‘RRR’ Composer and Director on How the Song ‘Naatu Naatu’ Became Such a Rip-Roaring Rouser

If anyone was ever able to calculate the number of musical sequences that occur in film in the classic movie-musical tradition, the Indian film industry would almost surely be responsible for a plurality of them each year. But having an Indian songwriter nominated for a best song Oscar? That last happened in 2008, when A. R. Rahman and lyricist Gulzar won for a song from the cross-cultural hit “Slumdog Millionaire,” directed by Danny Boyle. The last time it occurred with a song from a movie that truly emerged from out of Indian film culture? Never. And that’s one reason why… Read Full Article