Dubbing artist RCM Raju, known for his impeccable performances be it in Kalki 2898 AD or the latest Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes speaks to The Pioneer about voicing for character of Rakaa, the challenge of being the voice of an ape and more.
Aarti Sreenath
A Nandi Award-winning dubbing artist with a career spanning over two decades, RCM Raju has brought countless characters to life across various genres and languages. His recent role as Rakaa in Disney’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes has once again highlighted his exceptional talent and creative prowess. We had the pleasure of delving into Raju’s experiences and insights about this unique project.
“Rakaa is a truly remarkable character,” the Rangasthalam voice artist begins. “I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Disney for entrusting me with this role. Dubbing Rakaa was an extraordinary experience, particularly due to the unconventional approach required for this character.”
Raju explains that the primary challenge was adapting to a form of Telugu that deviated from grammatical norms. “The direction I received was to use a non-standard, almost haphazard form of Telugu. This was a departure from my usual practice, where I adhere to proper grammatical structures. Breaking these rules and delivering Rakaa’s dialogue in a fragmented,
less formal style was both a challenge and a novel experience for me.”
The complexity of Rakaa’s character, he says, extends beyond his dialogue. “In typical dubbing roles, my focus is on ‘Satvika Abhinayam’, which involves subtle emotional expressions as per Natya Shastra. For Rakaa, synchronising these expressions was particularly challenging because he is an ape, not a human. This required a different approach, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the dubbing process. But despite the challenges, it was a highly rewarding experience.”
When discussing his preparation for Rakaa, he reflects on the distinctiveness of the role. “My usual roles often involve villains who are aggressive and intense. Rakaa, however, is a character defined by his helpfulness and wisdom. He supports Caesar’s ideology and embodies a blend of seriousness and humour. For example, there’s a humorous scene where Rakaa contrasts human and ape attributes in a light-hearted way.”
The man behind Ashwathama’s voice notes that Rakaa’s character was both inspiring and emotionally complex. “One of the most poignant scenes is when Rakaa sacrifices himself to save the heroine. This act of bravery and selflessness was deeply moving. Rakaa is a character who believes in the greater good, and his sacrifice at the waterfall scene reflects his unwavering commitment to this principle.”
The integration of digital effects and voice acting presents its own set of challenges. He provides insight into how he balanced his performance with the film’s visual elements. “In high-tech films like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the visuals are often completed after the voice work. This means that I had to adapt my performance to align with the final animation. Even though the visuals were not fully rendered during my dubbing sessions, I had to ensure my voice matched the character’s movements and emotions.”
His extensive experience in dubbing has equipped him with the skills to navigate such challenges. “Having worked on over a thousand films, I’m accustomed to adapting my performance based on the visual context. The final animation and emotional depth added by the graphics were critical in shaping my vocal delivery.”
He reflects on some of his favourite moments as Rakaa. “One scene that stands out is Rakaa’s sacrifice to save the heroine. It’s a powerful, emotional moment that highlights his bravery and selflessness. I also enjoyed the sequence where Rakaa humorously comments on human and ape traits while sitting on a horse. These moments made Rakaa a deeply impactful character.”
He further expresses, “I would love to play Rakaa again if the opportunity arises. The role was a significant and fulfilling part of my career and I’m eager to explore more such impactful characters. The blend of digital effects and human performances in this film has set a high bar and I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to similar innovative projects in the future.”
Going ahead in this chat, he shared his reflections on his career, including that of his role in Kalki 2898 AD, where he voiced the character of Ashwatama. “It was an honour to lend my voice to such a prominent character, especially given that Amitabh Bachchan also voiced a character in the film. Playing Ashwathama was a significant opportunity for me and receiving feedback that my performance was comparable to Bachchan’s was a tremendous compliment.”
He concludes with a broader perspective on his work. “Voice acting is a deeply immersive experience for me. I approach each role with the mindset of ‘If I were the character,’ which helps me bring authenticity to my performances. Whether it’s for a digital character like Rakaa or a mythological figure like Ashwathama, my goal is always to create a performance that resonates with the audience.”
