Charan and Jr NTR — the phenomenon it is. At a time when OTT viewers have the option of skipping a song, Naatu Naatu is one that they will watch a second time over. “Would a song be as impactful if a person simply stood at a place and sang it,” asks Lesle Lewis, making a case for the place of choreography in cinema. 

“My dad [P L Raj] was among the biggest choreographers of his time, and has worked in films like Sholay and Sargam. It is the song-and-dance [routine] that the international audience consumes. Also, we have now incorporated elements from the West into our work. So, while this is novel for the international audience, it is not entirely alien to them. Indian music has been striking a chord after Jai Ho [Slumdog Millionaire].”