The UAE is poised to achieve another notable milestone, this time within the entertainment sector. Cinema aficionados can flock to theaters to catch the eagerly awaited Arabic adaptation of Indian megastar Mammootty's high-octane film Turbo, set to debut in UAE cinemas on August 2. Turbo Arabic marks the first Malayalam film to be dubbed in Emirati dialect and released theatrically in the region. Prominent Emirati content creator Ahmad Al Marzooqi (@chai_with_ahmad on Instagram) was among several locals recruited to lend their voices to the characters in the film.
During the film's premiere on July 30, Al Marzooqi expressed his excitement about being part of the project. His passion for Indian cinema traces back to 1993 with the release of Khal Nayak, where he first watched the Sanjay Dutt-starrer with his mother. In a conversation with City Times, he reminisced, "I told my mom I wanted all TV channels about Bollywood. Now, they call me Bollywood Wikipedia, I watch these films without subtitles." This marked the beginning for Al Marzooqi. Fast-forward to 2024, he is voicing multiple characters in the film. Describing the experience, he found it "kind of easy" due to his understanding of the scenes' context and tone. "I gave my best and was thrilled they loved it, even adding three extra characters for me to voice," he shared.
Participating in this pioneering project has left Al Marzooqi feeling proud. "It's a completely new step and I hope it expands because I now see we have so many talented Emirati youth," he noted. "We've opened a door for everyone, and if Turbo Arabic succeeds, we can do more dubbing for Indian and other films." The project involves 17 voice artists, including 11 young Emirati talents, highlighting a strong dedication to nurturing local talent in the entertainment industry globally.
Leading this initiative are two Emirati girls, Noora and Mariam Al Helali, known for their proficiency in Malayalam. Along with Rebin Areef, Marketing Head at Truth Global Films, they initiated and realized this project in just three weeks. The Malayalam-speaking Emirati sisters found dubbing straightforward, completing their scenes in three days. "We didn't need the script, we just heard the dialogues in Malayalam and repeated them in Arabic for recording," they explained.
Dubai-based content creator Ahmad Salah voices Mammootty in the film. The Indian influencer, known for his strong social media presence and Arabic fluency, plays a pivotal role. Directed by Vysakh, Turbo features Mammootty as Turbo Jose, a jeep driver renowned for his sense of justice and loyalty. The narrative follows Turbo aiding his best friend Jerry, a bank manager, who experiences severe violence on his wedding day. In a dramatic turn, Turbo supports Jerry in rejecting the marriage proposal when Jerry reconsiders the wedding.
