Recently, stand-up comedian Akash Gupta dropped a video on YouTube about Delhi Metro in summers. During his stand-up, he talks about how its easy to fall asleep inside the metro because of the blast of AC and the soothing voice of an "uncle" whose voice has a trance-like feeling. He mimics the voice saying, "Saying agla station Hauz Khas hai." The comedian shared the clip on his Instagram. But it was one comment that stood out. It was from Shammi Narang, the man himself. The voice of Delhi Metro. He wrote, "Aakaash beta, I'm glad I could make your commute a 'calm-ute'.
But who is Shammi Narang?
Shammi Narang is a legendary Indian media personality, voice-over artist, former news anchor, and entrepreneur, whose iconic voice has become deeply embedded in the nation's collective memory. An engineer by education, Narang’s journey into the world of broadcasting began with a role at the Hindi division of Voice of America. His deep baritone and commanding presence soon caught national attention when he was selected—out of 10,000 aspirants—to join Doordarshan, India’s sole television channel at the time. Through the 1970s and ’80s, he became the unmistakable ‘face and voice of Indian television,’ setting the gold standard for news anchoring.
His powerful rendition of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani has resonated far beyond newsrooms, becoming the spiritual voice for Sikhs around the world. Today, millions hear his voice daily in metro systems across India—from Delhi and Gurgaon to Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. As the voice behind all Hindi in-train and in-station announcements, Shammi Narang is quite literally the voice that moves the nation.
His family background and education qualifications
According to his LinkedIn profile, Shammi Narang is a graduate of J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA (Formerly YMCA UST) and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
In an earlier interview with The Hindu, Shammi Narang shared a glimpse into his roots and unconventional journey. Born into a family with a strong sense of discipline and resilience, his grandfather was a Sikh who migrated from Pakistan during Partition, while his father served in the Army. Narang himself pursued a conventional academic path, earning a postgraduate degree in Metallurgy with hopes of securing a stable government job. He even worked with Larsen & Toubro for a considerable period.
However, a desire for something more adventurous tugged at him. The turning point came when he watched Rishi Kapoor ride a motorbike in the film Bobby. Inspired, and with a family background that never discouraged acts of courage, he trained to become a stunt rider. He even worked with Escorts, enjoying the thrill and the admiration it brought.
His IIT-Delhi and voice-over career connection
How did he venture into voice-overs? In the interview, he shared that he entered the voice-over industry through Voice of America. While at the IIT Delhi auditorium, he was noticed by Flanager, a technical director from the United States Information Service, who invited him to assist with sound testing. Impressed by Narang’s voice, Flanager referred him to Shastriji, a Hindi scholar, who mentored and prepared Narang to eventually take over the Hindi division of Voice of America.
His many talents
Beyond his iconic voice and media presence, Shammi Narang is a man of many talents. A “semi-trained” singer, he also plays the jazz drums and harmonium with equal ease. His creative pursuits extend to theatre, where he has performed alongside noted personalities like Sheela Bhatia. Narang has also made his mark in cinema, having acted in two feature films — Lakhamandal directed by Govind Nihalani and Uttejna by Ashok Wazirani.
His voice continues to echo through India’s cultural heritage as well; he is the narrator behind audio guides at prominent monuments, particularly in cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and at the Mysore Palace. A true pioneer, he founded Delhi’s first digital studio, Pin Drop, in 1988 — introducing teleprompters to the industry long before they became mainstream.
But who is Shammi Narang?
Shammi Narang is a legendary Indian media personality, voice-over artist, former news anchor, and entrepreneur, whose iconic voice has become deeply embedded in the nation's collective memory. An engineer by education, Narang’s journey into the world of broadcasting began with a role at the Hindi division of Voice of America. His deep baritone and commanding presence soon caught national attention when he was selected—out of 10,000 aspirants—to join Doordarshan, India’s sole television channel at the time. Through the 1970s and ’80s, he became the unmistakable ‘face and voice of Indian television,’ setting the gold standard for news anchoring.
His powerful rendition of Sarab Sanjhi Gurbani has resonated far beyond newsrooms, becoming the spiritual voice for Sikhs around the world. Today, millions hear his voice daily in metro systems across India—from Delhi and Gurgaon to Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. As the voice behind all Hindi in-train and in-station announcements, Shammi Narang is quite literally the voice that moves the nation.
His family background and education qualifications
According to his LinkedIn profile, Shammi Narang is a graduate of J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA (Formerly YMCA UST) and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
In an earlier interview with The Hindu, Shammi Narang shared a glimpse into his roots and unconventional journey. Born into a family with a strong sense of discipline and resilience, his grandfather was a Sikh who migrated from Pakistan during Partition, while his father served in the Army. Narang himself pursued a conventional academic path, earning a postgraduate degree in Metallurgy with hopes of securing a stable government job. He even worked with Larsen & Toubro for a considerable period.
However, a desire for something more adventurous tugged at him. The turning point came when he watched Rishi Kapoor ride a motorbike in the film Bobby. Inspired, and with a family background that never discouraged acts of courage, he trained to become a stunt rider. He even worked with Escorts, enjoying the thrill and the admiration it brought.
His IIT-Delhi and voice-over career connection
How did he venture into voice-overs? In the interview, he shared that he entered the voice-over industry through Voice of America. While at the IIT Delhi auditorium, he was noticed by Flanager, a technical director from the United States Information Service, who invited him to assist with sound testing. Impressed by Narang’s voice, Flanager referred him to Shastriji, a Hindi scholar, who mentored and prepared Narang to eventually take over the Hindi division of Voice of America.
His many talents
Beyond his iconic voice and media presence, Shammi Narang is a man of many talents. A “semi-trained” singer, he also plays the jazz drums and harmonium with equal ease. His creative pursuits extend to theatre, where he has performed alongside noted personalities like Sheela Bhatia. Narang has also made his mark in cinema, having acted in two feature films — Lakhamandal directed by Govind Nihalani and Uttejna by Ashok Wazirani.
His voice continues to echo through India’s cultural heritage as well; he is the narrator behind audio guides at prominent monuments, particularly in cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and at the Mysore Palace. A true pioneer, he founded Delhi’s first digital studio, Pin Drop, in 1988 — introducing teleprompters to the industry long before they became mainstream.
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