Pushpa composer Devi Sri Prasad on National Award win: ‘A surreal feeling…’

Allu Arjun’s Pushpa: The Rise has emerged victorious at the recently announced 69th National Film Awards. While Allu Arjun secured the Best Actor award for his remarkable portrayal of Molleti Pushpa Raj in Pushpa, composer Devi Sri Prasad clinched the Best Music Director (Songs) award for his exceptional work in the film. DSP, in an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and also extended congratulations to MM Keeravaani for winning the National Award for Best Music Director (Background Score) for RRR.

He said, “I would like to thank my director Sukumar sir, the producer, my friend and brother Allu Arjun, and my team. Getting an award is a surreal feeling. I thank the people for accepting and loving the music of Pushpa. Sometimes you get commercial success but not an award or vice versa, but getting both for Pushpa is a gift. I am really really happy. Thanks to everyone for the love. I also composed the music of the film Uppena that won the Best Telugu Film award.”

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Further, DSP commented on Oscar winner MM Keeravaani’s National Award for Best Music Director (Background Score) for RRR. He said, “First of all we weren’t expecting the award as they won an Oscar also. Despite that Pushpa and RRR has won in music category. It is a big honour. Keeravaani sir got the award for best background score. Big congratulations to him, to Rajamouli sir and the entire RRR team, Jr NTR and (Ram) Charan. Pushpa won for the songs, I am very grateful for it. I am all the more happy now for Allu Arjun on winning the Best Actor award.”

The soundtrack of Pushpa: The Rise boasted five songs, “Daakko Daakko Meka”, “Srivalli”, “Oo Antava Oo Oo Antava”, “Saami Saami” and “Eyy Bidda Idhi Naa Adda”, composed by Devi Sri Prasad and penned by Chandrabose. Though all the songs were loved by the audience, the song “Oo Antava,” featuring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Allu Arjun, was especially embraced by the North Indian audience and became a massive pan-India hit.