Kolkata:Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha, a power couple from Bollywood voiced the Spotify Original podcast Virus 2062, which has started streaming from today onwards.
After a press conference, Ali and Richa exclusively shared their thoughts on lending their voice for the podcast together with UNI. Here are the excerpts:
Q: When you dub for a movie, you have to work as a voice artist. How different do you understand is movie dubbing and lending your voice for a podcast?
Ali: In my opinion, there is a huge difference between the two. Dubbing is different. Some movies have sync-sound. We have visual aid during dubbing. That means, there is a reference point. It also has a memory of that visual. And in this, you are developing a world from scratch, from zero. Where am I standing or how far from you? Am I talking from inside the room or outside? Am I sitting or standing? I have to figure all this from a studio room and give it to you through my voice. No video is aiding it. I thought that is very hard and at the same time, it is a great experience for an actor to know and comprehend these things.
Richa: I think dubbing is entirely a different ball game. When we dub, we keep in mind whether the pilot track is not clear or the audio may be missing. Another advantage of dubbing is that we can enhance our facial acting a bit with our voice. And here, you have to create a different world only with your voice. For instance, if you look at the administrative mundaneness of my character visually, you will understand how I am opening the door or sitting in my chair. To establish that mundaneness, that rhythm of your daily life only with your voice is challenging. But it is very very rewarding for an actor at the same time. I will share one thing, those who are better actors, get very excited when I talk about podcasts or radio plays.
Q: The Comfort zone is an important aspect of any endeavour. You did such a project with somebody you spend a lot of time with apart from screen time. How easy did it make the execution?
Ali: (Smiles)Tell, tell Richa. You have to say it.
Richa: Every time we entered Mantra's studio, we became professionals. Maybe it's a lesson learned from theatre. We have microphones and scripts in front and we worked in a very focused way. But it's a delight to work with Ali. Because he is so selective.
Ali: You also are very selective.
Richa: I would like to write something for Ali, where we can work together. Or I would like to direct him in a short film or something fun. I would like to collaborate creatively. We have creative companionship.
Ali: I will go with that. I like to add that, during the work Mantra arranged two small stools for us and he sat on a comfortable chair. This has been going on for two days. But I enjoyed working with Richa.
The couple signed off and the reviews started pouring that Virus 2062 sets a benchmark in Indian podcast. The podcast is streaming exclusively and free on Spotify.(UNI)