Iconic music director M.M. Keeravani is on cloud nine after the 'Naatu Naatu' song he composed for the S.S. Rajamouli-directed RRR won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at Oscars 2023. The song picturized on Ram Charan and Jr. NTR to Prem Rakshith's choreography has gone on to become a global hit, especially in the U. S. and Japan, with the response nothing short of astounding. M.M. Keeravani, whose Oscar award acceptance speech was one of the biggest moments at the 95th Academy Awards, recently sat down with National Award-winning film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the Editor-in-Chief of Galatta Plus, to talk about how he came up with the 'Naatu Naatu' song for RRR, while also sharing a surprise revelation.
Speaking about the composing process, M.M. Keeravani opens up about the approach of the creation of the tune first and the lyrics then written and vice versa. He states, "Both are valid approaches... because 'Naatu Naatu' was written first. The words were written first. Whoever comes up with a better idea, he delivers his work first. Sometimes the tune happens first. 'Dosti' song and 'RRR' were tuned first. Generally, of course, tune and verses are done at the same time because both the writer and composer are the same. And, (with) 'Komuram Bheemudo', (it was the) words first. 'Naatu Naatu' - words first. And, as for the other songs, 'Etthara Jenda' in the end, that’s tuned first."
M. M. Keeravani then goes on to reveal a never before known fact about the 'Naatu Naatu' song and said, "Let me tell you one interesting thing... The 'Etthara Jenda' song, which we used in the rolling titles, that was an alternate tune for 'Naatu Naatu'. The director liked the tune very much, but he did not okay it for 'Naatu Naatu'. So, he reserved the tune for elsewhere and used it in the rolling titles."
Watch M. M. Keeravani in conversation with Baradwaj Rangan below: