Brands
Nothing’s Diwali ad lights up with witty sparkle
MUMBAI: Talk about lighting up Diwali with a spark of mischief! Nothing’s latest campaign, Go Subtle or Go Nothing, throws glitter at the clichés of festive advertising, and then cheekily sweeps them away.
In a season where every brand tries to tug heartstrings or dazzle with drama, Nothing takes a sly detour. The film opens like a familiar Diwali ad: think slow music, soft lighting, and predictable gifting, before turning it all on its head. Characters suddenly break the fourth wall, a dry voiceover kicks in, and the film gleefully pokes fun at its own genre.
From a Nothing phone 3 strung up like fairy lights to Headphone 1 doubling as diya stands and CMF buds arranged into rangoli, the ad revels in playful absurdity. With comedian Samay Raina lending his trademark wit to the narration, the film feels like a love letter to Diwali ads, with a wink.
“We wanted a campaign that feels fresh, playful, and unapologetically bold,” said Nothing co-founder and India president Akis Evangelidis. “Diwali is about creativity and joy, and we wanted to bring that spirit to life while staying true to Nothing’s offbeat style.”
Written by Vishal Dayama and Rajat Thakur, produced by Devarsh Thaker for Braindad, and directed by Aneesh Malankar, the campaign is live across Nothing’s digital channels, encouraging fans to celebrate the festival of lights with a twist of irony and a dash of glow.
After all, this Diwali, you can either go subtle, or go Nothing.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
