Ram Charan claims that he was completely prepared to perform “Naatu Naatu” at the Oscars but that he never received a call to do so
Ram Charan claims
Ram Charan, star of “RRR,” has expressed interest in performing “Naatu Naatu,” the song that won Best Original Song at the 89th Academy Awards. Live at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava set the stage with their infectious tune, which was danced to by performers of various cultural backgrounds.
Charan thought the dance company did a “fantastic” job.
“I was totally prepared to get that call, but I have no idea what happened. Let’s not bring it up, though, because the local cast was “fantastic” and “did a better job than we did,” as the 37-year-old actor put it.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2023, Charan arrived in the nation’s capital earlier that day.
I’ve done this so many times on so many stages that we deserve to sit back and enjoy the show while someone else performs for India. In my opinion, it is now India’s song, not ours. The people are the ones who have put us on the red carpet, he said at the function.
When “Naatu Naatu” won the Oscar for Best Original Song, it made history because it was originally filmed to star Charan and Jr NTR in the period action film directed by SS Rajamouli. Both MM Keeravaani (the composer) and Chandrabose (the lyricist) were present to accept the award.
Oscar recognition, Charan said, is “another feather on the hat,” because the film’s success ultimately comes from its audience’s approval.
To be present at such a joyous occasion was a sheer stroke of luck on my part. We’ve been witnessing events like that recently. Ever since I was a young boy, I have been a devoted Academy fan.
To have the support of an audience and a stage to perform in is the greatest honour of all. Everything else was just a feather in my cap compared to what India has given us, he said.
The actor said that the award for “Naatu Naatu” should be seen as a victory for the entire Indian film industry.
That is incredible. What this recognition has done for us, not just us, but for India, is to honour the contributions of India’s technicians and directors, from Satyajit Ray to Rajamouli. We felt a great deal of responsibility in just representing our industry and taking part in this honour. I felt its weight, but I tried not to let it spoil my present moment. The stress over the prize wasn’t worth missing that.
Charan believes the Academy and its voters have appreciated good cinema and “the excellence of director Rajamouli and his great team of MM Keeravani and Chandrabose”.
Rising Roar Revolt (RRR) is a fictional account of the lives of the 1920s Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr NTR), set before India’s independence.
Though Charan and Jr NTR were already friends before filming “RRR,” it took a visionary director like Rajamouli to bring them together on the big screen.
“I swear to God, I don’t think we would have done this combination for any other director if it weren’t for Mr. Our reputation as rival families for 35 years has cost us everything we’ve worked for, but we’ve never taken it personally.
And Rajamouli is the only one we can put our faith in to bring us together, and he knows it. Only because of him will it come to pass,” he continued.
Charan, who starred in “Magadheera,” a 2009 Telugu blockbuster directed by Rajamouli, has said that he enjoys working with directors who are very demanding of their cast and crew.
I enjoy the company of those who make me think on my feet. It gives me energy to carry on. Working with Rajamouli is like going back to school; just when you think you’ve learned everything there is to know, you realise that you’ve only scratched the surface. I’ve learned a lot from him; whether he’s working with Prabhas, Jr. NTR, or myself, he always delivers the best career hits.
When asked what he thought led to the current success of southern films, the actor mentioned Rajamouli’s two-part “Baahubali” series.
Charan, on the other hand, is confident that tales with Indian cultural underpinnings will continue to resonate with western audiences.
From Bengal in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, we have a plethora of thriving industries helmed by talented individuals. It is the stories of our land, I believe, that will have an impact on the West, Japan, and Australia. That’s how ‘Magadheera’ was. The film “Lagaan” had a similar vibe.
To paraphrase a famous Bollywood producer, “India has so much of all of this, and the West and the global audience is ready to accept somebody who is original, and India has many original directors, many states who have their own beauty, music, and storytelling. That, in my opinion, is timeless,” he declared.
Charan has declared that “there is no more Telugu, Bengali, or Bollywood, Hindi cinema,” unifying the Indian film industry into a single entity.
“Welcome to the world of Indian film… I want people all over the world to get the sense that there’s only one cinema.
The rumours that Charan may soon make his Hollywood debut were also a topic of enquiry.
I don’t know. What I said would remain in Los Angeles. We have made some progress and have seen some things. I can’t make any predictions at this point. I defy anyone to say they don’t. I want to work in a field where my skills will be valued, as do all people.
In addition to the Telugu song, Netflix’s “The Elephant Whisperers,” a documentary short film in Tamil directed by debutant Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga, became the first Indian production to win in the Documentary Short Film category.
