Jr NTR and Ram Charan in a still from Naatu Naatu. (courtesy: YouTube)
Ram Charan, who recently appeared on US television network ABC, spoke about his experience of filming the Oscar-nominated song Naatu Naatu from his 2022 film RRR in Ukraine. ICYDK, the song was filed outside Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's official residence. The shooting took place months before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ram Charan recalled filming the song in Ukraine and he said, "We filmed it 3 months before the attack and the war began in Ukraine. It was never on my bucket list to go to Ukraine and thanks to the song, it was one of the most beautiful places, beautiful people and beautiful experiences I've had."
The actor added during the interview, "I did tell my family after the song, when I go back to India, I want to take the time and go to Ukraine again just as a tourist. And we shot in the President's Palace in the city, which you would see in one of the news where he is right outside in the turquoise building."
Ram Charan revealed that they shot the song for 15 days and rehearsed for about a week. "We shot in over 15 days and 7 days of rehearsal there. It was one of the most difficult songs that we ever shot," said Ram Charan. That doesn't come as a surprise, given the intense choreography and Jr NTR and Ram Charan's superb coordination.
Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli's RRR has been nominated at this year's Oscars in the Best Original Song category. The track, composed by MM Keeravani, won a Golden Globe this year in the Best Original Song category.