'RRR' and 'The Elephant Whisperers' unite Parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha

The Members of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday appreciated India's achievement at the 95th Academy Awards where 'Naatu Naatu' song from 'RRR' and Tamil documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' bagged awards.

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal began his speech by congratulating the winners and highlighted that 'The Elephant Whisperers' is made by two women.

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Govt. of India. Leader of House in Rajya Sabha. He said, "It is a great mark of recognition for Indian women,". "It's about sustainability. It also shows that the world today is recognising sustainability has become core to our philosophy and finally 'RRR' scriptwriter is a honourable member of the Parliament," he then said while asking members to acknowledge the writer's contribution.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated the 'RRR' but took a dig at BJP. "I also join to congratulate both the awardees - 'Naatu Naatu' and 'Elephant Whisperers' - both of them come from South India. It is great pride for us. We are also very proud in whatever you have said, we are with you. But my only request is that the ruling party should not take credit saying we have directed, we have written the poem, Modiji has directed the film. That is my only request. It is a contribution of the country," he added.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reminded the house that Deepika Padukone appearing on the Oscar stage. "As all Parliamentarians have congratulated, I also wish to congratulate. I would also like to mention that another history has been scripted, that an Indian actress had introduced 'Naatu Naatu' on the stage.

She is Deepika Padukone, who was also wearing black. I would also like to congratulate her. Along with this, I would also like to say, since I have mentioned Deepika Padukone, that after winning the Oscars, the boycott culture that goes on in social media platforms, we try and finish this, so that will be a piece of good news for us," she said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday hailed India's achievements in the Academy Awards 2022, saying 'brand India' has arrived as he called for concerted efforts to make the country a content hub of the world.

"It is a matter of pride for India that the Indian film industry has won two world awards in Oscars. Brand India has arrived and it is just a beginning. India has the potential to become the content hub of the world. Let us work together to make India the content hub of the world," Thakur told the House.

Noting that nothing is regional today, the minister said as the Prime Minister has said "local to global", "our regional has become international and that is a big achievement for India". He said though 'Naatu Naatu' was sung in Telugu and was dubbed in many languages, today it is beating in the hearts of crores of people across the world and India's music is being sung all over.

The minister also said the 'Elephant Whisperers' was made in Tamil on a small budget but it has won accolades across the world and "I congratulate the makers for it".

While noting that the government has helped provide a platform to Indian films at international film festivals, he said India was given the status of "country of honour" at the Cannes Film Festival. He also cited an incident where a youth delegation from central Asia had come visiting and sang Indian songs at a cultural evening.

He also noted that the story writer (KV Vijayendra Prasad) behind 'RRR' is a member of the Rajya Sabha house,

It has to be noted that the Parliamentarians united to congratulate 'RRR' and 'The Elephant Whisperers'.

With inputs from PTI