Kawoosahamad: added first entry w/ infobox

2026-02-14T09:38:50Z

added first entry w/ infobox

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{{Short description|News anchor and entrepreneur}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shammi Narang
| image = Shammi Narang's Profile Image.jpg
| image_size = 220px
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[India]]
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| known_for = News Presenter and Voice of [[Delhi Metro]]
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'''Shammi Narang''' is an Indian media personality, [[Voice acting|voice-over artist]], [[News presenter|ex news anchor]] and entrepreneur based in [[Delhi]].<ref name=Harmony>{{cite news |url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=15535 |title=The news, according to... |date=April 2011 |last=Nair |first=Dhanya Sankar |work=harmonyindia.org}}</ref> Graduating with an engineering degree,<ref name=Mike>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/08/stories/2009080852590600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707103437/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/08/stories/2009080852590600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2011 |title=Hello! Mike testing 1,2,3,4 |last=Zaman |first=Rana Siddique |date=8 August 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Narang first got into the voice-over profession by working in the [[Hindi]] division of [[Voice of America]].<ref name=Always>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Shammi-Narang-Always-in-the-news/articleshow/34698028.cms |title=Shammi Narang: Always in the news |date=17 January 2003 |last=Singh |first=Harneet |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Later he was selected from among 10,000 candidates into [[Doordarshan]], which was then the only channel in India,<ref name=Always/> and became the 'face of Doordarshan news reading' and Indian Television in general during the 1970s – 80s.<ref name=Mike/> His rendering of ''Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani'' has become the voice of [[Sikh]]s globally as well.<ref name=Harmony/>

After the advent of [[satellite television]], Narang left the channel and instead started training upcoming and budding news anchors, journalists, voice-over artists and emcees.<ref name=Mike/>

All [[Hindi]] in-train and in-station voice messages and announcements of the [[Delhi Metro]], [[Rapid Metro Gurgaon]], [[Mumbai Metro]], [[Bangalore Metro]], [[Jaipur Metro]] and the [[Hyderabad Metro Rail]] are recorded in Narang's voice.<ref name=Mike/> Narang is also the director of Delhi-based Pindrop Media Group.<ref name=Mike/>

==Early life and education==
Narang's grandfather was a Sikh belonging to the [[Indian Armed Forces]] and originally of [[Lahnda]] origin.<ref name=Mike/> His father served the [[Indian Army]].<ref name=Mike/> Narang graduated with an engineering degree from YMCA, Faridabad and was motivated by his father to indulge in hobbies such as [[Motorcycle stunt riding|stunt riding]].<ref name=Mike/> He worked as a stunt rider for ''Escorts''.<ref name=Mike/> Narang is also a 'semi-trained' singer.<ref name=Mike/>

==Personal life==
Narang is married to Dolly Narang, who hails from [[Chandigarh]].<ref name=Food>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/10/01/stories/2009100150500400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110043107/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/10/01/stories/2009100150500400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=Cooking stories and food! |last=Zaman |first=Rana Siddique |date=1 October 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Dolly is a disciple of music composer [[Jaidev]] and gives [[Ghazal]] performances.<ref name=Events>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2132927.ece |title=Ghazal concert |date=25 June 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The couple have a son and live in [[South Delhi]].<ref name=Mike/>

==Pre Doordarshan days==
Narang made his foray into the [[voice-over]] industry with [[Voice of America]]. Flanager, a [[technical director]] of the [[United States Information Agency|United States Information Service]] (Delhi), spotted Narang in the then-newly built [[Indian Institute of Technology Delhi|IIT, Delhi]] campus auditorium and asked Narang to assist him in his sound testing. Flanager saw the potential in Narang's voice, and promptly referred Narang to Shastri, a Hindi scholar,<ref name=Mike/> who groomed Narang to take over the Hindi division of Voice of America.<ref name=Tribune>{{cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080623/cth2.htm |title=Narang talks on voice modulation |date=22 June 2008 |author=Tribune News Service |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]}}</ref> After his post graduation, he joined [[Larsen & Toubro]] as a marketing professional and was working there for a while.<ref name=Mike/> Later, his love for adventure made him join ''Escorts'' as a stunt rider, inspired by [[Rishi Kapoor]], a character from the film ''[[Bobby (1973 film)|Bobby]]''. While at it, he had an accident in the late 1980s which is the reason behind his misshapen nose.<ref name=Mike/>

