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Teens play cricket, pray to God on mobile screens

Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

Cricket-addicted Rah-ul, who will be appearing for his Class 10 board examinations next year, no longer enjoys his earlier freedom. His father does not allow him these days to spend more time in the field to play cricket nor permits him to watch on television Dhoni & Co. taking on the Kangaroos or arch rivals Pakistanis.

The only way left for Rahul and some of his other friends who are also facing similar diktats from their parents to satisfy their appetite for the game is to play cricket on their mobile screens.

The teenagers just switch on their cellphones and open Dhoni Dhamaka, a popular mobile game, and try to hit the ball to the boundaries and over the fences for sixes. This game allows users like Rahul and his friends to bat like the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to score as many runs as possible.

The ball can pitch at three spots — Yorker length, middle length and short pitch. Each of these balls can only be played using the right shot. Shots are played using 3 buttons — 2 (shot pitch), 5 (middle) and 8 (Yorker).

Rahul and his friends take utmost care to see that they hit the right shot at the right time in order to get the maximum runs.

Software engineer Sunita Khandelwal, an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha, feels scared if she ever forgets to carry an image of the deity to her workplace. Ganesha, who has been her companion since her playschool days, accompanies the 24-year-old girl, sometimes in her handbag and at other times in her locket in the necklace. Despite the God firmly ensconced with her, Sunita never finds it easy during lunch hour to recite mantras to the Lord to get His blessings.

However, the Siddhivinayak Mantra Application game, prepared by Nazara Technologies, a leading mobile entertainment company, has solved her problem to a great extent. The game, packaged with the Om gam Ganapataye namaha (I salute to or surrender to Lord Ganapati), relieves her of the stress of nearly 10 hours-plus working in the office.

"Lord Ganesha removes all obstacles on your path. He is the bestower of blessings and Siddhis which are spiritual powers. He is also the giver of buddhi (knowledge). He guides you to use power in the right way," says Sunita.

Nazara Technologies’ repertoire is not confined to Dhoni Dhamaka or Lord Ganesh games only. Sachin Tendulkar facing and disdainfully hitting hard bouncers of the opponents to fences, Virender Sehwag batting with ease and epic characters like Ekalavya and Yudhistir are some of the popular products of Nazara that are in great demand, especially by school children and college-going boys and girls.

From a small online gaming company to a leading mobile content and application developer providing products to mobile operators globally, Nazara Technologies has come a long way in a span of eight years. The company’s brand appeal and work perfection today serves nearly 100 million mobile subscribers in India.

"Nazara develops a range of branded and original mobile content that is highly relevant to the culturally diverse consumer base in the country. It combines technology with a compelling experience to create innovate applications in the mobile environment," says Mr Nitish Mittersain, the 29-year-old chief executive officer and promoter of Nazara Technologies.

The company’s wireless solutions integrate content of media companies, marketing messages and the consumer reach of wireless carriers. The long list of its partners in India includes names such as Airtel, Spice, Idea, Vodafone, BPL, Tata Indicom, Reliance India Mobile and Cellebrum.

"From high-tech games, wallpapers to songs, sports games to puzzles, and entertainment masala to sacred mantras, Nazara Technologies is a one-stop solution to all mobile entertainment needs," adds Mr Mittersain.