While Telugu celebrities and politicians went rapturous after “Natu Natu” from “RRR” won the Oscar for the best original song, the BRS started pulling up the BJP government at the Centre for not sending SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus as an official entry for the Oscar.
The government instead had sent Gujarati film “Chhello Show” to the Oscars under Best International Feature Category instead allegedly because of Assembly election in Gujarat held last year.
“Chhelo Show” selected by Film Federation of India failed to pick up a nomination at the Oscars.
BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was also attacked by the BRS since he had threatened to set fire to theatres if they showed Rajamouli’s film which was still under production after NTR junior who played the role of Komaram Bheem was seen dressed as a Muslim and offering Namaaz in some clippings.
As reports trickled in about “Naatu Naatu” song winning an Oscar, the BRS ministers and MLAs started trolling the BJP for not sending “RRR” to Oscars under Best International Feature category. Telangana cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav slammed the central government for not sending “RRR” to Oscar as an official entry and not supporting the Telugu industry adequately. BRS MLA Balka Suman expounded saying,“Instead of preferring a Gujarati film to gain votes in Gujarat elections had the Indian government sent Telugu film RRR as India’s official entry for Oscars we might have won the more prestigious Oscar too.” Quite a few ministers and MLAs of BRS also tweeted on the same line.
When BJP Telangana chief Bandi Sanjay congratulated the” RRR” team, the BRS reminded the people of his previous comments. “Congratulations and best wishes to team RRR for clinching the best original song Naatu Naatu at Oscars. The moment is historic for Indian cinema and particularly for Telugu people,” he wrote on Twitter.
Soon after Konatham Dileep, director of digital media, Telangana government wrote, “And this is the right time to remember what kind of venom bigots like Bandi Sanjay spewed on this movie. Let’s reject such hatemongers!” Telangana minister KT Rama Rao congratulated the “RRR” team and also retweeted Dileep’s tweet and added “Not before long the same bigot will tell you the award was given only because of Modi.”
Rao was taking a potshot at Bandi Sanjay for suggesting that the Prime Minister had been instrumental in stopping the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was trolled by singer Adnan Sami for saying “Telugu flag” after “Naatu Naatu” won the Golden Globe award continued in the same vein.“The Telugu flag is flying higher! I’m filled with pride on a Telugu song that so beautifully celebrates our folk heritage being given its due recognition internationally today. Thank you for making me, crores of Telugu people across the world and all Indians incredibly proud,” wrote Reddy, unconcerned about the censure over regional pride.