SS Rajamouli ‘disappointed’ after Chello Show being selected as India’s official entry for Oscars 2023: ‘RRR had a much bigger chance’

Over a week ago, RRR witnessed a super win at the Golden Globes 2023 in Los Angeles where the film won the award for Best Song for ‘Naatu Naatu’. SS Rajamouli, Jr. NTR and Ram Charan along with music composer MM Keeravani were in attendance for the awards night. Following the win, they won Best Foreign Language Film and Best Song for RRR and ‘Naatu Naatu’ respectively at Critics Choice Awards 2023. While RRR is winning accolades in the West, the film wasn’t chosen as India’s official entry for Oscars 2023. Instead, Gujarati film Chello Show was sent for the Academy Awards 2023. Rajamouli admits he was disappointed as RRR had a bigger chance considering the response it was receiving in the west.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rajamouli said, “Yeah, it is disappointing. But we are not the kind of people who would sit and brood about why it didn’t happen. What has happened has happened, and we should go forward with it.”

The filmmaker said that he was happy that another Indian film was shortlisted for the Oscars. “But I am happy because it is also an Indian film and it has also been shortlisted for the Oscars. I’m quite happy for it.” But he also said that “everyone knew” that RRR “had a much bigger chance” at the Oscars.

In a recent interview with Variety, Jr NTR opened up on why RRR was not selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. He said, “I don’t think there is a lot of politics going on with what films should go. I think the panel, which is sitting down there knows what they do the best… Hindi has primarily been a national language for a very long time and that’s why it has taken prominence. For us, choose RRR or don’t choose RRR, RRR has already made us proud.”

Previously, while speaking to Indian Express, Film Federation of India (FFI) president TP Aggarwal said, “Chhello Show was a unanimous decision by the jury. Out of the 17, all of them said we need this film. We are never inside so this was completely the jury’s decision. They said it is an Indian film that should go (for Oscar).”

When he was asked whether RRR or The Kashmir Files were in the race for the official selection, he said, “The Kashmir Files and RRR were nowhere in front of this. The jury wanted this film only. They said there was no second or third film.”

RRR song ‘Naatu Naatu’ has been shortlisted for Best Original Song at Oscars 2023 whereas Chello Show has been shortlisted in the Best International Film category. The nominations will be announced on January 24 by Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams.