MAM
Epic Without Screens Pocket FM Brings Kalki to Life in Audio Form
MUMBAI: When epics travel without pictures, the imagination does the heavy lifting. Pocket FM has announced The Kalki Trilogy as its first major IP launch of 2026, turning The Kalki Trilogy by Kevin Missal into a large-scale Hindi audio series. The adaptation marks another step in Pocket FM’s IP-led strategy, following acclaimed audio expansions such as Shaktimaan Returns and the recently announced audio extension of the Baahubali universe.
Rooted in Indian mythology but framed for a digital-first audience, The Kalki Trilogy reimagines the prophecy of Kalki, the final Avatar of Vishnu, against the bleak, war-scarred land of Illavarti. The story unfolds across 60 Hindi audio episodes, charting the rise of Kalki in a world ruled by the tyrannical Kali, where moral decay, destiny and choice collide in a slow-burn march towards an inevitable reckoning.
Rather than a straight retelling, the audio series expands the original novels through deeper character arcs, unseen conflicts and emotional subplots, while preserving the mythological weight of Missal’s writing. Cinematic sound design, layered background scores and performance-led voice acting are designed to place listeners inside the story, reinforcing Pocket FM’s belief that scale and spectacle are no longer exclusive to screens.
Speaking about the launch, Pocket FM, SVP and head of brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said the platform is building a long-term entertainment ecosystem where iconic stories evolve across formats. He noted that after expanding universes like Shaktimaan and Baahubali, adapting Missal’s mythological world was a natural next step, with audio uniquely suited to unlocking the atmosphere and moral complexity of Illavarti for a global audience.
Author Kevin Missal said hearing his fictional universe take shape in audio was a surreal experience, adding that the format brings both the enormity of war and the inner conflict of Kalki into sharper, more intimate focus. He described Pocket FM’s approach as respectful to the source material while giving it a fresh, immersive dimension.
Over the years, Pocket FM has positioned itself as a destination for premium, long-form audio storytelling, using adaptations and original IP to drive deep engagement and repeat listening. With The Kalki Trilogy, the platform further strengthens its push into mythological and fantasy narratives, making a clear case that epic worlds can feel just as vast without a single frame on screen.
The Kalki Trilogy will launch soon, exclusively on Pocket FM in Hindi.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
