#NewsBytesExplainer: Analyzing India's unprecedented representation at the upcoming Academy Awards
What's the story
Oscars 2023 is going to be special for India in ways more than one.
Not only is it the first time multiple Indian films are in contention, but India also has an unprecedented chance of clinching at least one golden statuette (for Naatu Naatu).
With Deepika Padukone being one of the presenters, the Oscars will not fall short of Indian representation!
Let's dive deeper.
#1
In a first, India has bagged multiple nominations this year
RRR's global rage and foot-tapping number Naatu Naatu has bagged a nomination in the Original Score category, Shaunak Sen's All That Breathes scored a nod in the coveted Best Documentary Feature category, and Kartiki Gonsalves's The Elephant Whisperers received a nomination in the Best Documentary Short Film section.
Going by the global accolades, Naatu Naatu seems to have the maximum chance of winning.
#2
'RRR's chances of victory: Can SS Rajamouli script history?
To elaborate on the aforementioned point, not only has SS Rajamouli's magnum opus become possibly his career's biggest global blockbuster, but it has also won multiple prestigious international awards over the last few months.
Moreover, directors such as James Gunn and Daniel Kwan showered their love on the period drama.
With the world swinging in its favor, will the song bring the trophy home?
#3
'Naatu Naatu' performance is set to blow Americans away!
When Naatu Naatu plays, the world dances.
A live performance of the song by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava is scheduled to take place during the ceremony.
Moreover, if the Golden Globe-winning song clinches the prestigious award, Naatu Naatu's stars Ram Charan and Jr. NTR may shake a leg on the stage, too.
That will be a sight to behold.
#4
Deepika Padukone is one of the presenters this year
On Thursday, the Academy announced that Padukone will be one of the presenters at the prestigious ceremony this year.
Other prominent names include Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, and Michael B Jordan, among several other Hollywood celebrities.
Padukone's selection is a moment of pride for the Indian film fraternity, considering she's the only Indin artist who has made it to the list this year.
#5
Can we expect more Indian-American cinematic collaborations in the future?
James Cameron, who is one of RRR's many admirers, spoke to Rajamouli during the Critics Choice Awards and said, "If you want to make a movie over here, let's talk."
This is important, since more Indian representation on such a global stage may lead to more Indian actors working in Hollywood, or may encourage American filmmakers to collaborate with Indian artists on ambitious projects.