Singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava’s electrifying performance of the Naatu Naatu song from S.S. Rajamouli’s period drama RRR on the Oscars stage received a standing ovation from the audience at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, on March 13.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, dressed in a ravishing black gown, introduced the song. “In addition to being sung in Telugu and illustrating the film’s anti-colonialist theme, it is also an absolute banger,” she said.

“Do you know Naatu? Because you’re about to,” she added.

American dancer-actor Lauren Gottlieb, who featured in the 2013 Bollywood musical ABCD: Any Body Can Dance, also shook her leg to the peppy number on the Oscars stage.

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

According to Oscars convention, songs nominated in the Best Original Song category are generally performed live at the awards ceremony.