Naatu Naatu shortlisted for Oscars: A look at Chandrabose's lyrical brilliance that celebrates the spirit of India

Chandrabose captures the spirit of the country to perfection in the number enhanced by Prem Rakshith's choreography and Jr NTR, Ram Charan's dance moves

Chandrabose, a still from RRR

Very few art forms have the ability to bind an audience together and make them forget the world like cinema - the power of the audio-visual medium literally needs no introduction. If films proved to be a powerful medium for storytelling, one of the greatest additions to it was the song. A song is a great exercise in minimalism and can convey the spirit of the film crisply and effectively when matched by precise choreography and conceptualisation. This is precisely what Naatu Naatu from RRR is all about.

Naatu Naatu, the song from SS Rajamouli’s historical drama RRR, starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR, has now been shortlisted under the Original Song category for the 95th Academy Awards to be held in 2023. The number, at best, is a celebration of India through two of its illustrious sons - warriors Alluri Sitaramaraju and Komaram Bheem - when they’re challenged by a Britisher and ridiculed for their inability to dance. The song is a fitting response to them on what the country is all about.

The initial lines.. ‘Polamgattu Dhummulona..Potlagitta Dhookinattu..Poleramma Jataraalo..Potharaju Ooginattu’ conveys the animalistic spirit of the protagonists and their ‘power’ with references to bulls, mythological traditions. Chandrabose talks about swords, masculine energy, food choices through ‘Kirruseppulu Esukoni..Karrasamu Sesianattu..Marrisettu Needalona..Kurragumpu Koodinattu..Yerrajonna Rottelona..Mirapathokku Kalipinattu’ to describe the roots of the country in the song.

When Naatu Naatu becomes an excuse for Ram Charan and Jr NTR to prove their supremacy with the dance moves, Chandrabose brings terrific rythmic value to the song through his wordplay. For instance, the line ‘Gundeladhiri Poyela ...Dandanakara Moginattu ..Sevulu Sillu Padelaga..Keesu Pitta Koosinattu..’ feels a statement to the Britisher who challenges Ram and Bheem and also rightly complements the on-screen energy of the stars.

The finishing touch from Chandrabose is equally commendable when the soil dust rises with Ram Charan, NTR’s emphatic dance moves. Even for a listener who doesn’t have a clue about Naatu Naatu’s picturisation, lines like ‘Arey Dhummu Dhummu Dhulipe Laa..Lopalunna Paanamanta..Dumuku Dumuk Laadela...Dhookeyro Sarasari..Naatu Naatu Naatu’ do the job for them. Chandrabose has been at his best whenever he tries to offer a glimpse of life by the countryside. Remember Entha Sakkagunnave from Rangasthalam?

While choreographer Prem Rakshith, composer MM Keeravaani, singers Rahul Sipligunj, Kaala Bhairava, SS Rajamouli, Jr NTR and Ram Charan deserve a fair share of credit for Naatu Naatu, take time to appreciate the lyricist’s effort to convey the energy and the mood of RRR with rich visual imagery as well. Chandrabose is immensely worthy of the limelight he’s bound to receive after this recognition.

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