iWorld
Matched! The first digital short film collaboration between India and Pakistan, presented by Arré and Teeli, on the occasion of Independence Day
MUMBAI: India’s leading digital platform Arré has collaborated with Pakistan’s premier digital entertainment brand Teeli to co-produce, co-write, and co-create the first digital short filmed across Delhi and Karachi, to celebrate Independence Day for India on the 15thof August and for Pakistan, on the 14th of August.
The collaboration is an attempt at opening up dialogue in a purely creative field, far removed from political and diplomatic relations between the two countries. The idea is an experiment to engage with shared cultural values like food, language, and social relationships, rather than the politics that has shaped the current narrative.
The short film explores the possibility of a personal relationship between young peoplein these two countries and tries to ask the question: What would happen if one of us got a chance to befriend someone across the border? Would the countries’ political and social history come in the way? Is the sarhad more than just a geographicalconstruct demarcating territory?
Matched! captures the unlikely friendship between an Indian girl from Amritsar and a Pakistani boy from Lahore, made possible through a dating app. Lahore and Amritsar are only 50 kilometres apart – and yet, are separated by more than just geography. So what happens when two people who only associate India with Bollywood and Pakistan with Coke Studio, strike a conversation? A friendship evolves, similarities are discovered, differences are cast aside, and by the end of it, you’re left wondering what makes them so different from us.
The video will be out on the Arré and Teeli platforms simultaneously on the 13th of August. Catch the teaser here https://youtu.be/-0Ga51UUVgI
The film was a collaboration between Arré and Teeli in every sense of the word. From script, production, and post-production, teams on either side worked on Skype over a period of two months, with the sole purpose of exploring how we can overcome barriers with digital content. The film was simultaneously shot in in Karachi and New Delhi by members of the two teams and every attempt was made to deliver a film that is not one country’s version of the other, but a joint expression of two neighbours. Even though the crew and actors on both sides never met each other, the working relationship evolved smoothly over two months for a seamless film that does not feel divided in any way.
Sharan Saikumar, Creative Director Arré,said “Matched! is a product of the digital age. It suggests that even though our countries and politics may falter, as people we can always be true.”
Gul Zaib Shakeel, Head Writer, Teeli, said “Digital content has made borders irrelevant. It’s shown and shared the thrilling, mundane and honest things that our regular lives are all about. The fact that content from either side of the border resonates with the other is testament to how truly similar we are at the core. This is what the video is about. Teeli hasn’t worked on a collaboration of this nature before. Once the introductory phone calls with Arré were done, you’re essentially working as one unit… with a lot of distance between each other. From video calls that stretched for hours to last-minute phone calls from the set to confirm minute details, the journey from scripting to production to post has been an absolute delight.”
eNews
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.
