Other than Ram Charan and NTR Jr, the 2023 Golden Globes-winning soundtrack has a third star performer: Mariinsky Palace, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s official residence.
Ever since its release in March 2022, Telugu blockbuster RRR has been in news. Be it its record-breaking collections on the box office, its global popularity, or the foot-tapping hook-step of its attention-grabbing song, ‘Naatu Naatu‘. But the soundtrack isn’t just another super hit, it bagged the title of ‘Best Original Song’ at the 80th Golden Globes Awards — a first for India — recently held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California.
RRR’s is a fictional historical drama set against the backdrop of India’s journey to independence. Set around the lives of two freedom fighters, Alluri Seetharama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (NT Rama Rao Jr), RRR is about duty, friendship, and revolt against colonial oppression. Retaliating to the humiliation by British officials, the two protagonists dance arm-in-arm, in absolute sync, on the catchy tunes of the superhit soundtrack.
Interested in a little trivia? ‘Naatu Naatu’ from RRR, was shot in the heart of Ukraine, before the Mariinsky Palace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s official residence in Kyiv. Several other scenes of the movie were also shot at various locations in Kyiv. Back in 2021, Russia and Ukraine opened their doors to tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic. This made the RRR team zero in on Ukraine to shoot some important portions of the film, including the song. Dancer and choreographer Olena Shoptenko became the choreographer-director of parts of the scene. Also, more than 200 Ukrainian actors and dancers took part in the filming.
Rest of the movie was mostly filmed in the Gachibowli area and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, while a few shots were produced in the rural parts of Visakhapatnam. Rajamouli even took the crew to Sofia in Bulgaria as well as Amsterdam for a few scenes.
All you need to know about the Mariinsky Palace
Set on a hill over the Dnipro River, the palace was built in the mid-18th century by order of Russian Empress Elisabeth. The Mariinsky Palace was restored in 1991 and has since been the ceremonial home of the Ukrainian president and have hosted countless state receptions, gala dinners, meetings, and more.
After remaining closed to the public for almost 12 years, undergoing extensive restoration, the palace is now finally reopened. Its baroque architecture, unique turquoise façade, and richly-decorated interiors with antique furniture, chandeliers, paintings, murals, and more, make it a must-visit. The Mariinsky Palace remains open for visits Friday-Sunday, 10.00AM-05.00PM.
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