Saturday, June 30, 2012

A Voice-over...

Samajh nahi aaya na...?? When I heard the term for the first time, even I didn't. It was like Sania Mirza asked about coriander, or Sushil Kumar told about 'Salsa'. Aur uspar bolte hain, "Voice-over karna hai Saavi... take the script". And Saavi-Clue-less! Aisa laga jaise 'yaad karte' hain na..vaise hi voiceover bhi karte honge.

However,about the voice-over I'll make it easier for you with the help of a short narration. Here it goes.

One of my male listener from Bihar called up the other day, saying "Congratulation, aap maa ban gaye.." And I was like "What Fish...? Single hona bhi matlab apraadh ho gaya. Maana people take pleasure in creating rumors about us... but ye to limit hi cross kar gaya...Imagine Main maa ban gayi.. aur mujhe pata hi nahi.." Immediately I said," achcha..?? Kab??" Listener- abhi abhi (no nine mths..?)maine aapki aawaaz suni. Ek advertisement main aap hi to apni beti se keh rahi thi..."Phir se itni mehngi Saree? lagta hai tumhe paison ki koi fiqr hi nahi.." Phir aapki beti kehti hai "nahi maa... fiqr hai... tabhi to maine ye saree li hai... ******* designer showroom se.."

For the first time in my life I sank in relief... I told the listener, "Okkk!! that ways...Ha wo to voice-over mein aisa hi hota hai...even we play different characters off air na." (except RJing u see..!)

Yaani character ki awaaz hai- Voice-over.In short VO.

Dear Reader, We are the radio people. And alike TV and film artists even we enact. Bas farq itna hai... wo dikhte hain aur hum sunai dete hain.

Wikipedia defines 'voice-over' as "a production technique where a voice that is not part of the narrative (non-diegetic) is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations.[1] The voice-over may be spoken by someone who appears elsewhere in the production or by a specialist voice actor. Also known as off-stage or off camera commentary"

Moral of the story- Jo voices aap radio spots/ television/ films/theaters/ presentation etc. main sunte hain (off course human voice-in language) -they are the voice-overs. In short VO. Pure audio effect, Voice-over has all the capability to enhance or deteriorate the final production.

When Big B narrates a movie in his own voice it is voice-over, when a female voice names its clients before the starting and after the ending of a TV Serial,"Iss programme ke praayojak the...bingo mad angles- har angle se'muaah', boroplus prickly heat powder, tajmahal tea" it is a voice over. When I say "Phir se itni mehngi Saree? lagta hai tumhe paison ki koi fiqr hi nahi.." in a radio spot it is a voice-over. Even Ravi shastri in his commentary has voice-over.

Most of us think..."VO mein kya hai.. bas bolna hi to hota hai..itni si baat ke bhi paise milte hain in logon ko.." But no! VOs are quite difficult. You have you own style, you can't make it rhyming in informative ones.You should possess clear pronunciation, speed should be correct, you should know the feel and above everything pauses should be correct. Otherwise, your voice-over shan't sound good!
Infact, a bad VO spoils it all. Vedio achchha hai.. par Vo bekar to production bekaar! Personally I like the voice-overs of the lady for Sony TV (CLIENT ENDORSEMENT NAMES), and for colors-Promo male voice over used in serial Madhubala's Promotion! Quite emphatic...

I wish I could give you some sound examples, but main technically itna strong nahi hoon na... so phir kabhi- if you attend a personal class by me..!

Vaise ek baat kahoon.. main aksar TV/Film stars se kehti hoon.."ye log kya kya to advts. kar lete hain na- (remember M.S. Dhoni in mysore sandal soap :P)Dhyan Rakhna chahiye. I even tease them for this. But ab khud Voice-overs karte hain to pata lagta hai... Director jo kehta hai.. karna padta hai.. bOSS HUMSE BHI NAHI POOCHHTE -tUM VO KAROGE KYA?? Bas farmaan milta hai.." Saavi- wife ka chracter hai, bahu ki feel laana... aur maa.. uska role bhi hai.." Real life mein to bane nahi.. par karna padta hai.. That's profession u see..

Aur ab bas...'Voice-over par nibandh lekhan finish.. Good day!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A letter to Marwar...

A letter to Marwar...
From Home to another Home- who beats in my heart...Marwar!

Dear Marwar, How are you? With a hope that you are in best of your health and spirits... finally I have convinced myself to write to you. You must be thinking, 'why a letter to me today...? we haven't met since years..' Ya, I understand I haven't met you since years. But I guess the same guilt forces me to write to you today.

I remember, when I was in class H.K.G., Mamma Papa got me enrolled in city's best school- Modern school- an English medium convent. And you know what- I hated you then. I always took care that by no means I should speak Marwari in school. If 'gaon' had to be mentioned of, I spoke 'MARWAR' in such a spooky English tone that everybody thought -IT IS A MODERN VILLAGE!!(Imagine modern village.) In fact, when papa came to pick me up-I felt like.. "Papa, why do you speak marwari in my school?? What will my friends think?? Will they not find me 'Ganvaar'?? Huh.!. Papa never got good marks in English. So he wanted us to be such good at English that nobody is able to question. His thought got us into English English English. I mean, we children had to converse in English only. Further, English was compulsory in school too. So by any means my greatest way to be in touch with you was a mile away. Yaani angrezi ke chakkar mein marwari kam boli. But ya don't worry- English ke baad sabse zyada Marwari hi boli.

Fondest of my memories regarding you- come from my childhood. I guess I have been at your place twice or thrice. Summer holidays and a wedding! Ya,when I was young, there was a craze.. and if not craze.. a will to move to 'नानाणे- नाना का घर . नानी भाणो देई ... नाना पान लगाई... मैं खेलां ...and what not. But I guess with time everything changes. Your cousins are your competitors and lack of will creates gaps in visiting too. I think that's quite personal to share, but- I think nani always liked her male grandchildren more than me.. so even that created a question mark on my visits.

Recently, there were 2-3 weddings in the family that occurred at your place- Dalu Bhaiya, Sonu, renu jiji.. Somehow, even they didn't force and I guess I hve been busier than Bill Gates..! Earlier studies and now Job... they haven't given me time to visit you. This troubles me. my heart pains too. Papa says, "निकालो महीने भर रो time" and I say a no. No options you see. But I miss you.. I miss that टांके पर bath, बोर्टी री छाया , गाँव री रेत , बाड़ो , मोर रा पंख ... etc, etc.I miss you marwar.

Thanks to facebook. I liked 'पतासी काकी ' today itself and was overwhelmed to see what exists in 'मारवाड़ ' दादी रो लाड , ऊंटा री सवारी , बाजरे री रोटी , केर रो अचार , छत माथे सूणों, मतीरे रो साग .

However,I am sorry. I haven't visited you for more than 10 years just because of my prejudices.I know saying is not enough. But I seriously mean it... I will love you forever. I will definitely take up you in my life as much as I can... whether it be laapsi in food, ghaaghro in clothing, mojadi in foot or language.. BUt please forgive me!

And ya, sorry for writing in English. Actually, my expressions take a better leap in English. Hope you understand.

Thanks and regards
Saavi