At a time when native language learning is increasingly pushed to the margins, Kothai, a Tamil language initiative, is working to rebuild everyday engagement with Tamil through practical tools. The team focuses on simplifying language learning and creating spaces where people can use, learn, and bond over Tamil. Their first physical product, Thoodhu, is a board game designed to approach language learning as a shared activity rather than a structured lesson.
Developed through extensive experimentation and play-testing, Thoodhu is intended as a family game that brings generations together. It is a team-based game suitable for 6 to 12 players. Players split into two teams, Pura and Parundhu, and communicate secret words by giving clever, related clues. With easy and hard modes, it accommodates varying fluency levels. Set against a Chola-period narrative, the game requires players to guess and write related Tamil words that the opposing team cannot intercept. By rewarding creative vocabulary and strategic thinking, Thoodhu transforms Tamil engagement from a formal classroom task into a social, multi-generational activity.
For Srija Santhanam, senior manager of community development, the project began as a response to a growing linguistic gap. “Kothai started as an experiment to understand how native languages, especially Tamil, can be kept alive and relevant,” she explains. “We noticed that across generations, the connection with the mother tongue is weakening. Earlier generations could read and write comfortably, but many children today struggle even with basic literacy.”
The goal was to move away from the stress of academic settings. By creating tools in both physical and digital forms, the team aimed to make Tamil a natural part of everyday life. This shift from studying to interacting is what led to the idea of a board game.
Sunil Mithran TK, assistant manager of community development, notes that while board game culture has deep roots in the region, the modern market is dominated by Western imports. “Language-based games were mostly limited to flashcards or teaching tools,” Sunil says. “We wanted to break that idea and create a game where learning Tamil happens organically through play, conversation, and strategy.”
The team chose Thoodhu after extensive testing because it functioned effectively as a social party game. “It allows children, parents, and grandparents to sit together. That family interaction was a key reason we chose Thoodhu; it makes language transfer feel natural,” Sunil adds.
The game is structured around a competitive yet collaborative framework. Players divide into two teams: Pura (the pigeons) and Parundhu (the hawks). “One team acts as messengers, passing a message to their team leader by writing related Tamil words, while the other team tries to intercept the message by guessing related words,” Sunil explains. Using Tamil word cards, players must generate related clues within a time limit. “Similar words from both teams cancel each other out, and the team leader uses the remaining clues to guess the secret word.”
“The easy level uses common, everyday words, while the hard level introduces deeper, less familiar vocabulary. As long as someone can read Tamil and roughly understand meanings at a basic level, they can participate,” says Srija.
Beyond the mechanics, there is a narrative layer that connects players to their heritage. Set in the Chola period, the game tells the story of a competition to find the kingdom’s best messenger. “The winner receives a ‘ring of wisdom’ as a reward. The illustrations and narrative help players emotionally connect with the game and its cultural roots,” adds Sunil.
With Kothai’s first foray into manufacturing, the team had to navigate complex supply chains. “From sourcing materials to producing the box and components, we worked with multiple vendors because we did not want to compromise on quality,” Srija recalls.
Through play-testing, the team also refined the vocabulary to ensure a positive experience. “We removed words that could lead to negative associations and focused on positive, neutral vocabulary,” Sunil notes. The result is a polished, intentional tool that proves language learning does not have to be a chore; it can be a win.
Language-based games were mostly limited to flashcards or teaching tools. We wanted to break that idea and create a game where learning Tamil happens organically through play, conversation, and strategySunil Mithran TK, assistant manager, community development.