‘Gully boy’ from Hyderabad was not first choice as singer

Oscar luck must be written in the stars. Or else how do you explain a 33-year-old from the Old City of Hyderabad wowing the Oscar stage when he wasn’t even supposed to have originally recorded the song that has taken the film world by storm? Rahul Sipligunj’s musical journey began in the lanes of Dhoolpet when he was barely out of his teens. And now he has not only seen Naatu Naatu bag Oscar glory but also got to perform the song along with co-singer Kaala Bhairava on arguably the film world’s biggest stage.

Rahul began by posting song videos on YouTube before he got to sing for the film ‘College Bullodu’ in 2009 and earned rave reviews with ‘Ranga Ranga Rangasthalana’ from the Sukumar-directed ‘Rangasthalam’. He would go on to find fame with his victory in the Telugu ‘Bigg Boss’ and also sing for several music directors.

But when the makers were ready with Naatu Naatu, Rahul was asked if he would sing only the track for the song, which is a sort of a trial version to confirm that everything is right musically. The music director thereafter gets the song sung by a singer of his choice. But MM Keeravani decided he would get the song sung by Rahul himself. The rest is the stuff of magic.

Some of the Oscar glitter also lends a different sheen to Dhoolpet — a locality known for artisans sculpting Ganesha idols in multiple hues that had achieved notoriety due to dealers of arrack and ganja. Now, it finds itself on the movie map thanks to its very own ‘gully boy’.

Before the show, Rahul tweeted in typical Hyderabadi style, “Today is going to be my big dayyyyy! Bless me chichaasss. Love you all. ” Later, posting a photo with Keeravani, he wrote, “Congratulations to my guru Shri M M Keeravani sir on winning the Oscar. He believed in me and made me hold the prestigious award. ”
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