==With Doordarshan==
In 1982, Narang attended the auditions for selection into Doordarshan in a T-shirt and tattered jeans, where he had to compete with around 10,000 aspirants. [https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010830/nation.htm Devki Nandan Pandey], a veteran news broadcaster, praised his performance.<ref name=Mike/> Then started his 20-year association with the channel. Narang developed a style for himself, with his baritone of a voice.<ref name=Always/> With the newscasts of those days having significantly fewer visuals and more of impersonal, restrained vocal illustrations,<ref name=Divas/> Narang became 'the face of Doordarshan news reading'<ref name=Mike/> with his correctness in pronunciation and diction.<ref name=Always/> People even regarded news readers to be powerful enough to influence the Government for them.<ref name=Divas/> Narang recalled once, in an interview, an incident after he had read out a new pension scheme for ex-servicemen, wherein an elderly [[havaldar]] had turned up at his door two days later, pleading him to update his pension scheme.<ref name=Harmony/> Referring to the allegations on the then newscasters of reading out lies in favour of the Government, Narang said that they don't read lies, but just hid the truth.<ref name=Divas>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/The-Doordarshan-Divas/articleshow/2677780.cms |title=The Doordarshan Divas |last=Ghosh |first=Avijit |date=6 January 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

Doordarshan lost its acclaimed spot after cable and satellite television entered India as it just couldn't stand the competition, with its refusal to adapt to the age of live telecasts.<ref name=Pioneer>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/206678/SMALLSCREEN/SMALLSCREEN.html |title=Does life begin or end at 50? |last=Mitra |first=Chandan |date=22 June 2011 |work=[[The Pioneer (Indian newspaper)|The Pioneer]]}}</ref> The crews in the competing channels were also comparatively younger, as against the predominantly middle aged Doordarshan crowd.<ref name=Pioneer/> Initially regarded as an expensive novelty, cable television gradually picked up, eventually pushing Doordarshan to become a 'dull-as-ditchwater propaganda machine' of the Government, despite initiatives taken by its professional Directors General.<ref name=Pioneer/> With the trend then demanding the old [[news presenter|newsreaders]] to switch to the roles of [[News presenter|news anchors]], not many were able to adapt and instead changed their pursuits. Referring to this, Narang said that he would have been a misfit in the current era.<ref name=Divas/> On the current scene, Narang observed that it has become 'trivialised' and added that 'the young reporters, fresh out of college, in vogue now would be good in interviewing filmstars but wouldn't be an appropriate choice before Dr Karan Singh or Manmohan Singh.'<ref name=Divas/>

