Rajamouli On ‘RRR’ Oscar Controversy, says “It's Disappointing, RRR had a much bigger chance”

“I make films for money,” says 'RRR' filmmaker 

Maverick filmmaker SS Rajamouli who is on a spree of winning national and international accolades for his magnum opus RRR seems to be upset with the fact that his film was not chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2023. Pan Nalin’s Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ (The Last Film Show) was selected in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category for the 95th Academy Awards.

Now in an interaction with The Hollywood Reporter, the ‘RRR’ director has finally broken his silence on it. He said, “It is disappointing. But we are not the kind of people who would sit and brood on why it didn’t happen. But I am happy because it (Chhello Show/ The Last Film Show) is also an Indian film, and it has also been shortlisted for the Oscars. I’m quite happy for it. Of course, everyone knew RRR had a much bigger chance. Here (in the US) everyone felt RRR had a bigger chance. But I don’t know how the committee (Film Federation of India), what are guidelines for the committee I don’t know that, and I can’t comment on that.

He further said, “I make films for money, I make films for the audiences. I don’t make films for critical acclaim. RRR is a commercial film, and once my film commercially does well, I’m very happy. Awards are an extension to it. It is for the hard work that my unit put in and I’m happy for that. (sic)"

Though the film wasn’t selected as India's official entry, it's popular song “Naatu Naatu” is shortlisted in the ‘Original Song’ category. The track which recently won the prestigious Golden Globe Award is composed by veteran music director MM Keeravani and sung by Kaala Bhairava and Rahul Sipligunj.

In the latest, the fans are also disappointed as the film lost nominations at ‘The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)’. ‘RRR’, was on the long list for ‘Best Film Not In The English Language’, but much to makers’ and fans’ dismay the film did not make it to the final slate. 

Shaunak Sen's ‘All That Breathes’ has made it to the BAFTA nominations in the ‘Best Documentary’ category. The nominees in the category include ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, Argentina, 1985 (which also won the Golden Globe for Best Film In Non-English Language category defeating ‘RRR’), ‘Corsage’, ‘Decision To Leave’, and ‘The Quiet Girl’. The BAFTAs will take place on 19 February.