Naatu Naatu from S.S. Rajamouli’s period drama RRR has won an Oscar in the Best Original Song category, beating the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song Lift me Up by Rihana and Lady Gaga’s Hold Me Up from Top Gun: Maverick.

Naatu Naatu is the first original song from an Indian production to win this laurel. Composed by M.M. Keeravani and sung by Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj, the peppy number received a standing ovation from audiences at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, earlier in the day.

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M.M. Keeravani’s acceptance speech was also musical. He broke into Top of the World by The Carpenters before describing Naatu Naatu as the pride of India. He thanked Rajamouli for giving him an opportunity to work in RRR. “I grew up listening to The Carpenters, and here I’m with an Oscar,” he said.

Naatu Naatu was nominated in the Best Original Song category alongside Rihanna’s Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Lady Gaga’s Hold Me Up from Top Gun: Maverick, Mitski’s This is a Life from Everything Everywhere All at Once and Diane Warren’s Applause from Tell It Like a Woman.

Earlier, Naatu Naatu had won a Golden Globe Award in the Best Song in a Motion Picture category. The peppy number, which has become a global sensation, also went on to win a Critics Choice Award and Hollywood Critics Association Award this year.

RRR was released in March 2022 and became a massive box office hit, grossing Rs 1,144 crore worldwide.