Prem Rakshith Explained

Prem Rakshith (born Thomas Satish) is an Indian choreographer who works predominantly in Telugu cinema.^[1] He is recipient of a National Film Award, three Nandi Awards and six Filmfare Awards.^{[2] [3]}

Early life and career

Prem Rakshith was born in Puducherry and raised in Chennai.^[4] His real name is Thomas Satish, and was actually born as a Hindu, before his grandmother got the entire family converted to Roman Catholic.^[5]

Prem received acclaim for his work on "Naatu Naatu" from RRR (2022). The hook step involving N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan dancing together became popular.^{[6] [7]} "Naatu Naatu" became the first song from an Indian film to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Rakshith was credited as a choreographer at the ceremony, where "Naatu Naatu" went on to win.^[8] It has also won the Best Original Song award at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, making it the first Asian as well as the first Indian song to win the award.^{[9] [10]} He was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2024.^[11]

Filmography

Year	Title	Songs	Language
2005	Chatrapathi		Telugu
2006	Vikramarkudu	Dooranga
2007	Madhumasam
	Satyabhama
	Yamadonga	1)Nachore2)Nuvvu Muttukunte
	Mantra	All Songs
	Pourudu
	Azhagiya Tamil Magan	Ellappugazhum	Tamil
2008	Aatadista	Style Style	Telugu
	Bhale Dongalu
	Kalidasu
	Kuruvi	1)Dandana Darna2)Mozha Mozhannu	Tamil
	Parugu		Telugu
	Ready
	Baladoor
	Avakai Biryani
	Hero
2009	Billa	Bommalee
	Current
	Magadheera
	Ganesh
	Rechipo	1)Orori Devuda2)Pathikella Ne Fire
	Mahathma
	Kasko
	Kurradu
	Arya 2	Mr perfect
2010	Kedi
	Darling
	Varudu
	Adhurs	1)Assalaam Valekhum2)Pilla Naa Valla Kaadu	Telugu
	Simha		Telugu
	Sura	Thanjavur Jilla Kaari	Tamil
	Maryada Ramanna	Udhyogam	Telugu
	Don Seenu	Raja Raja Raviteja
	Khaleja	1)Makathika2)Taxi
2011	Velayudham	Rathathin Rathamay	Tamil
	100% Love		Telugu
	Badrinath	1)Nath Nath2)Omkareswari3)Ambadari
2012	Shakti	1)Yamaga Unde2)Taliya Taliya
	Brindaavanam	1Chinnadho Vypo2)Vachadura
	Seema Tapakai	1)Kandi Chenu2)I Love You Baby
	Dhada	1)Telugu Bengali2)Bhoome Gundaranga
	Kandireega	Naakodithey
	Bezawada
	Poola Rangadu	Okkade Okkade
	Ishq	Lachhamma
	Naa Ishtam
	Lovely	Dolare Dola
	Rachcha	Racha Title Song
	Dhammu	1)Vaastu Bagunde2)O Lilly
	Endhukante Premanta
	Saguni	Kandha Khara Vadai	Tamil
	Tuneega Tuneega		Telugu
	Dhenikaina Ready	Panche Kattu
2013	Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
	Baadhah	Welcome Kanakam
	doosukeltha	1)Appudappudu2)2010 Summerlo3)Soodimande4)doosukeltha
2014	Veeram		Tamil
	1	All Songs	Telugu
	Aagadu	All Songs
	Alludu seenu	1)Alludu Seenu Title Song2)Labbara Bomma
2015
2016	Dictator	1)Tingo Tingo2)Gam Gam Ganesha
2017
	Mersal	Mersal Arasan	Tamil
2018	Rangasthalam	Rangamma Mangamma	Telugu
2021	Annaatthe		Tamil
	Gully Rowdy		Telugu
2022	RRR	Naatu Naatu
	Acharya	Bhale Bhale Banjara
2023	Dasara	Chamkeela Angeelesi
	Skanda

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Films	Result
2007	CineMAA Awards	Best Choreographer	Yamadonga ("Nachore Nachore")
	Filmfare Awards South	Best Choreography	Azhagiya Tamil Magan ("Ella Pugazhum")
2008			Kantri ("Vayasunami")
	Santosham Film Awards	Best Choreographer	Kantri and Takkari
		Best Choreographer	Kantri
2009	Filmfare Awards South	Best Dance Choreographer	Arya 2 ("Mr. Perfect")
2010		Best Choreography	Adhurs ("Assalaam Valekum")
2011	Filmfare Awards South	Best Choreography	Badrinath ("Nath Nath Badrinath")
2014	Nandi Award	Best Choreographer	Aagadu
2015		Best Choreographer
	Santosham Film Awards
2018		Best Choreographer	Rangasthalam ("Rangamma Mangamma")
2023	National Film Awards	Best Choreography	RRR ("Naatu Naatu")
2024	Filmfare Awards South	Best Choreography
			Dasara ("Dhoom Dhaam Dosthaan")

Notes and References

1. Web site: 17 July 2013 . Prem rakshit, lawrence, prabhu deva, dance master turns hero, another choreographer turns hero, prem rakshit hero entry, tollywood dancer, prem rakshit movies, KRK pawan director, KRK pawan directs prem rakshit .
2. Web site: Prem Rakshit's special dance moves for Vishnu. 17 October 2012.
3. Web site: Prem Rakshit impresses Mahesh Babu. 12 February 2013.
4. Web site: Ghosh . Devarsi . 15 January 2023 . The story behind the award-winning song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’ . 2023-03-01 . Scroll.in . en-US.
5. Web site: When The Naatu Naatu Choreographer Wanted To Die. Rediff.com. 9 March 2023. I'm a Christian. I started praying to Saibaba because a friend told me that would help, and I said, okay, let me try it out. I was actually born as a Hindu, but my grandmother got the entire family converted to Roman Catholic when I was in Standard 6. My real name is Thomas Satish..
6. Web site: SS Rajamouli gifts himself a swanky car worth Rs 44 lakhs after the glorious success of RRR, PICS .
7. News: 'RRR' to 'Beast': Why filmmakers are creating a hook step . The Hindu . 14 April 2022 . Ramanujam . Srinivasa .
8. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2023-01-24 . ‘Naatu Naatu’ From ‘RRR’ Becomes First Song From an Indian Film to Land a Best Song Oscar.. 2023-01-24 . . en-US.
9. Web site: January 11, 2023 . RRR's 'Naatu Naatu' song bags Golden Globe beating Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga . January 11, 2023 . Onmanorama . en.
10. Web site: Chan . Anna . 10 January 2023 . ‘Naatu Naatu’ Wins in an Upset Over Taylor Swift, Rihanna & Lady Gaga for Golden Globes’ Best Original Song in a Movie . 10 January 2023 . MSN.
11. Web site: 2024-06-26 . Oscar-winning 'RRR' director SS Rajamouli invited to join the Academy Awards as a honorable member . 2024-07-11 . . en-us.