There is an Association of Voice Artistes ( AVA ). Apart from the ad films, there are in all 28 categories for which voice artistes are required. AVA works towards betterment of the voice and dubbing industry. AVA has 500-plus members and is affiliated to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees Association ( FWICE ).
In a car with GPS, a voice helps the driver in navigating the car to the desired destination. There are telephone lines with interactive voice response (IVR ). There are educative CDs to give lessons in various subjects. Corporate functions require special voice artistes to compere. There is tremendous scope for a voice artiste.
In TV, a commercial may require a voice over. In-house promotion of a channel also requires a voice. Feature films are being dubbed in various indian languages. There are documentaries and telefilms. All these require professional voice. The entry of animation, cartoon and niche have also opened up doors for the voice artiste. Hollywood movies are being dubbed in Hindi. FM radio also requires voice artistes.Internet has also opened up opportunities for professional voices. Voice industry’s growth is related to the growth of the media.Voice industry is unorganised. The remuneration varies from artiste to artiste. The fees are not related to the cost of production. Good professional voices are in advertising are paid Rs.10,000 to Rs. 50,000 per ad film. Theses are master artistes working in Hindi or English. The dubbed version artistes are paid less. Other voice artistes get between Rs.1500-Rs.7500 to a maximum of Rs.10,000. Sometimes the remuneration is as low as Rs 200-Rs 300. The work does not come directly from the producers to voice artistes. There are middlemen who charge a commission from both the producers and the artistes. Besides, voice artistes are given very little time. They do not have the authority to rectify a copy. They are not given credits and recognition.
AVA is making a CD carrying voice samples and profiles of artiste with contact details. It will facilitate the voice outsourcing. AVA also wants the artiste to be paid a royalty every time their voice is aired akin to book publishing. They want to introduce ‘ slapons ‘ which means payment for as many films as are being made using the same voice over. AVA also wants a minimum fee to be fixed for various categories.
Darpan Mehta conducts speaking seasons, seminars training programmes and workshops in various citiesof india and UAE. He is also the founder and managining director of SugarMedia2, and integrated learnig outfit. It has recently launched the Radio School which offers four different programmes.
Khodas Wadia is one of the best trainers in the industry and conducts one-on-one sessions with the participants. He can be reached at 09820022164. Neeraj Mehta runsa professional website for all voice artistes and can be reached at www.voiceartistes.com. Anil Maani is also a leading VO artiste and a great trainer and can be reached at www.voicebazzar.com, Chetanya Adib, better known as Anandi’s bapu in Balika Vadhu dubs for movies and has recently dubbed for Hollywood movie Eclipse for the the lead character Edward Cullen played by Robert Pattinson.
Voice Cosmeticians
Nagesh Surve and RupaliSurve, the father-daughter duo whistled signature tune for Dhoom II They also whistled for Fanaa and lots of advertisements. Meena Gouldas is another voice cosmetician. Surve has whistled for 1400 songs so far. Goculdas dubbed for an animated parrot of Main Prem Diwani Hoo.She has dubbed for an eagle (Chandrakanta), goat ( Mr and Mrs Khiladi ) and puppy (Halo).
Voice Overs
Piyush Pandey, the Executive Chairman and Creative Director of O & M, lent his voice to Fevicol lagao lagao, aur zor lagao, SBI Life Insurance ad taaki rishton ke beech dooriyan na aaye, and Asian Paints ad har ghar kuch kehta hai. His baritone exudes both warmth and conviction. Raghuvir Yadav’s jingle for Pepsi umar ghumar ke became very popular.He can make a voice over sound unique. Rich Nigam’s voice is husky, grainy and imperfect but that was converted in Lever’s daag achche hai. Soniya Nair can deliver a sophisticated voice over in English. Piyush Mishra has sung roko mat, toko mat for Parle G.