The voice you can't tune out

Some voices can express emotions and feelings that even visuals can't convey. This is the story of the man known as the 'Golden Voice of India,' Pratap Sharma.

Pratap Sharma the man with a golden larynx; Image source: Wikipedia

There are voices you hear without ever looking at their faces- the enticing voices on radio, the voices in animated films and the voices of commentators. Most of the time when you are busy the voices become background noise and they fade away. However, there is one voice that you simply can't tune out. It was the voice of Pratap Singh, the man given the title of the Golden voice of India.

Partap Sharma was multi-faceted. He was an author, playwright, and the voice of India. He was an amalgamation of so many things. He was best known for his legendary English voiceovers in the country.

Partap was born on 12 December 1939 in Lahore, India (now in Pakistan). His father was a civil engineer who worked in the far off lands of Sri Lanka, Tanganyika and Libya, who later retired and took over his ancestral lands as a farmer. It was Partap's colourful and vibrant days in Punjab that inspired his novel, "Days of the Turban." It is the story of Balbir, the youngest in his family who is bored of living his life in Punjab and wishes to escape to far off lands. To raise the money, he gets involved with a group that smuggle guns. He is then held hostage by Sikh extremists in the Golden Temple where he would only be released when they are provided with the arms they require for their movement. The book showcases how extremists start as revolutionary but how they can quickly delve into terrorism.

His novels were truly unique and thought-provoking. However, it was his voice that stole the act. Partap has recorded audio CDs of Shakespeare's plays like Julius Caesar (2007), The Merchant of Venice (2007) and Macbeth (2008). Compliments poured in, not only from India but from all over the world.

CNN, on his audio of Macbeth, said "It comes as no surprise that the man with the golden voice needs no advertising or publicity for his work. Sharma, the man they call simply 'the voice' has voiced all the characters in the play, from the three witches to Macbeth himself – an aural treat."

Partap Sharma was considered 'God' by the radio commercial agents. He became the voice of almost every English commercial on Doordarshan. The viewers accepted his voice as the set voice of Doordarshan but for the commercial television industry of Bombay, Partap had an unmatched reputation. The head of Bombay's biggest advertising agency said his voice was incomparable and that there won't be anyone to match his voice for a long time.

He won many awards in numerous Festivals. He won the National Award for his lead role in 'Phir Bhi' in 1971; even the film won the National award for Best Hindi Film of the year. He died on November 30, 2011, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters- Namrita and Tara. Apart from them, he leaves behind the imprint of his golden voice that will continue to echo for eons.