Uzma Khateeb Nawaz: When was Media Menderz Production formed?
Hammad Hussain: We began operations in June 2024. We are Pakistan’s first voice acting training centre.

UKN: What prompted you to set up a voice acting training centre?
HH: I realised that there was no dedicated training institute where aspiring professionals could learn the craft of voice acting. Although many individuals have the talent and the potential, they often lack the required guidance to help them advance their careers in this field. At Media Menderz, we are driven by three core missions: to create awareness about the power of vocals; to help individuals become more expressive; and to expand the voice-over and dubbing segment by nurturing talent and providing people with opportunities. A common misconception is that a good voice is acquired naturally, but that is not the case. Most people can be trained to excel in dubbing and voice-overs – be it singing or acting. One of our goals is to demonstrate how everyday speech patterns are shaped by a person’s experiences. For example, people’s professions influence the way they speak – customer service professionals tend to speak in soft and polite tones, salespeople often speak quickly, and teachers generally project high-pitched voices. Backgrounds, personalities, and professions all impact vocal expression – and although we pay attention to our physical appearance, we often overlook the significance of our voices. At Media Menderz, we emphasise that no matter what career path you choose, your voice is a vital aspect of your personality – and with proper training, it can be refined and enhanced.

UKN: What is your background in this field?
HH: I have been involved in dubbing and voice-over projects for almost 15 years. I started as a dubbing artist for a character in the Turkish drama Mera Sultan and my major breakthrough voice role was in Kosem Sultan, as the lead voice actor for the character of Ahmet Sultan. I have also done many commercials and I am the ‘voice’ for multiple brands. I have worked in radio as well.

UKN: What was the biggest lesson that you learnt from your experience in voice acting?
HH: That without proper training, a voice-over artist remains a ‘mechanical’ performer – improving through practice rather than an understanding of vocal techniques. I learnt that although my voice pitch and delivery were improving, I lacked the technical insight to understand what was driving that improvement. For instance, the way we speak can be modified by using the voice resonators that are located in various parts of our bodies, be it the nose, chest or abdomen. Resonance is what gives the voice a rich, full quality, and it is shaped by vibrations in these areas. Interestingly, 90% of people rely on their throat to speak, unaware that the chest and abdomen play a crucial role in voice projection and resonance. These are just some of the things we teach in our classes.

UKN: Are you the primary trainer at Media Menderz?
HH: Yes, in addition to guest speakers with experience in dubbing and voice-over projects. So far, we have trained more than 50 people and currently 60 students are enrolled in our classes.

UKN: What training modules do you offer?
HH: We offer a three-month basic course which is held over weekends and comprises 24 two-hour classes. The course focuses on improving vocal skills and helps students understand how their voices can be used for dramas, narration, commercials, and animation. Our advanced course is a six-month programme to help students gain an in depth understanding of dubbing and voice-over techniques.

Our courses also focus on other functions, such as subtitling, script writing and editing. Through these courses, our students gain exposure, build their portfolio and develop a strong foundation in voice acting and production. We also offer courses to children aged from six to 15 to help them be more expressive. This is important because, given the amount of time that Gen Alpha spends on their phones, they have become socially withdrawn, and although they excel in understanding technology and using their minds, they often struggle with basic communication skills when it comes to face-to-face interaction.

UKN: What is the fee structure for your courses?
HH: We charge Rs 12,000 per month for both the basic and advanced courses. For children, it is Rs 10,000 per month. Within these fee structures, in addition to on-site training, we also organise visits to production houses, and guest lectures by senior dubbing and voice-over artists.

UKN: How have you promoted Media Menderz?
HH: We are focusing on social media, including Instagram and Facebook, as well as word-of mouth. We also organise free workshops to help potential students understand what our courses offer – we plan to hold workshops at schools, colleges and universities as well.

UKN: Do you facilitate your students in acquiring dubbing and voice-over projects after they complete their course?
HH: Definitely. Having been in this industry for so long, I am well-connected with production houses, and they are always looking for new voices. Once our students have completed their training, we arrange auditions for them at production houses, and many of them have already embarked on careers as voice-over artists.

UKN: What is the future of voice-over and dubbing
in Pakistan?
HH: Although it has grown with time, it remains largely untapped, and until 2010, dubbing was virtually non existent. However, today, eight to 10 production houses are working on projects that require dubbing and voice acting – as do channels that air dubbed content, such as Green Entertainment, Geo Entertainment, Hum TV and Aan TV. Korean, French and Spanish content present major opportunities in the voice over and dubbing business, although at the moment, the bulk of dubbing work revolves around Turkish content, followed by cartoons. The Kids Zone channel, for instance, solely airs content that has been dubbed in Urdu.

UKN: What are your future plans?
HH: We plan to open multiple branches in Karachi in addition to Islamabad and Lahore, as we have received positive feedback from these cities.

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