S.S. Rajamouli, who is basking in the glory of his film RRR's Golden Globe Award win for 'Naatu Naatu', gave the American audience a schooling at a recent screening when he said, "RRR is not a Bollywood film."
The director's response came after an American journalist called the film a 'Bollywood movie' while quizzing him during a Q&A round. Clarifying that the movie was not a Bollywood movie, but "a Telugu film that comes from the south of India," Rajamouli went on to reveal how he incorporated song into his storytelling.
"I use the song to move the story forward rather than stopping the film and giving you a piece of music and dance. I just use those elements to move the story forward," the director said to the audience, following the screening at the Directors Guild of America.
He added, "At the end of the film, if you say I didn't feel it like for three hours, then I know I am a successful filmmaker."
The director's comments in the viral clip have now left the internet divided. One said, "Rajamouli is right, RRR is not a bollywood movie and it shouldn’t even be allowed to even remotely be portrayed as such."
Another added, "Nothing can change the fact that RRR is a Telugu film and Rajamouli said that just to clarify the original language because most Americans still think that it’s a Hindi/Bollywood film. It’s simple, really."
Meanwhile, another posted a clip of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who also previously corrected a journalist at a Berlin Film Festival panel discussion and called 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' an 'Indian film' rather than a Bollywood film. He said, "Gangubai is an Indian film. It's Indian cinema we come here and stand here & represent to the world."
"True, that it's not a bollywood movie but it's an INDIAN movie and if u are gonna deny that too then u dont get to celebrate Neeraj Chopra's olympic win too coz he belongs to the NORTH OF INDIA......#Rajamouli shame on you..." debated another.
"When films like #RRRMovie need Hindi market, it is said that this is a pan Indian film. When it comes to getting #RRRforOscars , it will be said whether we are Telugu or Tamil or Malayalam. Isn't this a double standard?" another asked.
However, there were those who defended the director saying, "He said it's not a bollywood movie, it's a Telugu film. Bollywood essentially represents mainstream Hindi cinema only."
Another said in agreement, "Yes, the west should know that the only industry in India isn’t bollywood. Rajamouli made all of us proud."
Rajamouli's magnum opus is all over the news as the song 'Naatu Naatu' from 'RRR' won the Golden Globe Award in the Best Original Song category. The song defeated the likes of Rihanna's 'Lift Me Up' from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' and Taylor Swift's 'Carolina' from 'Where the Crawdads Sing' to clinch victory.
Now, all eyes are on the Oscars to see if the film can make history and earn a spot on the Best Film nominations list. After winning a golden globe for the Best Song, reports claim that the film is almost guaranteed a win at the upcoming Academy Awards in the Best Original Song category.
