Naatu Naatu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Naatu Naatu"
Single by M. M. Keeravani and Chandrabose featuring Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava
from the album RRR
Language	Telugu
Released	10 November 2021
Recorded	2021
Studio	JB Studios, Hyderabad
Genre	Dance pop Dappankuthu Western classical
Length	3:36
Label	Lahari Music T-Series
Composer(s)	M. M. Keeravani
Lyricist(s)	Chandrabose
Producer(s)	M. M. Keeravani
RRR track listing
"Dosti" "Naatu Naatu" "Janani" "Komuram Bheemudo" "Raamam Raaghavam" "Etthara Jenda" "Komma Uyyala"

"Naatu Naatu" (transl. Native, Local, Wild) is an Indian Telugu-language song composed by M. M. Keeravani, with lyrics by Chandrabose and recorded by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava for the soundtrack album of the 2022 Indian film RRR. It was released on 10 November 2021 (released on YouTube as a lyrical video song) as the second single from the album, through Lahari Music and T-Series. The full video song, featuring visuals directly from the film, was released on 11 April 2022 on YouTube.

The song was also released in Hindi as "Naacho Naacho", in Tamil as "Naattu Koothu", in Kannada as "Halli Naatu" and in Malayalam as "Karinthol". The hook step dance involving N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan – the lead actors of RRR – became popular. "Naatu Naatu" became the first song from an Indian film to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, as well as the first song from an Asian film to win the former.

Background and recording

The entire process of producing the song took over 19 months. Keeravani composed 10 to 20 different tunes based on that particular point in the script. Later, the team finalized this particular tune based on a voting process from their inner circle.

Composition and lyrics

The Telugu word naatu (నాటు; nāṭu) variously translates to 'native', 'local', 'countryside', 'raw and rustic', 'ethnic'. Chandrabose wrote the lyrics based on his childhood memories. According to Chandrabose, he wrote 90% of the song in half a day but it took 1.7 years to write the remaining 10%.

The composer Keeravani likened the sound to the traditional beats of folk songs in Indian villages. Keeravani used duffs, an Indian skin drum for the instrumentation and added in mandolins for the melody. The song features a 6
8 beat popular in South Indian music.

The song was also released in Hindi as "Naacho Naacho", in Tamil as "Naattu Koothu", in Kannada as "Halli Naatu" and in Malayalam as "Karinthol". It was released on 10 November 2021 (released on YouTube as a lyrical video song) as the second single from the album, through Lahari Music and T-Series. The full video song, featuring visuals directly from the film, was released on 11 April 2022 on YouTube.

Accolades

Music video

Background and production

"Naatu Naatu" was shot at the Mariinskyi Palace, Ukraine

RRR director Rajamouli conceived "Naatu Naatu" as a kind of fight sequence in which the Indian duo outdance their British counterparts. He also used the song as a foreshadowing for the climax sequence. "I think the biggest achievement for me was incorporating how the song comes into the film, without breaking the narrative," he noted. Rajamouli described the sequence as "the story behind the story" and is like a short film of its own with different sub-plots.

Prem Rakshith choreographed the dance sequences. Rajamouli wanted steps "that would look great with two people doing it together, but not so complicated that no-one could do it." Rakshith choreographed 110 moves for the hook step.

"Naatu Naatu" was shot in August 2021 in Ukraine as a part of the final leg of shooting of RRR. Filming took place at the Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the president of Ukraine in Kyiv, a few months before the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The song picturization took 15 days. The music video featured about 50 dancers and 300 to 400 extras.

Synopsis

The music video is a direct clip from a scene in RRR, which features Raju (Ram Charan) and Bheem (Rama Rao) singing the lyrics and out-dancing the rich British men at a fancy British party, encouraged by Bheem's love interest Jenny (Olivia Morris). By the song's climax, Ram and Bheem ignite a dance battle between themselves and the British men, who each fall down one by one as they fail to keep up; and despite being cheered for, Ram pretends to injure his leg and falls over to allow Bheem to win the battle and impress Jenny.

Impact

The song received positive reception from audiences, praising the music. The hook step, performed by Jr NTR and Ram Charan, went viral on social media. Charan and Rama Rao often recreated the viral portion of the dance in the film's promotions, as did director Rajamouli at the film's success party with encouragement from Rama Rao.

In an article, Brenda Haas of Deutsche Welle referred to the song as a "global sensation". She further opined and wrote that, "the song's international popularity also underscores the fact that language is no barrier to enjoying music across borders".

At Edison, New Jersey in 2023, numerous Tesla cars were assembled to have a show of light & sound, set to the music of this song.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YouTube.

Charts

See also

In Spanish: Naatu Naatu para niños

• List of Indian winners and nominees of the Golden Globe Awards