For Chella

Chelladurai worked on our Battle Stars team. On 17 April 2023 we lost him, suddenly. These are the notes I wrote to everyone at SuperGaming that week, a year later, and on his birthday.

17 April 2023 — the worst kind of news

Dear Supers,

I am the bearer of the worst kind of news today. The kind that has left me punched in the gut and got me to question almost everything that I do.
I, with great sorrow would like to inform you that we have lost one of our stars of our Battle Stars Team - Chelladurai this afternoon.

Chella was going to be in the office later this week for the next 3 weeks as we present our Battle Stars Game at the Apple Store which was where our team was today when we received this tragic news. On days like this its only fair to question all the things that we do whilst life around is as fragile and unexpected as it can be. My heart goes out to his family and I ask of you to join me in prayers for his family for strength and peace in this time of deep sorrow. No one will ever be able to replace Chella, and we as a company will stand by his family from this day forward. Perhaps our greatest test is going to be ensuring that Chella lives on in all his work on Battle Stars which the team will take forward in his loving memory and to ensure that all his efforts are not laid to waste.

When he was last here in the office on March 31, we took the photo to commemorate the last working day of the Battle Stars team in the Epitome office, little did we know then that this would be the last time that we would also be seeing Chella. Many of you will have Chella stories.
Here is my first and favorite story. When I hired Chella I did ask him like I’ve probably asked most of you at SuperGaming - Why do you want to work at SuperGaming and not some other gaming company. You know what he said - I want to work for an Indian company and not some MNC, and SuperGaming is the best Indian company, so I want to work here to take India ahead. I for one will never forget these words Chella as they will drive me to ensure that I never let you down.

Rest in Peace Little Brother, all of us will take the best care we can of your family, your loved ones and the work that you so diligently put heart and mind and soul into.
You will always be the one that put the Super in SuperGaming !
Om Shanti !

17 April 2023 — Amidst adversity, sorrow and pain, there is a plan

April 17, 2023

Amidst Adversity, Sorrow and Pain there is a Plan.
Sometimes all of us will wake up to the most horrible news that we can think about.
This morning was that morning, I wish the things from last night can be gotten away from like a bad dream.

But today the truth is as bitter as it was yesterday - our brother Chella is no longer with us. I do struggle to see God’s plan in this.

While yesterday I wrote about being with Chella’s loved ones and his Family.
Today I ask myself what is Family, is it limited to your birth family or marriage, shouldn’t Family be defined by more than just this.
I realize today after Chellas loss, that as he left after the March 31 Team Photo, I forgot to tell him, How much I love and appreciated all that he did here for this Family. Better late than never today to say that I love you Chella and I love each and every one of you that works here as part of my Family. I think of everyone that works here at SuperGaming as Family, as defined by someone that we will always care about not defined by race, religion or professional qualifications. But defined by a simple promise of LOVE.

So today when our Family has had this terrible loss, I pray for strength for each and every one of you my Family to accept the truth of Chellas departure with the knowledge this is all part of Gods Plan. This loss comes with a responsibility to step up and help Chellas family with our prayers, our best wishes to let them know that they still have a larger family, a Family of Supers. When a person meditates on God, for the sake of the peace of the departed soul, it is said that it will be enabled even to attain peace.

Let us all mediate a few moments today with Chella in our hearts to help him attain peace amidst many things that he leaves behind, but in the firm knowledge that we his family are still around to take care of all of them.

Our work at SuperGaming is also a product of LOVE, not done to satisfy the whims and fancies of some client but a true product of our love in bringing a great experience to our players, some of whose lives are lit up with a simple gameplay experience crafted for them.

It is said that As long as we can live our Life so that others lives are OK , our Life will always be OK.

Today I ask you to use this reminder on how short and fragile our existence in this world is, how important it is to have a smile on our faces and our responsibility to take care of each other. Let’s not waste it by not letting each other know how much we care, how much we will miss them and also to take care while on the road not just for oneself but also of others.
Let us ensure that Chella lives on in our work, not defined by Fear but by LOVE for all that he was and all that he did that will ensure that he will never be forgotten.

Let us all be Super ! I Love you all !

18 April 2023 — Why we do what we do

Apr 18, 2023
Yesterday was one of those unforgettable days in my life.
I wanted to share with you the day so that we treat this as a marker in our journey of making games.

Yesterday they laid to final rest our brother Chella. It was definitely the saddest day in the history of our company.
We only know Chella from our 15 minute interactions with him and still miss him.
I shudder to imagine how much those that were used to having him around 24x7 will miss him.

