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AR Rahman unveils Headhunting to Beatboxing at 77th Cannes Film Festival
Mumbai: The Bharat Pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival witnessed a momentous occasion as Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman unveiled the first look and teaser of his latest venture, a groundbreaking feature documentary titled “Headhunting to Beatboxing” directed by Rohit Gupta.
The unveiling took place at the Bharat Pavilion at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, marking a proud moment for Indian cinema on the global stage.
Present at the launch at the Bharat Pavilion in Cannes were Academy Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient AR Rahman, director Rohit Gupta, Executive Producer Abu Metha (Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland) and Executive Producer Theja Meru (Chairman TaFMA, Government of Nagaland) in addition to the other guests and dignitaries present.
Headhunting to beatboxing directed by Rohit Gupta and Produced by AR Rahman explores the fascinating journey of rhythm and sound, tracing the evolution of music across cultures, tribes and generations. From the ancient traditions of headhunting tribes to the musical renaissance in the state, the documentary promises to take audiences on an immersive and enlightening musical anthropological odyssey.
“Music has this transformative power to change society and to connect and bring relevance to existence. ‘Headhunting to Beatboxing’ is a celebration of this universal rhythm that unites humanity in its diverse expressions. We look forward to the start of its film festival journey and what better than Cannes which celebrates cinema to make the first announcement on the film” said AR Rahman, expressing his enthusiasm.
“The germ of the idea came up when AR Rahman visited Nagaland to be part of the legendary Hornbill Festival. We knew we had to be part of it. The film is a collaboration of many creative minds, especially the TaFMA and masterfully captured by director Rohit Gupta. The real heroes are the musicians of Nagaland, who tell stories that go back to times immemorial and their music exemplifies the ambition of our youth.” said Nagaland advisor to the chief minister Abu Metha.
“Five years in the making, the journey of this film has been a sort of metamorphosis for me. The rich and vibrant music today, transcending the scars of the past is something that truly blew me away during the making. I am excited to see audiences witness our hard work and the magic that exists in the music of Nagaland” added director Rohit Gupta.
The film marks multiple award winner, Rahman’s second major foray into filmmaking as a producer, with his earlier production ’99 Songs’ which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival. His vision behind the project stems from a desire to celebrate the universal language of music and its transformative power to transcend boundaries.
“Headhunting to beatboxing” has been directed by Rohit Gupta and produced by AR Rahman, with Abu Metha, Adam J. Greig, Theja Meru, Rohit Gupta, Sheila Houlahan and Rohhit Daas serving as executive producers.
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Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
