Voicing history

The much-awaited Kochi Metro, which is expected to make its first journey in March next this year, will have some familiar voices making the announcements for its passengers. In Malayalam, playback singer and a four-time state award winning dubbing artist Vimmy Mariam George will give the usual announcements while the voice of Balakrishnan Periya will alert the commuters during emergencies. There will be messages and announcements in three languages with renowned Doordarshan news anchor of yesteryear Rini Simon Khanna and dubbing artist Inder Mishra making the English announcements. Their recorded announcements and directions in Kochi Metro Rail will be broadcast at the Metro Stations and in the train. The announcements will be made while approaching stations and will include safety precautions and other directions for Kochi Metro, officials said. Incidentally, both Vimmy and Balakrishnan were colleagues for a few years at UAQ Radio, a Sharjah based radio station from 2000 where they used to host a number of super hit radio shows.

“I am so happy that I can be a part of the history of the the first metro in the state by lending my voice. Of course it is a proud moment for me. Having done jingles and ads for radio, television and films, and dubbed in films it’s a thrill to alert our valuable commuters travelling in Kochi Metro,” said Vimmy Mariam George is now settled in Bengaluru. The Kottayam native started her career in 1996 and switched to films as a dubbing artist in 2007 with Renjith’s Kayiyyopp by giving voice to Khusboo which bagged her an award for best dubbing artist She went on to repeat the achievement with Nidra and Munnarippu. She recently did her 137th dubbing in Vilakkumaram for Bhavana. “This is one of the happiest moments in my life since I too get to be a part of the history. I will be able to gauge the success of this feat only through public’s reaction," said Balakrishnan Periya. A native of Periya near Kasargod, he came to Kochi as a student of Kerala Press Academy in 1999. After a stint with Gulf Radio he returned here and is now running an ad agency besides doing a popular show with All Indian Radio.