Meet the Man Behind the Woman’s Voice of Indian Railways Announcements
Meet the Man Behind the Woman's Voice of Indian Railways Announcements
Railway announcements, synonymous with a woman’s voice across India, are deeply ingrained in our subconscious. But here’s a twist—these familiar announcements are voiced by a 24-year-old man, Shravan Adode.
Shravan, based in Parli Vaijanath, Maharashtra, became the voice of Indian Railways by sheer chance. A lifelong rail enthusiast, he joined the Railways as a private employee. His moment came when a technical issue caused a power outage during announcements. Asked to make a manual announcement, Shravan imitated the existing voice of Sarla Choudhary, the woman announcer. To everyone’s surprise, his voice matched perfectly.
This impromptu opportunity marked the beginning of Shravan’s journey. “I had been fascinated by train announcements since childhood. When I got the chance, I gave it my best. There’s been no looking back,” he said.
Today, his digitally mixed voice recordings guide passengers at stations across the country. Shravan recalls a proud moment when senior announcers at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) praised his work. “Their encouragement was like the highest endorsement for me,” he said.
Despite his success, Shravan faced challenges. In college, he was mocked for his voice skills. “People used to humiliate me and call me names. I ignored them and focused on my work,” he said.
Now, Shravan’s voice helps millions of passengers navigate railway platforms.
Shravan Adode’s story is one of perseverance, turning ridicule into pride, and becoming an integral part of the Indian Railways experience.
