Niyaz emphasized that Ooredoo is committed to preserving Maldivian culture through technology. He explained that their calendars are designed with this goal in mind, offering unique ways to explore Maldivian heritage and traditions.
Even as we recount the tale of Foolhudhigu Handi (a Maldivian demon), no one would have imagined they could interact with it and learn about past events firsthand. However, with advancements in technology and AI, Ooredoo’s specially designed calendar makes this possible.
By scanning the code in the calendar, a conversation begins with Foolhudhigu Handi. The first question? What happened to its tail.
"Hasanthakuru cut off my tail. I'm very sad about it. I don't even know where my tail went."
That was its response.
The reply was both unexpected and entertaining. As the chat progressed, Foolhudhigu Handi shared stories of attempting to scare people and filling graves with sand.
Even within the short interaction, it was evident that a great deal of effort had gone into crafting these characters.
"It took six months to develop this year’s calendar, with three of those months dedicated to researching the characters," said Ooredoo’s Chief Commercial Officer, Hassan Niyaz, in an interview with Mihaaru.
He credited Naajih Didi for providing valuable support in researching the characters. According to Niyaz, the chat features were carefully developed based on these studies to ensure that each character’s personality remained true to its folklore.
Niyaz emphasized that Ooredoo is committed to preserving Maldivian culture through technology. He explained that their calendars are designed with this goal in mind, offering unique ways to explore Maldivian heritage and traditions.
"We hope this calendar will help pass folklore on to the next generation," Niyaz stated.
Each month, the calendar showcases a new character illustration, and users can chat exclusively with that month’s featured figure.
Niyaz noted that while the characters were AI-generated, every element of their design was created separately. He highlighted their efforts to make the characters look Maldivian and accurately reflect the attributes described in folklore.
To maintain authenticity and a strong Maldivian identity, Ooredoo collaborated with local company Loopcraft for character development.
"As we work towards a digital Maldives, we prioritize involving Maldivians in tech-integrated projects. We believe that fostering technological growth within the country comes from giving opportunities to Maldivian companies," Niyaz said.
Users can chat with the calendar’s characters by tapping the NFC or scanning the code to access the link. A new character is introduced each month. Currently, Foolhudhigu Handi and Handiganduvaru Dhonkamana are available, with a total of 12 characters to be released by the end of the year.
Each character's chat resets every 24 hours, meaning that asking the same question multiple times can lead to different answers. Since these AI characters continue evolving with more interactions, users will keep discovering new details.
This initiative offers a fun and engaging way to explore folklore while spending time with these legendary figures.
Sign In
