There is always a buzz inside Antony Derick’s studio located on the busy Town Hall Road. It has become the new destination for filmmakers from Chennai. “I wanted to be the first person in the city to do dubbing in HD format and did not mind taking the risk,” he says.
Earlier film makers refrained from spending on voice dubbing and usually completed it in local studios. But ever since Derick set up his professional space, Madurai has become the hub. So far 70 Tamil and one Telugu films have completed the dubbing here. “We have also done songs and re-recording in addition to voice dubbing for four Tamil flicks,” he says.
Derick took the HD route to record voices as he was not satisfied with the existing Firewire and USB audio interfaces. “Earlier voices were recorded in Analog format wherein there was better clarity but some electrical disturbances crept in. Though Firewire and USB formats greatly reduced the disturbance, voice and music clarity took a beating as they were recorded in polyphonic tones,” explains Derick. “In HD format, the voice depth equals to the original,” he adds.
Derick had to struggle initially to find technicians in Madurai. Each time he flew down people from Chennai to complete the work. Then, he imported a few from Chennai to have his own full-fledged team of dubbing artistes and music instrument players. “Playing for live bands is different because you have the freedom to improvise and experiment on stage. But in recording studios you have to work within a framework and strictly follow the notes given by the music composer. Identifying such instrument players was tough,” he says.
Derick was born in a family of musicians in Madurai. His grandfather John was a harmonium and tabla player. His uncle played the saxophone and his brother is a violinist, who also plays the clarinet and the trumpet. Another relative had an orchestra. “Only my father was the odd man out as a sanitary inspector,” he says. But getting exposed to sounds happened all the time at home.
As a child his toys were microphones and radio sets. “My father always encouraged me to experiment with the electronic gadgets at home. I was attracted more to the sound than music. During festivals I would permanently be with the man operating the public address system,” he chuckles.
After his initial education in Tiruchi, Derick left for Chennai to learn digital sound. A job brought him back to Madurai.
Derick set up the studio in 2000 but struggled to get projects. Initially, he recorded devotional songs and ad films. It took him almost seven years to arrive with the first movie that he worked on -- Paruthiveeran . “More than 30 transgenders were in my studio belting out the hit number Oororam Puliyamaram ,” he says.
Offers poured in thereafter. For Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu , full voice dubbing was done in his studio. Adukalam took more than three months with Vikram Sugumaran monitoring the Tamil portion and the film director Vetrimaran looking after the English dialogues. “We were so happy when the film won national award,” says Derick.
He has lso done Tamil television serials for Singapore and Malaysia. “I have cleared the quality standards and did the sound mixing for the serial Natchathira Marmam .”
At present, Derick is in the process of developing a new 7.1 channel DTS recording studio in the city. “I don’t mind spending for the passion I have nurtured from childhood,” he says.
MOVIES HE WORKED ON:
Paruthiveeran , Adukalam , Kaadhal , Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu , Konjam Veyil Konjam Mazhai , Manjapai , Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam , Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai Madhayaanai Kootam, Porkuthirai (Telugu), Merku Thodarchi Malai (yet to release).
TELESERIALS:
Madura, Nathaswaram, Kalathu Veedu (yet to go on air)
