RRR, the Telugu language period drama directed by SS Rajamouli, continues to make waves in Hollywood’s award season.
After winning big at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards earlier this year, the film emerged victorious at the Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Awards held on Saturday in Los Angeles, California. RRR won four awards in total, including Best International Film, Best Action Film, Best Stunts, and Best Original Song for the Oscar-nominated “Naatu Naatu.”
The team behind RRR, including SS Rajamouli, Ram Charan, MM Keeravani, and other members, were elated with the film’s latest recognition. The official Twitter handle of the movie shared a photo of the team with hearts on fire emojis and the hashtags #RRRMovie and #HCAFilmAwards.
During the award ceremony, Ram Charan expressed his gratitude for the recognition and said, “I didn’t expect to come up (on the) stage because I was told by my director to accompany him, so…thank you so much for giving us all this love, it’s just a great response, so we’re going to come back with better films and entertain you all. Thank you so much, thank you HCA!”
SS Rajamouli, on the other hand, dedicated the award to Indian filmmakers and said, “Aaah! The best International film…again to all my fellow filmmakers in India, it is for all of us to believe we can truly make International films! Thank you HCA for that…it means a lot. Thank you very much…a lot. Jai Hind!”
In addition to the Best International Film award, RRR won the Best Action Film, Best Stunts and Best Song awards. Rajamouli revealed in his acceptance speech for Best Stunts that there were hardly any shots in the movie where they used body doubles. The actors performed each and every stunt themselves. “This recognition means a lot. Not just me and my film, but for the whole Indian film industry. Hope we have these wings to fly further,” he added.
Furthermore, “Naatu Naatu,” the hit song from RRR, has been nominated for an Oscar in the “Original Song” category. The team is currently in Los Angeles and will be attending the Oscars on March 12, 2024. In January, “Naatu Naatu” won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The song was nominated alongside Taylor Swift’s “Carolina” from “Where The Crawdads Sing,” “Ciao Papa” from Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
The latest awards add to the impressive box office run of RRR, which has collected over ₹1,200 crores worldwide. The film is a fictional story based on the lives of two Telugu freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Ram Charan and Jr NTR played the lead roles, respectively, while Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, and Shriya Saran also starred in the film.
The energetic rendition of “Naatu Naatu” by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, the unique choreography by Prem Rakshith, and the lyrics by Chandrabose are some of the elements that make the song a perfect dance craze. The song’s catchy lyrics and peppy beats have made it a fan favourite and a chartbuster.
Overall, the success of RRR in Hollywood’s award season is a testament to the growing influence of Indian cinema globally. The film’s recognition on the international stage has been nothing short of exceptional, with the movie garnering widespread acclaim and a multitude of awards from some of the biggest names in the industry.
