Reviving Indian Heritage Through Play: Charanya Kumar’s Journey with Chittam Games

Chittam Games is on the path to revive traditional Indian board games and aims to foster physical interaction and cultural education among players.

Read: J&K to Coimbatore: ‘Her Startup Show’ Spotlights India’s Female Founders

Charanya brought her business and her vision to Her Startup Show, to try and secure 10 lakhs to further develop her business.

Inspiration Behind Chittam Games

With technology playing a big role in our fast-paced world, children often miss out on our own Indian heritage. “They need to learn where they come from, who their ancestors were.” said Charanya, while pitching to the jury on Her Startup Show.

While working in the education sector, she witnessed children in classes 3 and 4 complain about being stressed or nervous about examinations. “I was shocked that they’re so affected at such tender ages,” said Charanya. The idea to build games, was inspired by these observations.

Charanya’s thoughtfully designed games encourage families and friends to gather and engage in meaningful play while simultaneously learning about India’s rich heritage.

She emphasises that a lot of the games draw from mechanics from old games, that grandparents may be familiar with. The designs are made colourful and attractive so that children find them attractive, and when both grandchildren and grandparents play together, it’s sure to be a gala time.

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Building Chittam Games

“I want to build a generation that’s confident, resilient and culturally rooted,” said Charanya.

Presently, the company has 15 games. They have their own website and are available on some marketplaces, like Amazon.

She was seeking the 10 lakh grant to develop more game models, and also translate existing ones into regional languages.

By reimagining classic games with modern design elements, Charanya aims to bridge generational gaps and promote the joy of offline gaming experiences. The games help families bond, without any screens or digital distractions.

Impressed by her vision and grit, the jury gave her the coveted 10 lakh grant on the show.

GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, in collaboration with Britannia and digital partner HerZindagi, have unveiled Season 2 of 'Her Startup Show'—India’s first and only national reality series dedicated solely to women entrepreneurs. It is now streaming on JioHotstar.