RRR
Creatives of Chinese and Indian Descent Triumph at 2023 Oscars
Because of the unimaginable-a-year-ago dominance of Everything Everywhere All at Once and the perception bias in which deviations from the norm appear more outsized than they actually are, the 2023 Oscars might be remembered as the most Asian Academy Awards yet. Winners of Asian descent — namely, of Chinese and Indian ethnicity — took home […]
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Oscars: Lenny Kravitz Performs During In Memoriam Segment Introduced by Emotional John Travolta
John Travolta choked up as he introduced the In Memoriam segment at the 2023 Oscars, which featured a performance by Lenny Kravitz. Travolta was teary eyed as he spoke onstage at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday ahead of Kravitz’s performance of “Calling All Angels.” Before Kravitz performed, Travolta choked up as he paid a subtle […]
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“Naatu Naatu” Wins Best Original Song at Oscars
“Naatu Naatu” won best original song at the 2023 Oscars and musician M.M. Keeravaani sang onstage as he collected his award. Keeravaani told the audience at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday that he “grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here I am at the Oscars.” He then broke into song, singing some of […]
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“Naatu Naatu” From ‘RRR’ Gets Lively Oscars Performance
“Naatu Naatu” brought the Sunday night fever to the 2023 Oscars. Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, in traditional Indian-styled garments, gave a lively performance of the Oscar-nominated song at the Dolby Theatre. Several background dancers were energetic onstage, displaying intense choreography and killer footwork that was applauded by the audience. Male dancers used suspenders as […]
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Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Malala Celebrate South Asian Excellence at Second Annual Pre-Oscars Event
The second annual South Asian Excellence at the Oscars event took place on Thursday night, where stars gathered at Paramount Studios to honor nominees from the likes of RRR, All That Breathes, The Elephant Whisperers and Everything Everywhere All at Once. The night was hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Anjula Acharia, with co-chairs Malala […]
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Oscar-Nominated Song “Naatu Naatu” From ‘RRR’ to Be Performed at Academy Awards
Oscar-nominated song “Naatu Naatu,” the Indian Telugu-language song from RRR, will be performed at the 2023 Oscars. “Naatu Naatu” is nominated for best original song, and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava will perform the song. The song’s music is written by M.M. Keeravaani, while its lyrics are written by Chandrabose. The song beat out tunes […]
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‘RRR’ Star Ram Charan Explains the Film’s Global Resonance: “Cinema Has Only One Language”
RRR star Ram Charan believes that S.S. Rajamouli’s action juggernaut is a watershed moment for Indian cinema. The country’s film industry is currently delineated by language and region, such as Bollywood (Hindi cinema) or Tollywood (Telugu cinema), in RRR’s case. But Charan is hopeful that RRR’s (short for “Rise Roar Revolt”) global success will blur […]
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No International Oscar Nom for ‘RRR’? Understanding That Submission Process
On Jan. 24, India had three reasons to celebrate: an original song Oscar nomination for “Naatu Naatu,” the showstopping tune featured in the film RRR; a documentary feature nom for All That Breathes; and a documentary short nom for The Elephant Whisperers — a respectable showing for a country that takes great pride in its […]
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‘Awards Chatter’ Podcast — S. S. Rajamouli (‘RRR’)
S. S. Rajamouli, the guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, is a filmmaker from India whose consistent track record of massive critical and commercial success in Telugu-language cinema might lead one to call him the James Cameron of Tollywood. Described by The New Yorker as “an artist of distinctive temperament […]
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Critics Choice Awards: Nine Things the TV Cameras Missed
Sunday night’s 28th annual Critics Choice Awards once again brought together a star-studded group of nominees across TV and film, but some of the best moments of the Century City-based show didn’t make it to air. With The Hollywood Reporter inside the room, here are the top things the TV cameras didn’t show. COVID Strikes Back “I hope this […]
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‘RRR’ Director S.S. Rajamouli on Rihanna and Meeting “God” Steven Spielberg: “He Was So Warm”
With a big grin, S.S. Rajamouli confirms the obvious. “I’m the happiest person in the world right now,” the RRR director relayed from inside Saturday’s BAFTA Tea Party in Beverly Hills. Rajamouli was standing in a back corner of the ballroom in what was likely a rare moment of peace and quiet during a hectic […]
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Feinberg Snapshot: 10 Oscar Contenders That Have Been Overlooked and Undersung
Best Picture Thirteen Lives Ron Howard’s masterful portrait of the 2018 Thai cave rescue may have been hindered by a summer release and/or following the 2021 doc The Rescue. It deserves another look. Best Director Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick Maverick is one of 2022’s most critically and commercially successful films. It didn’t direct itself. […]
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