RRR is an upcoming Indian period action film directed by S. S. Rajamouli and produced by SS Rajamouli. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Ram Charan, Jr. NTR, Alia Bhatt, and Ajay Devgn, among others. The film was released in October 2022 and had a great buzz in the film industry for its grandeur and scale. Recently, reports surfaced that the makers of RRR spending a whopping amount of 20 million dollars to lobby for the film’s selection at the prestigious Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. According to reports, the lobbying cost for RRR at the Oscars is expected to be around $12 million earlier, but later it turned out to be big
The Academy Awards are the most prestigious film awards in the world, and getting nominated for an Oscar is considered a huge achievement for any film. Over the years, several Indian films have been nominated for and won Oscars in various categories, including Slumdog Millionaire, also taking Lagaan to the last round. Lobbying for an Oscar nomination is a common practice in the film industry, and studios often spend significant amounts of money to promote their films for the awards season. This includes organizing screenings, sending out screeners, and conducting various promotional events to generate buzz and interest in the film.
RRR has remained a strong contender in several technical categories at the Oscars, including visual effects, sound design, and production design. The film’s scale and grandeur, along with the use of cutting-edge technology, made the film-selling venture in its Oscar campaign.
The film’s makers, has reportedly hired a Los Angeles-based publicity firm to handle the film’s Oscar campaign. They organized various events and promotional activities to generate interest in the film among members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who vote for the Oscars. While the $20 million lobbying cost for RRR at the Oscars may seem like a significant amount, it is not uncommon for studios to spend large sums of money on awards season campaigns. In 2019, for example, Netflix reportedly spent over $25 million on its Oscars campaign for Roma, which went on to win several awards.
However, there has been some criticism of the practice of lobbying for Oscars, with some arguing that it creates an unfair advantage for films with larger budgets and resources. Additionally, the focus on awards can sometimes overshadow the artistic merit and cultural impact of films, leading to a loss of perspective on what truly makes a great film. The cost paid off as the makers managed to get the great honor for their film, it is important to remember that awards are not the sole measure of a film’s artistic or cultural value.
