Satyajit Ray’s voice to be dubbed with help of an AI in Srijit’s ‘Padatik’

Breaking new grounds in Bengali cinema, director Srijit Mukherji will be pushing the boundaries by using artificial intelligence (AI) in the voice dubbing process of his upcoming film ‘Padatik’ a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen.

The film is slated to release on the latter’s 101st birth anniversary. Bangladeshi actor Chanchal Chowdhury will be seen essaying the auteur’s role, while actor Jeetu Kamal, known for his previous portrayal of Ray in Anik Dutta's film ‘Aparajito’ will reprise Satyajit Ray’s role.

Unlike traditional dubbing, Srijit is using AI for Ray’s voice, beginning with scratch dubbing and then infusing it with a sample of Satyajit Ray's voice. The Ray family has granted their approval for this innovative approach. This move aligns with the growing trend of artificial intelligence's popularity. Music director AR Rahman also used AI to recreate the voices of the late singers Bamba Bankya and Shahul Hameed in Rajnikanth’s movie ‘Lal Salaam’.

Srijit's use of AI in Bengali cinema not only signifies a significant leap in technological advancements but also opens the door for potential future uses of AI. This approach could become a powerful tool in creating biopics or periodical dramas.