'History has been made': Political party leaders hail India's double glory at Oscars

Politicians cutting across party lines in the country hailed India’s double win at the Oscars on Monday (March 13), as the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from SS Rajamouli’s film ‘RRR’ and Tamil documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ lifted the Oscar trophy and made history in Los Angeles.

While ‘Naatu Naatu’, the chartbuster from period action drama ‘RRR’ became the first Indian track to win the Academy Award in the ‘Best Original Song’ category, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ also marked a new milestone at the awards by becoming the maiden Indian production to win in the ‘Documentary Short Subject’ category.

India is elated and proud: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the country is proud and elated with ‘Naatu Naatu’ winning an Oscar and hailed the song as one that will be remembered for years to come. “Congratulations to MM Keeravaani, Chandrabose and the entire team for this prestigious honour. India is elated and proud,” Modi said in a tweet.

‘Naatu Naatu’, ‘Naacho Naacho’ in Hindi, was composed by Keeravaani and penned by Chandrabose. In another tweet, Modi congratulated director Kartiki Gonsalves, producer Guneet Monga and the entire team of ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ for winning the Oscar award. “Their work wonderfully highlights the importance of sustainable development and living in harmony with nature,” he said.

Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah called these wins a landmark day for Indian cinema, as the ‘Naatu Naatu’ song creates history by winning the Oscar Award. “The song was on the lips of Indians as well as music lovers across the globe. Congratulations to Team RRR @ssrajamouli @mmkeeravaani @boselyricist @tarak9999 @AlwaysRamCharan,” Shah wrote on Twitter.

Also read: India roars at OscaRRRs: From ‘Naatu Naatu’ to ‘The Elephant Whisperers’

In another tweet, he said, “Congratulations to @EarthSpectrum and @guneetm on their Oscar win for the short film ‘The Elephant Whisperers’. The film brings to the forefront India’s efforts to save elephants. The award underlines the potential of the Indian film industry and will inspire young filmmakers.”

Pride for Telugu people

For Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, it was a matter of pride for all Telugu people that a song from a Telugu film had won the Oscar award. The words used in ‘Naatu Naatu’ reflect Telangana’s culture, the taste of Telugu people and the diversity in people’s lives, Rao said in a release.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi the achievements of the teams behind ‘Naatu Naatu’ and ‘The Elephant Whisperers’, have made the country proud.

“History’ has been made, remarked CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

“History made! The Elephant Whisperers produced by Achin Jain and Guneet Monga, directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, wins India’s first ever Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Congratulations!” the Left leader wrote on Twitter.

Also read: Oscars 2023: ‘Naatu Naatu’ performance receives standing ovation

Content hub of world

Information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said this is just the beginning and India will soon become the content hub of the world. “Indian film and Indian content makers have the potential to make it big in the coming years as well. It is just the beginning. India will become the content hub of the world and congratulations to both the teams,” Thakur told reporters outside the Parliament House.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Meenakshi Lekhi said the recognition India has got at the Academy Awards ceremony is a matter of great pride.

“It is an inspiration to further develop India’s creativity. India has no lack of creativity and it gives us great pride that this is being recognised by the world,” she told reporters.

Also read: Oscars 2023 and art of empathy: How trauma films foster understanding, connection

Third major recognition for the song

‘Naatu Naatu’ was nominated alongside ‘Applause’ from ‘Tell It Like a Woman’, ‘Hold My Hand’ from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, ‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ and ‘This Is a Life’ from ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.

This is the third major international recognition for the song after the team had won the Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice awards. ‘RRR’ (Rise Roar Revolt), a pre-independence fictional piece, follows the lives of two real-life Indian revolutionaries – Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Junior NTR) – in the 1920s.