Last Evening I also had the privilege of going to the Apple Store Launch and I can tell you it was the most amazing gathering of people. I did get to shake hands with Tim Cook, Farhan Akhtar, A R Rahman and literally all of Bollywood and the Music industry was present. I did see Anil Kumble and some more cricketers as well.

It did feel overwhelming to see all those people that all of us are mostly used to seeing on television in person.
However it felt more obvious that these folks are also aware of what is changing in Digital India and things like Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube got more mentions in conversations than anything else. No one was taking selfies when I was there so I did miss capturing these moments for all of you.

On my journey back home to Pune, it was clear to me post all the confusion of the past couple of days on WHY we do what do.
I realize that via our privilege of making games played by Millions of Players worldwide we have the unique privilege of affecting lives, young lives in ways that even film and music might not easily. We are easily the most immersive, interactive medium out there that players use to also find social connection and meaning sometimes in their lonely lives.

Some of our games will become tools that players will use to entertain others, stream content and make a living.
My favorite youtube story is this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSafuYW0Hw8

Importantly as we make games, we ourselves have the opportunity to be the best version of ourselves.
· Build Resilience as we keep chasing our Goals.
· Build Consistency and Discipline as we keep making improvements
· But importantly build Gratefulness to help increase all of this.
People in LIFE dont dont burn out because of what they do.
People in Life burn out because Life happens to make them forget WHY they do it !

In this journey of building a world class Gaming company, lets NOT forget how important it is to make ourselves a better person everyday. Its not about what happens to us, what happens is how we react to it. That is truly the resilience we need to savor both the bitter and sweet moments that days like yesterday bring to us.

As we start our new Day today, Let us all remind ourselves of this WHY !
Have a Great Day Everyone !

16 April 2024 — A year later

Dear Supers,
Today is a harsh reminder of a year ago when our brother Chella departed this world.
Life can be cruel at times but I would like to instead remind us of all the good Chelladurai left us with in his short stint with us.
I’ll start the day today with something that I probably feel every day since Charlie left this work. The past year has been tough personally for some of us, so dont mind a few non release related messages today.

Till that day that I got this call that Chella was no longer with us, I did not realize how much he meant and maybe what each one of you mean to my life.
We have been in startup mode for a long time, things are crazy as we live this disconnected life with the ups and downs of an emotional roller coaster.
The only thing constant in our life has been the love and support of our family and of the people at work who live and share our same highs and lows.

I realize today how much even small words of support from Chella meant when we first joined our mission at SuperGaming. (attached)
If you had the privilege of working with him you found the same support, the same care in every little thing that he did.
Whether building new frameworks or adding new gameplay features or optimizing the assets in the build.

If you were around him, he made you feel better with dedication to his work, care for his team mates and a constant smile.
He truly was a star that kept his battle stars team going.
Chella’s photo on my desks at work reminds me daily to be thankful every day for your love and just being pillars of support in this journey.
If having a soul means able to feel and express love, loyalty and gratitude, then he undoubtedly was the soul of Battle Stars team that bound us all together.

Chella came into our lives and taught us about love, care and always smiling no matter what happens next.
In doing so he expanded our heart and minds many time over. He lived his life doing what he did best, Loving us and his family endlessly, right until he left.

Chella departs to teach us about Loss.
His Loss reminds us about how short our existence in this Life is.
Dont waste your time thinking of ugly Politics, fragmented Religions or stress about the Economy.
Instead be the person that Chella was for each of us. Make the Lives of the People around you Brighter, Love Unconditionally and don’t waste time being afraid of Tomorrow.
Smile and be there for everyone, like Chella did.

Chella leaves us in charge of taking care of his family. Today we will spend a few moments of silence and pray for Chellas family whose loss can never be replaced.
We will pray for him to Rest in Peace and let him know in our prayers that all us will be there to always take care of his family.

Finally, In memory of his best feature let us try and smile through the day !
Let the person you sit next to know how much you value him being there on this journey at SuperGaming.

Rest in Peace Chella, You will always be the “Super” in SuperGaming.
I love you all.

2 July 2024 — Happy birthday, Chella

Remembering Chella on his birthday today !
Celebrating the short time we were associated with him but yet the lasting memory he has left behind with all those he worked with.
Although Chella is no longer here with us physically, his memory, his smile and his dedication lives on with us.
Pray for a moment today for his family and that we continue to be able to support them in this tough journey.

Happy Birthday Chella !

Rest in peace, little brother. You will always be the “Super” in SuperGaming.

From my archive, typed up from the original.