AI has also entered the dubbing industry, know how dangerous it is for artists in the industry

There was a time when people's introduction to cinema in other languages ​​was limited to select commercial-style Hollywood and South Indian films, which were dubbed in a special loud style on TV. But in the last few years, with cinema becoming pan-Indian and global, one genre whose demand has increased a lot is voice over i.e. dubbing. The work of voice over artists also increased a lot, because on one hand the number of Hollywood films reaching theaters after being dubbed in different languages ​​​​increased significantly, while many desi films also started releasing in languages ​​​​like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam along with Hindi. Then, on OTT you will find everything from Spanish Money Heist to Korean Skid Game dubbed in your language. Overall, the market for dubbing and dubbing artists has grown manifold in recent years, but now with the advent of AI, the wind of change has started blowing in this industry as well. On one hand, dubbing technology is improving with AI, while many have started dubbing through AI itself.

Now lips will move according to the language

Till now, in dubbed films, the actors used to say something and sounded something else. There was no coordination between their voice and their way of speaking, but now AI is ready to fill this gap. Local company Neural Garage has invented a software called Visual Dub, which will sync the actor's lip movements according to their voice. The company's co-founder and CEO Mandar Natekar said, 'Now when you watch a Telugu, Tamil or Hollywood film in Hindi, the voice is in Hindi, but the actor's lip movements are in the original language, which looks very strange. Our AI technology solves this problem. It changes the actor's lip movements in such a way that you will feel that he is speaking in Hindi. It matches our spoken visual expression with the audio of the dubbing. It is not only in Hindi, the actor will be seen speaking in English, Telugu, Korean, whichever language the dubbing has been done in.' Mandar says, 'This technology has started being used in advertising recently. Many big brands are using our technology for dubbing their advertisements. Many film studios are also testing it. He said, “We have signed an agreement with UFO Movies, which will make this technology available to everyone in the film industry. Therefore, in the next four-five months you will see our technology in big films. The special thing is that it dubs very fast. If a 10 or 30 second advertisement has to be dubbed in five languages, it will do it in half a day. There is no threat to anyone's job due to this, on the contrary, new jobs will be created. However, right now it is a little expensive, but as people start using it, its cost will go down.”

Danger for dubbing artistes

RJ Shagufta Baig, who has given voice to actresses like Kajal Aggarwal, Taapsee Pannu, Tamannaah, Shruti Hassan in many South films, tells about the discussion going on about AI in this industry, 'AI is just beginning, so there is not much impact on work, but there has definitely been a slight difference. It may increase in the future, this is also a fear. Well, to be honest, the emotions that we humans bring during dubbing, a robot can never do that completely. It can catch the texture of the voice, but not the subtle nuances (complex emotions). But it is definitely true that people are still confused about how much impact this technology is going to have on the industry. Be it voice artists, sound engineers, mixers, because there has been some impact. Rest, if the work decreases in the future, then the entire industry will be affected, but this will be known after a few years.'

How will AI convert emotions into sound?

On the other hand, actor Mohit Sinha, who has given voice to heroes in Hollywood films like Titanic, Hotel Mumbai, The Stolen Princess and Lion King, Ben Hur, The Irishman, says, 'AI is being used in dubbing advertisements, where only information has to be given. It has not had much impact in dubbing films, where emotions are required. I don't think the way we improvise and react on the spot can be done by a machine. For example, Pushpa's dialogue in Telugu 'Jhukega Nahi Saala' is something else, it became so popular because of the style given while dubbing it. AI will never be able to do this. It will translate the language exactly, whereas we do dubbing according to the emotion. As far as I know, those who used AI for such dubbing did not get that output, so right now it is being used only by corporates, where they only have to give information, no emotion is required. But no one can say anything about the future.' If the technology becomes better and cheaper in the future, then manufacturers will definitely adopt it. Therefore, it will have an impact in the coming time, for which we are mentally prepared.

It will make a difference

Right now AI has not made much difference in the dubbing of films. If the technology becomes better and cheaper in the future, then the makers will definitely adopt it. Therefore, it will definitely have an impact in the future, for which we are mentally prepared. – Mohit Sinha, Actor and Voice Over Artist

Everybody's work will be reduced

Right now people are confused about how much AI is going to affect the industry. If dubbing starts happening with AI, then everyone's work will be reduced, be it voice artists, sound engineers, mixers. – Shagufta Beg, RJ and voice over artist