It is relatively difficult to listen to “Naatu Naatu” when the mood is bad. Millions of Indians have noticed this, and have been doing it ever since the song won a Golden Globe, more and more people around the world are learning this. The song won against film scores by Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Lady Gaga and comes from the film “RRR” – a kind of historical musical that takes place around 1900 and was released in Indian cinemas last summer. Unlike the more well-known Bollywood films, it is in Telugu, the language in which the most successful films today are made in India – hence the name “Tollywood”.

It is about resistance to the British colonialists, who not only exploited the great country of the time, but also offered Indians almost no opportunity to participate in social life – except as servants and domestic servants. In the scene leading up to the song and its accompanying choreography, a British officer insults the two main characters by saying, “Look at those brown people. What do they know about art? About finesse? About dance?”

“You know Naatu?” asked the person being reviled. Of course not, as the song was written for the film and the choreography was developed for the two lead actors. And for lots of extra. The right leg is swung violently while the left is jumped – the “Hook Step” is the name of the move that triggers many dance challenges.

In his speech, “Naatu Naatu” composer MM Keeravani thanked Prem Rakshith, the choreographer, among others, and it was deserved as the accompanying YouTube clip quickly reached 100 million views in Telugu and over 200 million in Hindi. Rakshith drew inspiration for “The Hook Step” from old Tom & Jerry cartoons and scenes from Charlie Chaplin films. Rakshith himself posts dance instructions on YouTube.

So the song and dance not only enriched the film but also marketed it at the same time, even as far as the United States, where Indian works rarely get much attention, much to the dismay of the makers. From there, the song has now continued around the world. Under the YouTube clip, a viewer from Kyiv commented that he was so happy that the dance scene “takes place in the middle of my hometown”. The turquoise colonial building in the background is actually Marienpalast, the official residence of Volodymyr Zelensky. It was taken in August 2021, at 30 degrees in the shade. Thus, the history of the revolution still has up-to-date connections.

And award season isn’t over yet. The “Critics’ Choice Awards” presented in Los Angeles last Sunday, and “Naatu Naatu” won again. Director SS Rajamouli credits his mother, “she taught me that school was overrated and encouraged me to read comics and story books”. He now tweets pictures of himself with Steven Spielberg (“I Met God”) and James Cameron. And the fairy tale is not over: on January 24, the Oscar nominations will be announced.