''TAMANNAAH'S BEEN TELLING HER DIRECTORS TO USE MY SERVICES''

In the recently released film Devi, one aspect that stood out among many other things was Tamannaah’s voice and her impeccable dialogue delivery. The young girl who is responsible for this is singer and voice over artist M M Manasi. We catch up with the talented young lady.

How did it all begin?
I was born and raised in Mumbai. I am basically a trained Hindustani music vocalist. I came to Chennai along with my parents to pursue music and dubbing was never in the plan.
While singing for a film called Nirnayam, director S S Saravanan liked my voice and wondered if I could dub for the heroine Regina Cassandra. I readily agreed as I like experimenting with my voice. I dubbed for her, but eventually the film that got released first with my voice was Idharkuthaanae Aasaipattai Balakumara where I spoke for Swathi Reddy.

Movies/artists dubbed
I have dubbed for Swathi Reddy in Vadacurry. My first big movie was Anjaan for Samantha. Post this, I dubbed for Hansika in Meaghaman and then for Nikki Galrani in Darling and Velainnu Vandhutta Vellakaaran. I have spoken for Nazriya in Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah, for Bindu Madhavi in Savalae Samali, Jackson Durai and Thamizhukku Enn Ondrai Azhuthavum, for Lakshmi Menon in Mirudhan, for Kajal Agarwal in Maari, for Regina Cassandra in Maanagaram, for Nanditha Swetha in Nenjam Marappathillai and for Kamalini Mukherjee in Iraivi. I have lent my voice for Amy Jackson in Thanga Magan- Telugu, for Nayanthara in Telugu Iru Mugan. 

Tamannaah and the big break
My biggest milestone as regards dubbing is easily Baahubali where I dubbed for Tamannaah and then followed it up with Thozha, Dharmadurai and Devi.

Tamannaah in her recent interaction about her roles in various films had mentioned about me which is actually a nice gesture on her part. She even mentioned that I am a singer. She has been telling her directors to use my voice. It’s kind of attaching to a brand and I am very grateful to her for this. At the end of the day, when artists themselves recognize our work, there is nothing like it.

Voice variations

Thanks to Tamannaah and her roles, I have been really able to do a lot in terms of bringing in variations and experimenting. For Baahubali, I had to throw in on a baritone because Tamannaah’s character Avantika was a warrior woman. For Thozha, I had to maintain a tone of a sophisticated corporate woman. In Dharmadurai, my voice had to be that of a gentle village woman turning out as an independent professional. In Devi, I play two characters, so voice had to be different.

Trisha
I dubbed for Trisha in Kodi which is a Diwali release. She had apparently tweeted about my voice.

Challenges in dubbing
Baahubali was one film where my voice was way out my character. I am generally known for having a basal voice. I had to go three or more times the voice I usually use. The exact opposite was Radha Mohan sir’s Uppu Karuvadu where I spoke for Nanditha Swetha. She played two characters, an insane and a sane one, the insane being the actual character of the lady. She had to be screechy, that was way out of my character. People still don’t know I dubbed for this role.

Songs
I have sung almost 75 songs till date in Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. My hits have been Stylish Thamizhachi from Ajith’s Arrambam, Kattikida from Anirudh’s Kaaki Sattai, Aattakkaari Maaman Ponnu from Raja sir’s 1000th film Tharai Thappattai.

I also debuted in Bollywood with Daddy Mummy number in Bhaag Johnny under DSP music. The song is a huge hit and is being played in many radio stations.

Singing or dubbing?
Singing is my primary career, but dubbing is really catching up now for me. I want to balance both dubbing and singing.

We are sure you are going to balance both Manasi!

Wish you the best!

Jyothsna Bhavanishankar

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