MAM
VYRL originals and Akull of laal bindi fame, bring to you ‘I LOVE YOU’
MUMBAI: VYRL Originals, after releasing their back to back emotional and heartfelt tracks, is set to bring you a peppy romantic track with Akull. His previous track, ‘Laal Bindi’ was a chartbuster amongst the youth which became a cult on social media and digital platforms. After the mega success of ‘Laal Bindi’, Akull is sure to make you want to express your love with ‘I Love You’.
Just like ‘Laal Bindi’, Akull brings a melodious rendition in ‘I Love You’ that is hummable and addictive. We live in a day and age where people hesitate to express their feelings and love to even friends and family, The song depicts the true sense of being in love and a perfect track that will encourage you to convey your love fearlessly.
This track is penned by Akull along with the popular rapper, Mellow D and the video is shot in the picturesque locations of Turkey which is directed by Kenneth Lawrence. Akull is seen playing the part of a love stricken guy strumming with the guitar, taking the lady he loves to various beautiful locations and proposing her by expressing his love.
VYRL Originals is the frontrunner in building the culture and category of non-film music in India. Non-film music is making waves across streaming platforms, radio stations and other media. It is slowly and surely becoming a rage amongst the youth who are looking for original and meaningful music today. With “I Love You”, VYRL brings to its audience a tune to cherish and express love this season.
Akull on the release of his second track with VYRL Original shares “I am extremely happy and truly looking forward to the release of my new track ‘I Love You’. With this track we intend to spread love and get people to express love to their loved ones which is rare now-a-days. I am thankful to the entire team of VYRL Originals for their immense support and constant faith in me.”
On the release of this song, Vinit Thakkar, Senior Vice President, Universal Music Group India & South Asia said, “Akull is an extremely talented singer-songwriter and music producer. We saw an amazing response with his debut single ‘Laal Bindi’ last year across all digital and social media platforms. As an artist, Akull has grown phenomenally in the last 12 months and I am proud that the entire VYRL Originals team has made a significant contribution in his journey and I am very excited about his new release ‘I Love You’ which is out today”.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
