Entertainment Africa

Naatu Naatu, the song that beat Rihanna and Tems’ Lift Me Up at the Oscars

An Indian song, Naatu Naatu from the movie RRR made history at the Oscars when it beat stiff competition from the likes of Rihanna and Lady Gaga to win Best Song.

The song from the blockbuster film in the Telugu-language  is also the first Indian film song to win an Oscar.

Rihanna performs at the Oscars with baby bump
Rihanna sings “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Naatu Naatu has captured the hearts of listeners across the world who particularly love its reverberating beat and perfectly choreographed dance routines. And thus has inspired new trends and challenges on social media channels especially Tiktok.

Composer MM Keeravani, accepting the award on Sunday at the Dolby Theater acknowledged the influences of songs by American pair, The Carpenters and said the award made every Indian proud.

The official account of the Movie on Twitter also described it as a ‘surreal moment’.

“We’re blessed that #RRRMovie is the first feature film to bring INDIA’s first ever #Oscar in the Best Song Category with #NaatuNaatu No words can describe this surreal moment.Dedicating this to all our amazing fans across the world. THANK YOU! JAI HIND!,” it posted.

The song was also performed on Oscar night by Mr Bhairava and his co-singer Rahul Sipligunj receiving a standing ovation from the audience.

Naatu Naatu has already bagged a Golden Globe for the best original song and the Critics’ Choice award for the best song since its release.

However, the song’s win has been met with shock and outrage from Black twitter and other quarters who felt Rihanna and Tem’s Lift Me Up  was a better fit for this year’s award.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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