LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — During the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre, host Conan O’Brien stunned the crowd by speaking some of his opening monologue in Hindi, a first in Oscar history.
O’Brien, with his quick wit and self-deprecating sense of humor, started with a friendly “Namaste,” greeting viewers in India. He went on, “Bharat ke logo ko namaskar. Waha subah ho chuki hai to mujhe ummeed hai ki aap crispy nashte ke sath Oscars dekh rahe honge,” which means, “Greetings to the people of India. It’s morning there, so I hope you’re watching the Oscars with a crispy breakfast.”
The spontaneous Hindi greeting became a social media buzzword instantly. While others welcomed O’Brien’s attempt at reaching out to the Indian viewer, others humorously pointed out his imperfect diction. A user joked, “He completely butchered it,” while another said, “Conan said Hindi like he was speaking Japanese!”
Despite good-natured jabs, O’Brien’s effort was for the most part regarded as an endearing nicety that injected a novel spin into the proceedings. His monologue, laced with his characteristic humor, put a light tone for the occasion.
During the evening, O’Brien went on to make everyone laugh, jabbing fun at several celebrities and even proposing ways to trim down acceptance speeches in creative ways, like showcasing shameful early career pics of winners.
The 2025 Oscars celebrated notable achievements in film, with “Anora” winning Best Picture and actress Mikey Madison taking home Best Actress for her role in the film. Adrien Brody won Best Actor for “The Brutalist,” while Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña received awards for their supporting roles.
