Roshan Abbas on partnering with Netflix to disrupt the dubbing space in India

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Roshan Abbas, Founder of Kommune, sheds light on the impactful collaboration between Netflix India and Kommune for the third edition of ‘Voices of Tomorrow’ (VOT), a pioneering program under the Voice Equity Project. As India’s only professional initiative dedicated to diversifying the dubbing industry, ‘Voices of Tomorrow’ works to uplift and represent voice talent from historically underrepresented groups, specifically adults over 45 and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

During the discussion, Abbas shares insights into the journey and evolution of the program, from its inception to its third edition, and how it aims to break barriers in media by promoting inclusivity. This year’s edition continues to refine the training curriculum, introducing industry-focused skill-building and expanding the outreach to create authentic, relatable voices in entertainment. Through its collaboration with Netflix, VOT is setting new standards for inclusivity in dubbing, ensuring that the voices audiences hear on screen mirror the diversity of India.

Netflix is a major player in global entertainment. How did the collaboration with Netflix India for Voices of Tomorrow come about, and how does working with such a platform raise the bar for voice talent while supporting the initiative’s mission of promoting inclusivity in the dubbing industry?

Netflix came to us three years ago with a unique problem. They said they wanted to increase the pool of voices in dubbing as well as make the space more inclusive. Several calls and brainstorming sessions later, we came up with a model that we thought worked for the pilot project. The edition was a success and we’re currently working on the 3rd edition of the program. Working with a brand like Netflix on such a project ensures that the quality of the voices we pick as well as the training imparted is of the highest standard possible. We’re proud to have added several new voices (and counting) to the dubbing pool in the industry.

As OTT platforms like Netflix expand their content in regional languages, how is ‘Voices of Tomorrow’ meeting the growing demand for diverse and inclusive voices? How do you see this trend shaping the future of dubbing in India?

With an increased consumption of movies across regions and languages, the demand for dubbed content is only increasing each day. Netflix dubs content in 34 languages worldwide. So, the primary thing that a project like Voices of Tomorrow does is create a pathway for people to take up dubbing as a viable career option. It not only shows people a path, but also it trains them and gives them a head start into taking dubbing up. With so much cross-pollination of films and TV shows across regions and languages, projects like Voices of Tomorrow will actively fill the gap of watching content in your preferred language, that too while being dubbed by diverse voices.

How has the response been from previous editions of Voices of Tomorrow in terms of participant growth and industry recognition? Have any success stories emerged that highlight the impact of the initiative on the dubbing industry?

Like any other industry, individuals have to start small and work their way up the ladder. As a mandate, we have trackers in place to track the progress of each individual and gauge how many auditions and projects they bag. We also do group calls with the batch after the completion of the project to check their progress and address any problems that they might be facing. Several of our participants have been working actively with dubbing studios – dubbing characters, doing crowd dubs, and even working in translation.

What distinguishes this edition of ‘Voices of Tomorrow’ from the previous ones? Are there new features or focus areas that have been introduced this year to further enhance inclusivity in the dubbing space?

In the first edition, the cohorts we worked with were kids and individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community. In the second and current edition, we are working with individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community and senior adults. Each year we tweak the processes a bit based on our learnings to make it easier and more inclusive. We had an additional layer of entry in the last edition, where people had to upload a voice test before being called for an in-studio audition. This year we removed that layer considering people who don’t have access to such technology or struggle with it aren’t restricted from applying. Last year, we conducted auditions on 3 back-to-back days. This year, we spread them across 3 weeks ensuring that maximum people could apply. The idea behind any successful model is also to repeat success. So, that’s our aim for future editions as well.

Reflecting on the previous editions of ‘Voices of Tomorrow’, what have been the most impactful feedback or outcomes from participants, particularly from LGBTQIA+ individuals and those over 45?

This is an evolving project. Each year we change it to get better results. So, feedback from previous batches is one of the most important pieces of information for us. In the first phase, we only trained participants and introduced them to the studios. But we realized that it was important to track their progress, so that's something that we incorporated into the next edition. We have even changed the way we approach training after having conversations with the participants. We are constantly in touch with the participants, taking their concerns to the studios and Netflix.

What’s different about the curriculum or training focus this year, and how are you tailoring it to ensure the participants are well-prepared to meet industry demands and expectations from platforms like Netflix?

Like with other things, the curriculum has evolved across the editions too. We added vocal training in addition to dubbing training in the second edition. This year, we have a collaborative week with both trainers, which will smoothen the transition for the participants. We have also added an industry training week, which will include guest lectures from industry veterans.

Have you seen a shift in industry perception or opportunities for participants since the earlier editions? How does this edition seek to push the boundaries further?

We have gradually seen an increased inclination overtime on the part of studios to call our participants for auditions. Our objective is to select quality voices and to train them to the best of their ability. In doing so, the studios have recognised the skills and potential of the participants. This time around, in the industry training week– we’re planning to invite studio heads and dubbing directors to talk to the participants about stuff like networking and soft skill building- which will only help the participants get more opportunities.

How does this approach help create a more authentic and relatable media landscape, especially for underrepresented groups like the LGBTQIA+ community and seniors?

By making sure more individuals from underrepresented communities are becoming a part of the dubbing landscape, will make way for more authentic casting to happen. Characters will sound more realistic and there will be a bigger pool for the studios to pick talent from. It also makes the industry more open and sensitive and creates a pathway for people from diverse backgrounds.

The program has partnered with queer collectives, NGOs, and talent agencies to create outreach opportunities. How do these collaborations help build a strong support network for participants, and what impact do they have on nurturing diverse talent?

When we reach out to participants via collectives, NGOs and talent agencies, we achieve several things. These organizations know their community the best, and so even before we reach out to members of the community- the organizations can help us preempt the concerns that the community might have and help us solve the best way to disseminate any piece of information. The organizations also create a sense of trust in the minds of the participants while applying since they have a long-standing relationship with them. And finally, it allows us to adopt a more targeted approach to outreach, ensuring the artistic community is being reached out to and that quality voices are applying for the program.

What are the broader goals for this edition in terms of participant success and the long-term transformation of the dubbing industry?

Currently, we’re in the phase of finalizing participants and beginning the training. Our goal continues to be training the participants well in voice training, dubbing training as well as soft skills training. We want this program to be a medium for people to unlock their potential, look at dubbing as a viable career option, and express themselves through their voices.

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