“Everything, Everywhere, At Once” Leads 11 Oscar Nominations: Live Updates

Quick Quiz: What are the three R’s?

It’s not reduced, reused or recycled – this award season one of the hottest topics of conversation is quickly becoming amazing Hindi work in Telugu “RRR” or “Rise, Roar, Revolt,” which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song on Tuesday.

The film, which stars two of India’s most celebrated actors – Ram Charan and N.T. Rama Rao Jr. – is set in Delhi during the early 1920s and follows two patriotic but philosophically antagonistic men who team up to rescue a kidnapped girl (Twinkle Sharma) from British colonial officials (Alison Doody). Ray Stephenson).

The film was already a global hit at the box office when it was released in March – directed by one of India’s most successful filmmakers, SS Rajamoulion a hefty budget of $72 million — and grossed $65 million during its opening weekend.

But now, thanks to word-of-mouth social media buzz and an unusual theatrical re-release strategy, it’s the rare Indian film that is catching up with American viewers outside of the Indian diaspora.

After the film, which was originally distributed by Sarigama Cinemas, was initially shown on 1,200 screens across the country in March – and began Streaming on Netflix In late May – Dylan Marchetti, head of distributor Variance Films, saw its potential appeal when he watched it again and again with enthusiastic audiences.

So Variance reached out to Sarigama, and they took the rare step of re-releasing the film – which had been sold to moviegoers as an “encoRRRe” – leading to its breakthrough in the US.

Speaking to The Times in AugustChristina Cacioppo, who programmed “RRR” in Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Prospect Park, said it attracted moviegoers in the 20-30 age bracket, mostly from outside the Indian diaspora.

“There was a general wave of joy throughout,” Cacioppo told the Times. “You could feel the room smiling, jaws dropping.” (More than three hours of wrestling tigers Charan and Rao; pulling a daring bridge to save a motorcycle, a horse, and a burning train car; and teaching British party-goers dancing in perfect sync in matching suspenders will do it.)

Josh Hurtado, a consultant at the independently run Potentate Films who collaborated with Sarigama and Marchetti on a one-night-only stage revival of “RRR” in June, told The Times that many attendees praised the film for the same reasons that previously discouraged them. of watching new Hindi films: “long times, song-and-dance numbers, and silly action”. “People come out and say they wish this three-hour movie was longer.”

The movie has also gained a strong afterlife life on TikTok, with its ear-popping “Naatu Naatu” (Telugu for “native”) dance becoming the go-to. viral infection Thanks to Charan and Rama Rao’s hilarious dance moves and infectious vocals. (Lyrics by Chandrapuz, while music is composed by MM Keravani).

After winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song earlier this month, as well as the Critics Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director for Rajamouli, the film’s scenes have been rehearsed squarely for the big blockbuster. Best Original Song: Oscar for Awesome Charan and NTR Jr.