Oscar for Naatu Naatu: A win for India and a reply to divisive forces

Indian culture was embraced with a kind of confidence that has seldom been seen in the past. The ‘bandhgalas’ and sarees were worn at the ceremony with panache and there were no attempts to mask the Indian accent at all.

Change can sometimes be so sudden and drastic that it brings to light the innate strength and resilience of a nation to stand tall amidst the naysayers. This was best exemplified by two unrelated events at the global stage that happened within a span of a week. The first one happened in London where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi went on a rant against India and claimed that democracy is under attack in the country and that the Opposition is often silenced.

Though it is interesting that in a country where democratic principles are supposedly under attack, Rahul Gandhi could tour the entire country on foot for his Bharat Jodo Yatra without any hindrance. The irony of how he wanted to keep the nation united only to rip it apart on an international platform is not lost on anyone. It makes one wonder if he learned anything at all about Bharat during his interactions with people from across the length and breadth of the nation or did the entire Yatra get reduced to a political gimmick?

The second was when India's Naatu Naatu from the movie RRR won the Oscar for Best Original Song and the Indian film The Elephant Whispers won Best Documentary (short). It was a momentous occasion not just for Indian cinema but for the country as a whole. In the face of continuous orchestrated attacks against India, this was a rare moment that brought forth the unifying force of India's soft power and the tectonic shift that has taken place in the last decade.

The changes that happened at the global level were visible not just in the champagne-coloured carpet of the Oscars which symbolised a sense of calmness and peacefulness. It was also visible in the way India portrayed itself at the Academy Awards. The culture and heritage of India were embraced wholeheartedly with a kind of confidence that has seldom been seen in the past. The 'bandhgalas' and sarees were worn at the ceremony with panache. There were no attempts to mask the Indian accent. There was not a moment's hesitation to address the Indian audience in Hindi and Telugu by one of the movie's lead actors while he was giving bytes to the media.

Perhaps the most endearing moment came during a brief interaction between the men of the moment, music composer M.M. Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose while talking to the international press post the award ceremony. While switching the microphone, they had no qualms talking to each other in Telugu and at every point, they proudly proclaimed how their work is influenced by their roots and culture.

For a country that has remained in the colonial mindset for a very long time, this marks a significant point of departure and is a result of the rising Indian consciousness of the last decade. Indians have never been this unapologetic and fearless about their culture on a global platform and the feeling of achievement that was there on the face of every Indian who walked the Oscar carpet was hard to miss.

In an interview given to Vanity Fair, the film's director S.S. Rajamouli said that the idea of Naatu Naatu was to have a story within a story. It symbolised how two Indians could bring a British officer down to his knees through dance. What happened at the Oscars was not drastically different from the thought that Rajamouli had envisioned for his magnum opus. Through soft power, India made the world take note of its history and culture. This moment would not have been possible if Indians were not given an opportunity to take pride in their ethos.

Events like the celebration of International Yoga Day and the thoughtful erasure of colonial remnants from the country made Indians aware of their roots and the importance of preserving their culture. Last year's renaming of Rajpath to Kartavya Path which was derided by many at the opposite end of the ideological spectrum was a significant step in changing perceptions. The concept of Indianness gained further ground and there was a reawakening of the nationalist spirit. It was a change that happened subconsciously for many, but one that further strengthened the unity of the country.

This change in perception has also had a substantial impact at the global level. India is seen as a rising power that is expected to transform into a knowledge economy by 2047. With India having assumed the G-20 presidency this year, it has more opportunities than ever to project its soft power. At a time like this, Indian movies can prove to be a strong medium to generate goodwill in the global community. Any creative medium is a strong form of expression and can be a larger-than-life display of the real emotions felt by a country's populace. It has the power to surpass the false narrative being spread by politicians who consider themselves heir apparent.

If there is a takeaway from this year's Oscar ceremony, it is this that the renewed sense of pride in a nation cannot be taken away by any divisive force. This consciousness may have taken time to seep in, but now that it has, it will be difficult to drive wedges among Indians. Any efforts to picture the country in a negative light can only boomerang from this moment onwards. The Oscars this year is indeed a proud occasion for the nation and marks a true break from the decades-long colonisation of Indian minds.

This is a victory that needs to be celebrated by all Indians and sustained efforts should be made to ensure that Indian traditions are kept alive. Besides, some others can take a cue from this and learn how not to portray one's own country in a bad light. Indian democracy is still healthy enough to resolve its differences internally and India as a nation is powerful enough to not succumb to the continuous attacks of those propelled by a sense of delusion.

(Lekshmi Parameswaran is a researcher and writer based in New Delhi. Her twitter profile is @lekshmip.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.