RRR's Naatu Naatu makes history at Oscars 2023 and wins Best Original Song

Chandrabose and M M Keeravaani accepted the award for the hit from RRR

M. M. Keeravaani, left, and Chandrabose, winners of the award for best original song for "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR", pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP)Show less

Telugu-language song Naatu Naatu has made history at the 95th Academy Awards.

The hit from the film RRR, written by lyricist Chandrabose and composed by M M Keeravaani, won Best Original Song at the Oscars on Sunday night, marking the first time a song from an Indian-made film has ever won at the awards.

"I grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here I am with the Oscars," Keeravaani said, before breaking into song.

The composer sang, "There was only one wish on my mind," a line from the Carpenters' Top of the World, before improvising the second half of the line and singing, "RRR has to win, pride of every Indian."

Chandrabose concluded the speech with a Namaste.

Indian actress Deepika Padukone watched from the audience, visibly overjoyed to see the duo win.

RRR, which can be watched on Netflix in the UAE, was one of the biggest cinematic success stories of last year.

Written and directed by S S Rajamouli, the action epic is a fictional retelling of Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem's (N T Rama Rao Jr) friendship and their battle against the British Raj. RRR, which has a run time of more than three hours, was reportedly the most expensive Indian film in history, costing about $67 million (5.5 billion rupees).

“To get appreciation in your homeland is very natural and good,” Keeravaani told The National earlier.

“But when you get it outside your territory, that's something great. Hollywood is known for its quality and richness. It’s been a pioneer in many aspects of technology and storytelling. So this is a very big opportunity for us to get global attention for Indian music and culture.”

Chandrabose and Keeravaani beat a host of Hollywood A-list names to win the award — Diane Warren for Tell It Like a Woman; Lada Gaga and Bloodpop for Top Gun: Maverick; Rihanna for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

See all of the winners at the 2023 Oscars — in pictures

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  The cast and crew after winning the Oscar for Best Picture for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. EPA

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  From left, Holden Fletcher Fraser, Leland Francis Fraser, Brendan Fraser and Jeanne Moore. AP

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  Michelle Yeoh accepts the award for Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once. AP

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  Janet Yeoh, Michelle Yeoh's mother, celebrates after her daughter won in the best actress category during the 95th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, as seen in a live view event at a cinema in Kuala Lumpur. AP

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  Ruth Carter won in the Best Costume Design category for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. EPA

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  M M Keeravaani, left, and Chandrabose, winners of the award for Best Music (Original Song) for Naatu Naatu from RRR. AP

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  Ke Huy Quan, centre, winner of the award for Best Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All At Once with Troy Kotsur, left, and Ariana DeBose. AP

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  Sarah Polley wins the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Women Talking. Reuters

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  Kartiki Gonsalves, left, and Guneet Monga, winners of the Best Documentary Short Film award for The Elephant Whisperers. EPA

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  Jamie Lee Curtis won the award for Best Supporting Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once. AP

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  From left, Guillermo del Toro, Alexander Bulkley, Gary Ungar, and Mark Gustafson, winners of the Best Animated Feature for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. EPA

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  From left, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, winners of the award for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: The Way of Water. AP

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  Ernestine Hipper, left, and Christian M Goldbeck, winners of the award for Best Production Design for All Quiet on the Western Front. AP

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  From left, Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris, winners of the award for Best Documentary Feature film for Navalny. AP