Beyond the spotlight, the voices that power poll campaigns

Anbana Vaakala Perumakkale, Sindhipeer, Vaakalipeer (Dear voters, think and vote) — these Tamil phrases echo through the streets from a passing campaign autorickshaw, drawing the attention of residents and shopkeepers. While the candidates command the spotlight on the stage, the voice-over artistes often play a quiet yet significant role in shaping the reach of election campaigns.

The voices behind these campaigns have evolved over the years — from simple loudspeaker announcements with hand-held microphones to scripted voice-overs tailored for autorickshaws, social media reels, and digital campaign vans — making such artistes an increasingly vital, if often unseen, part of modern electioneering.