New Delhi: The News is all over the place. MM Keeravani’s composition Naatu Naatu from the movie RRR has won the Best original song award at the 80th Golden Globes award marking a colossal win for Indian cinema in international waters.
Naatu Naatu winning in the Best original song category is not only a historical moment for India, but also for the Golden Globes Awards and HPFA who are trying to rebrand themselves after tumultuous allegations of racism and prejudice against non-white artists.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had no black members in its team for nearly the last two decades, as per the Times reported in 2021. The lack of diversity and other allegations of lack of ethics for journalists pushed the Golden Gold awards offshore for two years.
But where does Naatu Naatu lies in this equation? Well, we want you to look closely and see how this energetic dance-inducing song challenges the western hegemony in the world of art and cinema.
1. Naatu Naatu’s sequence
Just before the zestful feet romping song kicks in, our main character Bheem was getting belittled by a Britisher. ” Do you Indians even know any art, Do you even know anything about dance,” these remarks are not just any insignificant taunts but a reflection of how since the beginning of time non white art and culture is deemed “uncivilized” by the white dominant class.
In the sequence, Bheem is soon backed up by Raam, who shows the boastful Britishers that the art of dance and music doesn’t belong to any one race and leaves everyone’s jaw hanging with floor-breaking dance moves.
Isn’t this precisely the idea that Golden Globes and HFPA are trying to reestablish themselves into?
2. Cross-Cultured Fame
Another important thing to focus on in the music video of Naatu Naatu is that soon Ram and Bheem are joined by the Britishers. Some speculations were being made that the overperformance may not resonate with overseas audiences. But to the contrary, this exactly made Naatu Naatu stand out from the rest.
SS Rajamouli recalled in an Interview how the audience was clapping and dancing during an international screening of RRR. The catchy fiery beats and dance steps broke all the barriers of language and culture, serving as a reuniting dance anthem.
3. The underlying message
It must have been the underlying message that ends the otherwise zappy song on an emotional note. Ram deliberately losing so that Bheem can win and shut out the Britishers who humiliated him is a heart-winning sequence.
The overall idea of RRR, not just Naatu Naatu is underdogs and marginalized joining hands to fight the oppressive regime. Naatu Naatu has not only become the first Indian song to win at Golden Globes but also the first Asian song to win in the category. Just as the song was released, love from fellow Asian countries like Philippines and Indonesia started pouring in, defying the language barrier.
