‘RRR’ creates history as ‘Naatu Naatu’ bags Golden Globe for best original song

Indians are celebrating after Telugu movie RRR (Rise, Roar, Revolt) created history by winning a Golden Globe—a first for the country. 

The film's catchy musical number, Naatu Naatu, was awarded the best original song, beating heavyweights like Taylor Swift and Rihanna. 

The hit song was filmed in front of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's official residence in 2021, months before the war began..

Accepting the award, composer MM Keeravani said he was thrilled by the song's success.

Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman called the win a "paradigm shift".

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan wrote on Twitter that he "woke up and started dancing to Naatu Naatu" to celebrate the news.

Written and directed by SS Rajamouli, RRR, which stands for Rise, Roar, Revolt, is a historical fantasy that tells the rollicking story of two revolutionaries who fight against British rule in India—superstars Ram Charan and Jr NTR play the lead roles.

One of India's most expensive films, the dazzling action epic has been a huge box-office success—not just domestically but also in countries such as the US. 

The film's music, ranging from romantic ballads to gleeful dance numbers and patriotic anthems, has also won fans. 

Naatu Naatu, a four-and-a-half-minute stomper of a song, features Charan and Jr NTR, and has had thousands grooving to its beat. Their energetic moves have inspired viral trends on social media in India and globally.

Fans worldwide have gushed over the infectious dance steps that accompany the song's chorus, where the actors shimmy and glide in a synchronised cowboy routine.

Choreographer Prem Rakshit said that he composed nearly 95 dance steps for the song - with 30 different versions of the signature step in the chorus alone. 

It took about 19 months from the first discussion until the final, polished result emerged - a fun mish-mash of dance genres ranging from an old barn stomp to a bit of Gangnam Style gallop and traditional Bollywood moves.

RRR was also nominated in the Best Non-English Language Film category at the Golden Globes, but lost to Argentina, 1985.