Jaya Bachchan’s remarks on RRR song Naatu Naatu’s Oscar win

• Jaya Bachchan called ‘film folks’ the ‘most important ambassadors of this country’.
• She said it doesn’t matter where they come from, they are Indians.
• Some leaders from regional political parties brought forth north India versus south India debate post Naatu Naatu’s Oscar win.

Should the Telugu movie RRR be classified as a south Indian or national film? This is what legislators argued in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Legendary actor and politician Jaya Bachchan reacted to some authorities who claimed that “south India” was responsible for the Oscar-winning RRR song Naatu Naatu and the Tamil Nadu-based documentary The Elephant Whisperers. Jaya stated that “film folks” are the “most important ambassadors of this country” and that “they are Indians” regardless of their origins in the north, east, south, or west.

After the controversy over north versus south India that certain leaders of regional political parties started after Naatu Naatu won the Oscar, Jaya Bachchan gave her opinion. Jaya added, “I am really thrilled and I am so glad that we are talking the most important ambassadors of this country. And they are the film folks. It doesn’t matter where they are from – north, east, south or west – they are Indians… I stand here with pride and dignity because of the film industry, which has won numerous awards dating back to Satyajit Ray and has frequently represented this nation.”

“I would also want to add that I am well familiar with Mr. SS Rajamouli. The author (KV Vijayendra Prasad), who is a member of this House, not only writes the script but also the story (Rajya Sabha). It’s also a huge honor. There have been many, many such people from the creative world, who have been nominated here in this House earlier and today as well,” Jaya further said.

The veteran actor then said, “Main kehna chahti hoon ki yeh shuruyat hai, aur main Bharat ki janta ko dhanyawad dena chahti hoon jinke khatir videsh ke log aaj humari janta ko recognise kar rahe hai (This is just the beginning and I would like to congratulate the Indian population, because of whom people in the West are recognising great work by Indian filmmakers) (This is just the beginning and I would like to congratulate the Indian population, because of whom people in the West are recognising great work by Indian filmmakers). The market of cinema is here, it is not in America.”

India made history at the 95th Academy Awards held on 12 March (March 13 in India) as the best song Oscar was awarded to Naatu Naatu and best documentary short film was awarded to Guneet Monga and Kartiki Gonsalves’ The Elephant Whisperers. Naatu Naatu from the period film RRR, helmed by SS Rajamouli, has been composed by MM Keeravani. Naatu Naatu, picturised on Jr NTR and Ram Charan, was the first Indian song to be nominated at the Oscars.

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