It looks like RRR director S.S. Rajamouli may still stand a chance at receiving an Oscar nomination or at least that’s what the filmmaker’s huge fanbase is hoping for after the New York Film Critics Circle named him as the best director of 2022. The blockbuster Telugu flick was not included in India’s official film entry but lately, the South Indian movie is receiving a large wave of support thanks to the ongoing campaign by distributor Variance Film.
While India’s FFI jury snubbed RRR from the opportunity of being an Oscar nominee in the international film category – the team behind RRR was quick to apply to the For Your Consideration campaign (FYC) for individual categories. Since then, the film’s Oscar race has attracted audiences from all fronts, even earning a standing ovation post its IMAX screening at the TCL Chinese theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles (in a sold-out auditorium).
Now, it looks like RRR could be closer to its Academy Awards dream with S.S. Rajamouli earning the best director title from the New York Film Critics Circle. Since news broke of the RRR director’s praise-worthy achievement, many fans pointed out that NYFCC winners have gone on to bag Oscar nominations, to be accurate, 16 out of 22 winners of NYFCC were nominated for the Academy Awards.
RRR fans think NYFCC Award is a sign S.S. Rajamouli could bag an Oscar nomination
In fact, director Jane Campion won the best director NYFCC Award for her 2021 film, The Power of the Dog. She also won the best achievement in directing category at the 2022 Oscar. So it seems S.S. Rajamouli’s chances for an Oscar nomination are not as far-fetched as many believe. Readers can check out the reactions below.
BEST DIRECTOR: S. S. Rajamouli, RRR
— New York Film Critics Circle (@nyfcc) December 2, 2022
Since 2000 the #NYFCC Best Director winner has gone on to be nominated for the Oscar 16/22 times #RRRMovie #SSRajamouli pic.twitter.com/EDfUe407mA
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) December 2, 2022
Did I just hear that @ssrajamouli sir won the New York Film Critics Award? Someone told me 16 out of last 22 times, the winner went on to win Best Director at the Oscars ❤️ What a man. What a journey. He truly is the Pride of our Nation 🙏🏼#RRRMovie
— Adivi Sesh (@AdiviSesh) December 3, 2022
1st Indian Director to win #NYFCC award
Also since 2000, 16/22 winners of NYFCC were nominated for the Oscars🥵💥#SSRajamouli #RamCharan #RRRMoviehttps://t.co/26iKlKxAPb
— Ujjwal Reddy (@HumanTsunaME) December 3, 2022
Indian Oscar committee in shambles right now. This continues to prove how big of a crime they did by ignoring RRR. #RRRMovie #RRRForOscars https://t.co/uDzJ67va95
— Rick Sulgie (@Aloydinkan) December 2, 2022
Further proof S.S. Rajamouli is in a league of his own. Give #RRRmovie and @ssrajamouli ALL the awards. https://t.co/RTpqmbh74G
— Beyond Fest (@BeyondFest) December 2, 2022
This has made my day. Congrats @ssrajamouli! And if ya'll haven't watched #RRRMovie yet, rectify that ASAP. https://t.co/aqrfD1tm9l
— Amon Warmann (@AmonWarmann) December 2, 2022
Earlier this week, @GlennWhipp wrote that #RRRMovie needed a boost from one of the three major critics groups — L.A., New York or the National Society of Film Critics — to help keep its #Oscars chances alive.
Today the NYFCC gave "RRR" best director. https://t.co/9JndFJqqFR
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 2, 2022
Congrats to @RRRMovie director @ssrajamouli on today's Best Director win from @nyfcc! This scene may truly be the most EPIC of 3 total hours of epic-ness in #RRRMovie (on #Netflix now) – it'd be cool to see this translate to some nominations at the #Oscars https://t.co/hSHzvJu9rI
— Eric Melin (@SceneStealrEric) December 2, 2022
@ssrajamouli WINS BEST DIRECTOR at #NYFCC LET’S GOOO 🔥😭👏🏻 @RRRMovie #RRR #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/EVniDfGDfi
— Dimitri Michelis (@dimitri_m3) December 2, 2022
In last two years,
NYFCC's Best Directors in Academy..2020 Chloé Zhao (Oscar won)
2021 Jane Campion (Oscar won)
2022 SS Rajamouli (???)GOD PLEASEEEEEE 🙏🏻🔥🔥@RRRMovie #RRRMovie#RRR #RRRMovie pic.twitter.com/3OdOWgqgzR
— Ullas Kumar N (@npsullas) December 3, 2022
The makers of RRR are pushing for the movie’s nomination under 13 categories which include the best actor for N.T. Rama Rao‘s Komaram Bheem Jr & Ram Charan‘s Alluri Sitarama Raju potrayal, original screenplay, original song for Naatu Naatu, etc. The movie’s massive success on Netflix followed by praises from Hollywood’s finest has catapulted its rise to fame, with RRR being screened every day at the IFC Center, in NYC, as of this writing.
RRR is still available to stream on Netflix in Hindi but audiences hoping to watch it in Telugu, in all its glory will need to tune into Disney Plus Hotstar.
