Advertisement

Oscar buzz surrounds SS Rajamouli’s ‘RRR’ as hit Tollywood film starring Ram Charan and Jnr NTR reaches Hollywood

  • An LA Times Oscars poll of experts has SS Rajamouli’s new film RRR in the running for best director and best picture
  • RRR has become one of India’s highest grossing films of all time, making a reported US$140 million worldwide upon its initial release in March

Reading Time:5 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
A scene from RRR, the critically acclaimed blockbuster from Indian director S.S. Rajamouli. Photo: DVV Entertainment
Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli anticipated some applause. Maybe a few whistles from the South Asian viewers he’d spotted in the crowd.
The biggest US screening to date of his hit movie RRR had sold out in minutes online, but this was Hollywood, not Hyderabad.

The veteran director wasn’t sure what to expect as he arrived at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in late September for an IMAX screening of his three-hour period action epic – until a thundering standing ovation greeted him as he introduced the film.

Then, as the movie began, so did cheers for actors Ram Charan and NT Rama Rao Jnr, two megastars of Tollywood, India’s Telugu-language film industry.

Before intermission, excited audience members raced to the front of the massive screen to dance along to the viral “Naatu Naatu” musical sequence. By the closing scene, jubilant fans were jumping out of their seats for every hero moment.

“When I started hearing the roaring laughter and whistles, the shouting, the screaming, people getting up, standing up, showing their love and affection, dancing in front of the stage – my God,” he said the next afternoon, breaking into a wide, serene smile at the first-hand evidence that America had caught RRR fever.
Advertisement