In the eighties and nineties, sisters Ambika and Radha would have the same voice in the Tamil movies they acted. This was courtesy dubbing artist Durga Sundararajan.
Durga Sundararajan, who was a prominent dubbing artist in the Tamil industry for years, is now being talked about a lot in Kerala.
This after director Fazil disclosed that she was the one who had dubbed for Shobana in her role as ‘Nagavalli’ in the iconic Malayalam movie ‘Manichitrathaazhu’.
Vidamaate? Vidamaate? Apo ne enne engeyum poka vidamaate?
Most movie lovers in Kerala always believed that famous dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi was behind the menacing dialogue delivered by Shobana who played the role of Naagavalli, a court danseuse and the resident ghost in the movie. Infact, it seems even Bhagyalakshmi believed so!
Now 23 years after the movie was made, Fazil in a write up "Ormapookal" for Malayalam magazine Manorama weekly said, “Bhagyalakshmi dubbed for Sobhana's character Ganga in the movie Manichitrathazhu, and it was she who dubbedfor the character Nagavalli initially. But later Shekhar sir and others noticed similarities in the voice and pronunciation of words by Ganga and Nagavalli and. So, the part of Nagavalli was later dubbed by Tamil dubbing artist Durga. However, we forgot to inform it to Bhagylakshmi then and for years she believed she gave voice-over for the hit dialogue," writes Fazil.
The movie was a milestone in Malayalam cinema and Shobana went on to win the national award for her portrayal of two characters, Ganga and Nagavalli, in the movie.
Bhagyalakshmi reacts to controversy- Read here.
Durga Sundarrajan is married to S Sundarrajan, a Tamil actor and director.
If Bhagyalakshmi had basked in the glory of having been Nagavalli’s voice, Durga it seems felt left out. In an interview to Radio Mango 91.9, she said that she had not even been informed when Shobana received the national award. The graceful artist however was happy that she had finally got some recognition.
Tsk Tsk, 23 years too late Fazil sir?