Rajni comes to App Store

A Sydney fan of southern superstar Rajnikanth launches a new iPhone game. USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

For game geeks hitherto preoccupied with puzzles and poker, the gravity defying dishum dishum, ‘namma thalapathi’ ishtyle could well be the new kid on the block as Rajni mania hits Appletown.

Rated 12+, Rajnikanth for iPhone is Sydney based FX trader Chaitanya Kolluri’s maiden offering on the hotly contested app scene. Currently supported on iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4 and iPad hardware platforms, it is a 2D side scrolling, arcade action game, where the player dons the mantle of the adhiraddi action hero and battles through 15 challenging levels.

Each level has a different setting and new kind of enemy. Cultural references to blockbusters like Padayyappa, Muthu, Chandramukhi and the upcoming Endhiran have been built into it.

The script (in Chandamama fairytale style, according to Kolluri) is set in the ancient empire of Vijayanagaram, where its troubled king Chandrahaas loses his powers. An old sadhu enlists the services of the megastar to salvage the nation.

“While I have always enjoyed playing on PS3 and Xbox, iPhone App development is a very recent hobby of mine”, the investment banker and self confessed game console junkie told Indian Link

An ardent devotee of the iconic southern superstar, Kolluri decided to combine the two entertainment genres to plug the void, in what is clearly a niche market.

“The App Store had very few applications that culturally related to Indian audience and the more popular apps were games. So

The script (in Chandamama fairytale style, according to Kolluri) is set in the ancient empire of Vijayanagaram, where its troubled king Chandrahaas loses his powers. An old sadhu enlists the services of the megastar to salvage the nation

I hit upon the plan of creating something unique that was entertaining and sat comfortably between these parameters”, he said.

As a die-hard fan of Rajnikanth, an app to showcase his unmatched style, cool image, and screen aura, was an instant fit for my ambition, he explained.

The app, which was released on 25 August, has been eight months in the making. From visuals to soundtrack, platforms to programming, the talented developer carefully researched, conceived and executed it all.

An app with entertaining Rajni dialogues was Kolluri’s initial plan. He therefore created a stylish caricature using PowerPoint and placed it on an app interface.

“It was then I realised that I was capable of drawing animation cells with better than average skill. I kept at it for a few weekends seeking honest feedback from friends and family. They were stunned by the detailed stylisation and facial expression,” he revealed.

Soon what started as hobby, became a controlling passion and inanimate images weren’t quite enough. Banking on Rajni’s huge repertoire, Kolluri was able to capture his inimitable style and movements through visuals.

“After watching a fight scene from Padayyappa, I became interested in making a full fledged action game.”

Executing his grand schemes proved a logistically daunting task though, he admitted.

“I didn’t know Objective C programming and lacked the resources. The goal seemed more suitable to small game production houses with several developers, each focusing on a key aspect of the game. Even the people who praised my initial art didn’t quite understand what I aimed to achieve. After all, I’m an amateur and it was very challenging on an alien platform”. Extensive research and networking finally led him to all the right resources. And Kolluri soon launched www. avvesome.com, a micro studio group and developer brand name under which his Apps are available at the App Store.

From there on, it was a relentless task of bringing it all together. The movie enthusiast couldn’t be more delighted with the outcome.

“I have had loads of fun over the last eight months developing it and even more playing it daily. I really hope people like it”, says the game junkie.

With the superstar’s Endhiran (Robot) slated for global release in mid September, the action packed thriller Rajnikanth for iPhone is a dedication and tribute to his icon.

And quite like his thalaivar, Kolluri hopes to capture a global following.

Watch the trailer at www.youtube.com watch?v=yWpm3lubHWg

Check out the new app at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rajnikanth