MAM
CARS24 makes this Onam special with vibrant film ‘Onam Bumper’
Mumbai: Adding to the joy of Onam, a homegrown e-commerce platform for pre-owned vehicles CARS24, has rolled out a new digital film, to celebrate the festival. The vibrant campaign film revolves around the iconic trend of lottery that has been ongoing in Kerala for decades.
Denoting the spirit of fortune, success, and happiness among family members and loved ones, the Malayalam film, with English subtitles, showcases the local elements of Kerala during festive celebrations.
Capturing the joy this lottery festival brings, in the brand film, an old ambassador car travels across the city distributing pamphlets of the Onam Bumper offer as the announcer encourages people to upgrade their lifestyle and choose and purchase their dream car with just a click on CARS24.
The film features TV star Riyas Narmakala, Kozhikode Radio Mirchi – RJ Kensha Zohra and CARS24 employee Shahid Salman, and is being promoted on CARS24’s social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Reflecting upon the rich culture and heritage of Kerala and celebrating the visit of King Mahabali, the film takes the viewer on a visual treat that showcases Puliyattam folk dance where a human-tiger dances to the tune of drums and children collect flower petals for the festival ceremonies and the car travelling by ferry along the backwaters of Kerala.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
