MAM
Radio City makes us experience Mumbai
MUMBAI: Radio City has created a campaign that makes us experience a city even with eyes shut. The film Taxi Driver, is based on this emotion. To make this idea more experiential, the thought will be adapted in print, on-air, digital and on-ground.
In this film, the story is about a taxi driver of Mumbai. Conceptualised by Scarecrow Communications, the film starts with the taxi driver being put to test by two youngsters. He is blindfolded and taken to one of the most nostalgic lanes of Mumbai. Just using his other senses he guesses the place. The script is a journey that takes us to places that have been the most cultural parts of the city. Powerful performance by Rajan, documentary-style cinematography, blend of Arabic, western classical, and Indian music, and an honest script makes this film a treat for all senses. The Azaan at the end of the film creates a heart wrenching moment in the film.
To make the film more honest, team Scarecrow took a taxi and actually travelled through the lanes and consumed the cultural nuances. From jalebi to itr, everything about the film has come from their real experience. The screenplay and dialogues were written there itself.
The guerrilla shoot and the documentary style of capturing were figured by the director Tathagata Singha and the DOP, Sylvester at the actual locations.
Radio City CEO Abraham Thomas says, “The campaign is an attempt to highlight the power of radio as an experiential medium building a very strong imagery in the minds of the consumer. It also showcases that radio is a theatre of the mind that transcends beyond being just a mere audio medium. The campaign seamlessly resonates what our brand stands for and we are hopeful that it will further help drive synergies in every city we are present in.”
Scarecrow Communications founder director Manish Bhatt adds, “It was really a goosebumpy experience for me and my team to write the story of a storyteller who can impeccably describe our city with his eyes closed and yet manages to evoke all our senses. Especially the story for a brand which entertains all our citizens without using visuals for almost two decades.”
To bring alive the sound nuances of the film the composer duo Kedar and Bhargav too went to the actual location and recorded the actual sounds of the film. Whether it’s the bargaining sound of the foreigners or the sound of jalebi being fried, every sound present in the film is the real sound of the location.
Brands
JioHotstar EVP, head subscriptions (SVOD) and media Piyush Kothari exits
Streaming executive signs off after 6.5-year run across DisneyStar and JioStar
MUMBAI: Piyush Kothari, EVP and head subscriptions (SVOD) and media at JioHotstar, has stepped down from his role, bringing the curtain down on a 6.5-year stint spanning the DisneyStar and JioStar eras.
Kothari shared the update in a note reflecting on what he called a “transformative” phase for the media industry and a personal journey through the fast-evolving world of streaming and sports entertainment.
“The last few years have been transformative for the media industry and experiencing this journey up close over the past 6.5 years with DisneyStar and now JioStar has been a thriller,” he wrote, thanking colleagues and collaborators who shaped his time in the business.
Kothari joined JioHotstar in November 2024 as EVP, head subscriptions (svod) and media, where he oversaw subscription revenues and subscriber growth for the platform’s svod business.
Before that, he spent over five years at The Walt Disney Company in a series of leadership roles. His last position there was head of product, growth, partnerships and international expansion for Disney+ Hotstar, where he led efforts to scale subscription revenues across direct to consumer and partnership channels. The role also involved overseeing the service’s standalone businesses in markets such as Singapore, Canada and the UK.
Earlier, he served as lead, corporate office and strategic projects, working across the company’s entertainment, sports and streaming businesses. He also headed business operations at Mashal Sports, the entity behind the Pro Kabaddi League, where he helped steer the league through key commercial milestones including a five year broadcast and streaming media rights deal.
Alongside his operational roles, Kothari also served as nominee director on the board of Mashal Sports and was a director on the board of Novi Digital, the company that operates Hotstar.
Before entering the media and entertainment space, Kothari held senior roles across consulting, fintech and conglomerates. He worked with Welspun Group as head, group executive office, with Aditya Birla Group as joint president and business head, digital, analytics and strategy at Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank, and earlier served as vice president in the chairman’s office at the group.
His career also includes stints at Accenture as principal, Accenture Strategy, and earlier at Shell in channel development and sales.
Reflecting on his time in the media sector, Kothari said he leaves with a lasting belief in India’s subscription economy. He also joked about picking up a new affection along the way.
“Carrying with me love for kabaddi, a deep belief in the potential of the subscriptions business in India, and fond memories and friendships,” he wrote, adding that he is now “onward to the next chapter”.