==After Doordarshan==
Narang switched to doing voice-overs and compering shows post Doordarshan. He has done theatre with artists like [https://web.archive.org/web/20080227222818/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022360890300.htm Sheila Bhatia].<ref name=Mike/> Narang has been compering the [[Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Awards|Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Awards ceremony]] since its inception in 1997.<ref name=Voiceover>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/voice-over/609178/ |title=Voice Over |last=Mathur |first=Siddhartha |date=12 April 2010 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] }}</ref> In 1998, Narang founded Studio Pindrop, Delhi's first digital recording studio, which is popular among voice over artists and musicians.<ref name=Mike/> He is also a visiting faculty at MADarts,<ref name=Tribune/> [[Jaspal Bhatti]]'s film school, and has done voice-overs for its award-winning two-minute animation film, ''Nanhi Chidiya''.<ref name=Chidiya>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/heres-to-you-girl/433094/ |title=Here's to you girl! |last=Bhatia |first=Sheveta |date=10 March 2009 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> He has lent his voice to the audio guides on heritage monuments in [[Jaipur]], [[Jodhpur]], [[Bikaner]] and [[Mysore]].<ref name=Mike/> He also compered the [[Guinness Book of World Records|Guinness record breaking]] tea party in [[Indore]].<ref name=Tea>{{cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indore-stages-largest-tea-party-enters-guinness_1152798 |title=Indore stages largest tea party enters Guinness |last=Jha |first=Paras K |date=25 February 2008 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]] }}</ref> Narang was in one of the four two-member teams that undertook a journey from [[Delhi]] to [[Haridwar]] as part of the TV show, ''Be Positive'', that was on air on Pragya TV, a spiritual lifestyle channel.<ref name=BP>{{cite news |url=http://www.merinews.com/article/be-positive-the-mantra-of-success-on-pragya/130107.shtml |title=Be Positive : the mantra of success on Pragya |last=Ghausia |first=Afroz |date=11 February 2008 |website=www.merinews.com }}</ref> The Jai Ha! campaign of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] during the 2009 elections used [[Kaka Hathrasi| Kaka Hathrasi's]] satirical jingles sung by Narang.<ref name=Jai>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jai-ha-campaign-bjp-turns-to-kaka-hathrasis-satire/435883/2 |title=Jai Ha! campaign : BJP turns to Kaka Hathrasi's satire |last=Jha |first=Shobhana K/ Suman K |date=18 March 2009 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> On the potential of the voice-over industry, Narang spoke in an interview that 'voice is the biggest asset of communication'<ref name=Tribune/> and it can get one a very decent pay even at the starting level.<ref name=HT>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/More-on-voice-artists/Article1-373256.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118004740/http://www.hindustantimes.com/More-on-voice-artists/Article1-373256.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2011 |title=More on voice artists |last=Purkayastha |first=Damini |date=31 January 2009 |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> He noted the importance of a good and clear voice. He believes that everyone is capable of voice modulation, though one realises it only in front of a camera or microphone.<ref name=Tribune/> He recommends a 3-minute recitation session of 'Om' everyday, steaming the throat without gargling, yoga, meditation and avoiding abusive language for a deep and young voice.<ref name=Mike/> He is the male voice with a deep baritone that guides the passengers on the do's and don'ts and the Hindi version of the courteous ''[[Mind the gap|'Please mind the gap!']]'' announcements<ref name=Mind>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/85550/ |title=Mind the negativism, please |last=Kapoor |first=Coomi|author-link=Coomi Kapoor |date=9 January 2006 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> inside the [[Delhi Metro]] trains everyday and night.<ref name=Metre>{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/feb/020210-Metro-Rail-Technical-glitch-Rajiv-Chowk.htm |title=This train won't stop at Rajiv Chowk. Please mind the gap |last=Salman |first=Mohd. |date=2 February 2010 |work=[[MiD DAY]]}}</ref> He has composed music for a number of ad films, like [[Tata Tea| Tata Tea's]] ''Na jaane kya rishta''.<ref name=Always/> He was also seen in a couple of films.<ref name=Mike/>

In an interview with NDTV on the occasion of Hindi day in 2016, Mr Narang expressed that Hindi learning should not become a burden for the young generation. He suggested that the difficult and rare words that are not in use in our day-to-day life should be replaced by common, simple words.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/india/hindi-diwas-exclusive-interview-with-shammi-narang-1458510 |title=Hindi Diwas: Exclusive interview with Shammi Narang |work=NDTV |year=2016 |access-date=2017-04-11}}</ref>

In 2021, he appeared in an episode of ''TV Newsance'' by [[Newslaundry]] titled "''History of TV News | 75th #IndependenceDay Special TV Newsance Episode 143''".<ref>{{Citation|title=History of TV News {{!}} 75th #IndependenceDay Special TV Newsance Episode 143|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ec1ERZDSwY|language=en|access-date=2021-08-15}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Dubbing (filmmaking)]]
*[[List of Indian Dubbing Artists]]

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+
! Year !! Title !! Language !! Role
|-
| 1986 || ''Uttejna'' || Hindi || Lead role<ref name=Film>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/02/21/stories/2004022100350200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110043225/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/02/21/stories/2004022100350200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=Bollywood sojourn of Shammi |last=K |first=Kannan |date=21 February 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Maqbool]]'' || Hindi || Mr.Vikas Bhosle<ref name=Film/><ref>{{IMDb name|1797087}}</ref>
|-
| 2005 || ''Sahibzade: A Saga of Valour and Sacrifice'' (2D animation film) || [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] || Voice over<ref name=Sahib>{{cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051106/spectrum/main2.htm |title=They had a dream...and they realised it |last=Nayar |first=Aruti |date=6 November 2005 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]}}</ref>
|-
| 2009 || ''Nanhi Chidiya'' (animated short film) || Hindi || Voice over<ref name=Chidiya/>
|-
| 2010 || ''[[No One Killed Jessica]]'' || Hindi/English || Justice Jain
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Sarbjit (film)|Sarbjit]]'' || Hindi/English || Guest appearance (as himself)
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Sultan (2016 film)|Sultan]]'' || Hindi || Wrestling Commentator
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1797087}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narang, Shammi}}
[[Category:Indian television news anchors]]
[[Category:Indian male voice actors]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Delhi]]
[[Category:Doordarshan]]
[[Category:Delhi Metro]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Shammi Narang - Revision history

Kawoosahamad: added first entry w/ infobox