• Monday, February 24, 2025

INDIA

‘Naatu Naatu’, ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ find mention in Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

During the Mann Ki Baat broadcast, actor Akshay Kumar also shared his fitness tips.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Best Original Song winners for ‘Naatu Naatu’ from “RRR,” Chandrabose and M. M. Keeravani are seen backstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images)

By: Mohnish Singh

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India’s twin wins at Oscars 2023 for the song “Naatu Naatu” from RRR and the documentary short The Elephant Whisperers in his last Mann Ki Baat address for 2023.

In the 108th episode of the radio broadcast, the prime minister said the world saw India’s creativity and understood the country’s connection with the environment through its entertainment industry.

“Friends, when ‘Naatu Naatu’ got the Oscar, the whole country rejoiced with joy. Who was not happy when they heard about the honour given to The Elephant Whisperers? Through these, the world witnessed India’s creativity and understood our connection with the environment,” Modi said.

At the 95th Academy Awards, the foot-tapping Telugu chartbuster “Naatu Naatu”, composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Chandrabose, won the best original song award and made SS Rajamouli’s RRR the first Indian feature film production to bring home the Oscar.

Netflix’s Tamil documentary The Elephant Whisperers, directed by debutante Kartiki Gonsalves and produced by Guneet Monga, also became the maiden Indian production to win the Oscar in the documentary short film category.

During the Mann Ki Baat broadcast, actor Akshay Kumar also shared his fitness tips.

“Don’t live a filter life, live a fitter life,” Kumar said as he called for focusing on physical fitness as well as overall well-being.

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