Why Is the Arattai App So Famous in Tamil Nadu?: If you live in Tamil Nadu right now, you’ve definitely heard the word “Arattai” being thrown around everywhere – in tea shops, WhatsApp groups (ironically), college canteens, and even family dinners. Suddenly, everyone seems to be downloading this app, creating groups, and posting stories. In just a few weeks in September-October 2025, Arattai went from being a quiet side project to the most downloaded messaging app in India, and nowhere is the craze bigger than in Tamil Nadu. But why exactly has this app exploded here more than anywhere else? Let’s break it down properly. about us
What Exactly Is the Arattai App?
Arattai is a full-fledged messaging app made by Zoho Corporation – yes, the same Zoho that millions of businesses worldwide use for CRM, email, and office tools. The name “Arattai” literally means “casual chat” or “banter” in pure Tamil. It’s not some fancy English name or Sanskrit word – it’s straight-up Tamil, and that itself is a big part of why Tamilians love it.
The app does everything WhatsApp does and more:
- Text messaging
- Voice messages
- High-quality voice & video calls (1-on-1 and group)
- Stories (like Instagram/WhatsApp status)
- Broadcast channels
- File sharing up to 1 GB
- Multi-device support (phone + web + desktop)
- Meetings feature (basically Zoom inside the chat app)
And the best part? It’s completely free, no ads, no creepy data selling, and all your data stays in Indian servers.
The Crazy Surge in 2025 – How Arattai Went Viral Overnight
Arattai wasn’t new. Zoho actually soft-launched it back in 2021 when everyone was angry about WhatsApp’s privacy policy. But hardly anyone noticed. It stayed under the radar with just a few thousand users.
Then September 2025 happened.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited Zoho’s rural campus in Tamil Nadu and posted about Arattai on X, calling it a proud Indian alternative. That single post blew up. Daily sign-ups jumped from 3,000 to over 3.5 lakh in just three days. The app shot to #1 on both Play Store and App Store in India, beating WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
But here’s the thing – the real explosion happened in Tamil Nadu first. Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli – everywhere you looked, people were sharing invite links and saying “Machan, Arattai ku va da!”
Why Tamil Nadu Fell in Love with Arattai More Than Any Other State
This is the real question. Why did Tamilians adopt Arattai faster and harder than anyone else? Here are the biggest reasons:
1. Pure Tamil Pride – The Name Says It All
When you open the app, the logo is the Tamil letter “அ” (A). The name is Tamil. The vibe is Tamil. For the first time, this feels like OUR app. Not something made in California or Beijing – this is made in Chennai and rural Tamil Nadu. In a state where language and cultural identity run deep, naming an app in Tamil was a masterstroke. People started calling it “Nammo App” (our app).
2. Sridhar Vembu – The Man Every Tamil Parent Now Quotes
Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho, is basically a Tamil superhero right now. Born in Thanjavur, studied at IIT Madras, PhD from Princeton, could have lived in America forever – but he moved back to a village in Tenkasi district and built a global billion-dollar company from rural Tamil Nadu. He employs thousands of rural Tamil youth, teaches them world-class tech, and pays them Silicon Valley salaries.
When he made Arattai, people saw it as “Anna Sridhar” giving us our own WhatsApp. Suddenly, every auntie started forwarding messages saying “Vembu sir oda app da, support pannunga!”
3. Zoho’s Deep Roots in Tamil Nadu
Zoho has offices all over Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Tenkasi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy. Thousands of Zoho employees and their families started using Arattai first. Then their friends. Then their relatives. Then entire villages. It spread like wildfire through existing Zoho networks.
4. Perfect Timing + Swadeshi Sentiment
2025 saw a huge push for Indian apps. People were already frustrated with WhatsApp’s endless ads, status spam, and Meta’s data collection. When a solid Indian alternative came from Tamil Nadu itself, Tamilians jumped on it immediately. It became a matter of pride: “Why use American app when we have our own?”
5. Works Beautifully on Low-End Phones & Jio Connections
Arattai is super lightweight. It works smoothly even on 4G in rural areas and on phones with 2 GB RAM. In Tamil Nadu, where many people still use budget phones, this matters a lot. Video calls are clearer, battery drain is lower, and it just feels snappier than WhatsApp.
Arattai vs WhatsApp – How Do They Really Compare? (November 2025)
| Feature | Arattai | |
|---|---|---|
| Made in | Tamil Nadu, India | California, USA |
| Company | Zoho (Profitable, no VC money) | Meta (Facebook) |
| Ads | None | Yes (Status ads coming) |
| Data Storage | India only | Global (including US) |
| File Sharing Limit | 1 GB | 100 MB (documents), 16 MB images |
| Stories | Yes | Yes |
| Channels | Yes (very active in TN) | Yes |
| Web Version | Yes, excellent | Yes |
| Multi-Device | Up to 4 devices | Up to 4 devices |
| End-to-End Encryption | Calls yes, messages (being rolled out fully) | Yes (full) |
| Business Catalogue | Yes (small businesses loving it) | Yes |
| App Size | ~35 MB | ~55 MB |
| Rural Performance | Excellent | Average |
Right now in Tamil Nadu, Arattai actually feels faster and cleaner than WhatsApp for many users.
What Actual Users in Tamil Nadu Are Saying
I’ve seen college students in Chennai saying “WhatsApp is for uncles now, Arattai is cool.” Small businesses in Coimbatore have moved their customer groups to Arattai channels. Even auto drivers in Madurai have Arattai groups for sharing locations.
One viral reel from Tiruppur said: “WhatsApp la status poda bayama irukku, Arattai la full freedom!” (No fear of relatives seeing status on Arattai!)
Political parties, fan clubs, temple committees, self-help groups – everyone is creating Arattai channels. It’s become the new town square.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arattai App
Q: Is Arattai really safe? Yes. Calls are end-to-end encrypted. Messages encryption for messages is being rolled out to all users. Zoho has a 25-year reputation of not selling user data.
Q: Can I use Arattai without giving my contacts access? Yes, just like Signal. You can hide your number and chat via username (feature rolled out in October 2025).
Q: Will my WhatsApp groups move to Arattai? Not automatically, but many college and friends groups in Tamil Nadu have already shifted completely.
Q: Is Arattai only for Tamilians? No! It supports Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, and even Arabic. But yes, 60-70% of active users are currently from Tamil Nadu.
Q: Can I use both WhatsApp and Arattai? Of course. Most people in TN are doing exactly that right now.
Q: Is Arattai making money? No. Zoho is profitable and doesn’t need to make money from Arattai yet. They’re focused on getting 100 million Indian users first.
Final Thoughts – Is This Just Hype or Here to Stay?
Look, every few years we get excited about an Indian WhatsApp alternative – remember Hike, Sandes, or Koo? Most died. But Arattai feels different. It’s backed by a proper company that’s been profitable for 25 years, has real engineering muscle, and most importantly – it’s rooted in Tamil Nadu soil.
Whether it completely replaces WhatsApp or not, one thing is clear: Tamil Nadu has wholeheartedly adopted Arattai as its own. For the first time, we have a world-class tech product that speaks our language – literally and figuratively. contact us
