Mohanlal's experiments on the minute nuances of vocal expression with that dexterous ease is just magical. Photo: ManoramaWhat makes Mohanlal so special? Is it those eyes or that easy body language that adapts so well? Or is it his voice, the bass and quiver of it, the tremble and tenor? Or is it the entirety, the overflowing essence of being a holistic artist.
What perhaps defines Mohanlal as one of the most prodigious and versatile of artistes is his skills as a dubbing artist.
Vellanakalude Nadu: It's unbelievable how he re-produced the irritated outburst (5.14'') in the dubbing studio
The man has a firm grip on voice modulation, spanning across a stunningly wide range, and his exploration of the minute nuances of vocal expression with that dexterous ease is just magical.
Kireedom: It is one of the masterpieces in Malayalam. The wailing scene (5.35'' onwards) is a classic one
It is not just the meticulous dialogue delivery but his ability to produce the inarticulate and illegible vocal expressions that occupy our everyday life that sets him apart. His unparalleled mastery over his voice is that personalized magic he induces for that enviable, uncanny perfection into everything about him.
Bharatham: Mohanlal had maintained a uniform low-pitch tone throughout his dialogues in the film
Even for a seasoned actor, dubbing the way Mohanlal does it, would be an uphill task or even impossible. His long-winding dialogues, an all-time favorite among the mimicry artists, could possibly be mimicked, but not his artistic, subtle intonations.
Minnaram: A hilarious scene where Mohanlal has to produce high-octane pranks is a testimony to his artistic skills in dubbing
Gimmicks, pranks, hectors, hoots, shouts, laughs, pants and groans... he reproduces them all, apart from his dialogues, and what makes him a real wonder is the fact that he does them in the soundproof confines of a recording studio.
Kilukkam: The movie is a mesmerizing watch for its through and through comedy.
So powerful and perfect are his acting skills that he makes it nearly impossible to imagine his immortal scenes, sans his voice.
The tone of a rogue feudal lord is maintained throughout the cult film that had elevated Mohanlal to the superhero status.
If you would still like to make an attempt, the best way to enjoy his dubbing stints is by listening to his dialogues, imagining that you are in a studio listening to him dubbing them.
Namukkuparkkan Munthirithoppukal: Mohanlal was at his romantic best and his voice was dense with the tender emotions in the the dialogues (2.22'')
Selecting a few instances of the veteran actor's dubbing skills will be a daunting task since almost all his films are testimony to his exceptional talent. Yet, some of them are listed here.
