New Delhi: Oscar-winning music composer MM Keeravani, known for his works in films like Baahubali, RRR and the upcoming Varanasi, slated to be released next year, has composed the music for the 77th Republic Day Parade scheduled next week.
“On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the iconic song Vande Mataram, I feel deeply honoured and privileged to have composed the music for the 26th January Republic Day Parade, under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture. This grand presentation will be performed by 2,500 artists from across India,” the veteran composer and producer wrote on X.
President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be the chief guests for this year’s parade.
Oscar for ‘Naatu Naatu’
Keeravani won the Oscar for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’ for SS Rajamouli’s RRR (2022). It became the first song from an Indian film to earn a nomination and win in the best original song category.
“It’s just the beginning of everything. For the world, particularly the Western world, folks are more on India and Asian music. It’s just long due. I feel very happy to open doors and the world to embrace my culture,” said Keeravani after his win.
Sung by Rahul Sipligunj & Kaala Bhairava, with lyrics by Chandrabose, Naatu Naatu was also performed on stage at the Academy Awards ceremony that year. In 2023, the 64-year-old musician was awarded the Padma Shri.
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Keeravani, also known as Maragathamani, is the only other Indian composer after AR Rahman to win an award at the Oscars. Rahman and Resul Pookutty won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing and Best Original Score, respectively, for the 2008 British film Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman also won for Best Original Song alongside lyricist Gulzar for the song ‘Jai Ho’, and became the first and only Indian to date to have won more than one Academy Award.
There have been multiple renditions of the song over the years, by singers from Lata Mangeshkar to MS Subbulakshmi. But the most memorable one is probably Rahman’s rendition in 1997, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of India’s independence.
Rahman, whose comments about Bollywood being ‘communal‘ in a BBC interview, used the song in his clarification video. The video in which he spoke of India being his inspiration and home. The video ended with a clip of a live performance of Rahman’s Vande Mataram, which came out in 1997, and the crowd singing with him.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)