Chilkuri Sushil Rao’s documentary “Oscar Challagariga” on ‘Naatu Naatu” lyricist Chandrabose moves up into semi finals in Cannes World Film Festival, France

A documentary on Oscar winner lyricist Kanukuntla Subhash Chandrabose has moved up into the semi finals category in the Cannes World Film Festival, France.

The documentary titled “Oscar Challagariga” has been produced and directed by Hyderabad-based documentary filmmaker Chilkuri Sushil Rao.

The Cannes World Film Festival in its monthly selections selected “Oscar Challagariga” as an official selection. In the next level, it entered the semi-finals category.

The documentary is about lyricist Kanukuntla Subhash Chandrabose who won the Oscar for best original song in the 95th Academy Awards.   It captures the atmosphere and celebrations in his village “Challagariga” in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana, India,  which he visited for the first time on April 2, 2023 after winning the Oscar. He speaks about what effort it takes to achieve something in life. Chinthala Thirupathi is the cinematographer of the documentary “Oscar Challagariga”.

The documentary captures the celebratory mood in Challagairi with hundreds of villagers coming together to shower their love on the son of the soil Chandrabose. The highlight of the documentary is also an impromptu dance by Chandrabose’s wife, Suchitra, who herself is a well-known choreographer.

It was the first time that an Indian production won an Oscar in the ceremony held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023. The award was presented to Lyricist Kanukuntla Subhash Chadrabose and music director M M Keeravani for the song “Naatu Naatu” from Telugu film “RRR” directed by S S Rajamouli.

Meanwhile, the documentary “Oscar Challagariga” won a Special Mention award at the 12th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival held in Mumbai on December 10, 2023.

Rambhul Singh, founder-director of Mini Box Office, which organised the festival announced the list of award winners on Sunday evening after the screenings were held. The jury comprised of film personalities both from India and abroad.

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