Oscars 2023 : Naatu Naatu and The Elephant Wishperers create history

March 13th, 2023 is an epoch-making day for Indian cinema as two films bagged the prestigious Oscar awards at the 95th annual event held in Los Angeles, USA.

As expected by many across the globe, the blockbuster and iconic song Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli’s epic spectacle RRR won the award in the Best Original Song category. Music composer MM Keeravani and lyricist Chandra Bose received the black lady amid a standing ovation and huge cheers from the attendees. The insanely viral track triumphed over Rihana’s Lift me Up and Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand to clinch the prestigious Oscar award. This is the first Indian song to shine at an International pedestal.

Earlier in the event, another Indian film The Elephant Wishperers won Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Subject category. Directed by Karthiki Gonslaves and produced by Guneet Monga, this documentary is a tale of an orphaned elephant calf named Raghu which is raised by an elderly indigenous couple. The film was released in Netflix last December.

Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone became the third Indian after Persis Khambatta and Priyanka Chopra to attend the event as a presenter. Also, the live performance of Naatu Naatu by foreign dancers with vocals by Rahul Shipligunj and Kaala Bhairava received a thunderous response and a standing ovation from the attendees.