Dumb charades online: play it on a video call
Dumb charades is the game every Indian family plays at weddings, picnics and long train journeys: one person acts out a film title without speaking, and everyone else shouts guesses. It works brilliantly on a video call too, because all you need is a camera and a sense of humour.
This page covers the classic signs, how to play with friends on a video call, film titles to try in Hindi and South Indian languages, and Act & Guess, the dumb charades game built into Viaraa's video calls.
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How to play dumb charades
- 1Split into two teams, or play one to one. One person is the actor; the others guess.
- 2The actor gets a film title, secretly. No speaking, no mouthing words and no pointing at things that spell the answer.
- 3The actor shows the signs first: the film's language, how many words, and which word they're acting.
- 4The actor acts out the title, a word or a syllable at a time, while the others guess out loud.
- 5When someone says the exact title, the round ends. If time runs out, the actor reveals the answer.
- 6Take turns being the actor, and count how many titles each side guesses.
A round usually gets a minute or two. Shorter rounds keep everyone laughing; longer ones suit trickier titles.
The classic dumb charades signs
Every family has its own variations, but these signs are understood almost everywhere in India:
- A film: crank an old movie camera beside your head with one hand.
- The film's language: families use different signs, so agree on one for each language before you start.
- Number of words: hold up that many fingers.
- Which word you're acting: hold up fingers again for the first, second or third word.
- Syllables: lay fingers on your forearm for how many syllables, then tap the one you're acting.
- "Sounds like": tug your ear lobe.
- Short word (a, the, of): hold your thumb and finger close together.
- Whole title at once: sweep your arms in a big circle.
On a video call, sit back from the camera so your whole upper body shows, and make your gestures large and slow: video can blur quick movements.
Act & Guess: dumb charades on Viaraa
Viaraa has dumb charades built into its video calls, called Act & Guess. During a one-to-one call with a host, open Act & Guess and the game takes care of the titles and the timing:
- Six rounds, taking turns: one of you acts, the other guesses.
- Only the actor's phone shows the film title. The guesser sees how many words it has.
- Each round lasts 60 seconds. The actor taps "Guessed it!" when the other person gets it, or "Skip".
- After each round, both of you see what the film was.
- Titles come in your language: Tamil films on the Tamil app, Telugu films on the Telugu app, and so on, plus well-known Hindi and South Indian films in English.
Act & Guess is free, like every game inside a call, and it only works on video, which is half the fun. Video calls on Viaraa are with hosts: women aged 18 or over who chose to host, each checked by our team.
Film titles to try
Need ideas for a game with friends? These well-known films are good to start with, from easy to tricky:
| Language | Easier | Trickier |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | Sholay, Lagaan, Dangal | Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara |
| Tamil | Roja, Ghilli, Vikram | Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Ponniyin Selvan |
| Telugu | Eega, Pushpa, Magadheera | Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Attarintiki Daredi |
| Kannada | KGF, Kantara | Mungaru Male |
| Malayalam | Premam, Drishyam | Bangalore Days |
Eega is a favourite: everyone knows how to act a fly. Long titles like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge are best split word by word, or acted all at once if you're feeling brave.
Tips for a great game on a video call
- Agree on the signs before you start, especially for the film's language.
- Mute yourself while acting if you tend to laugh or whisper the answer.
- Use props from around you: a phone, a pillow, a cup of tea.
- Guessers: say everything that comes to mind. Half-right guesses help the actor steer you.
- Keep it friendly: the best rounds are the ones where everyone ends up laughing.
For more ideas, see our list of 12 games to play on a video call and the traditional board games you can play during a call.
Questions, answered
Can you play dumb charades online?
Yes. On a video call, the actor stays in front of the camera and the others guess out loud. On Viaraa, Act & Guess picks the titles and keeps the time for you.
What is the sign for a film in dumb charades?
Crank an old movie camera beside your head. Then hold up fingers for the number of words.
Is Act & Guess free on Viaraa?
Yes. Games inside video calls are always free.
Can I play Act & Guess with my friends on Viaraa?
Act & Guess is played on one-to-one video calls with hosts. With friends, you can play board games together in a group, or play dumb charades the classic way on any video call.
Which films does Act & Guess use?
Well-known films in your app's language, like Tamil films on the Tamil app, plus popular Hindi and South Indian films in English.
Keep reading
- Indian board gamesTraditional Indian board games to play online, on a video call or with friends.
- 12 games to play on a video callBoard games, word games and guessing games that work on any video call.
- Ludo (Pachisi)Play Ludo face to face on a video call, plus the rules and Ludo's roots in Pachisi.
- Hindi video call appTalk in Hindi or Hinglish with checked hosts on a 1:1 video call, no app needed.