eNews
All roads led to Zomaland this season with a whopping footfall of over 120,000 attendees
Mumbai: From the cheerful streets of Pune and Delhi to the lively bylanes of Kolkata and the shores of Mumbai, the fourth season of Zomaland by Zomato Live, the LIVE experiences and ticketing by Zomato, which scaled across eight cities this year, culminating in a high-energy finale at Bengaluru. Witnessing a footfall of over 120,000 attendees across all cities, Zomaland orchestrated multi-genre entertainment, diverse cuisine and immersive experiences, highlighting the festival’s extensive scale.
The undeniable love for food showed brightly as gastronomes from all corners of these eight cities gathered to indulge their taste buds and choose from a spread of 4380 dishes and over 15 beverages. Zomaland served as a stage for 438 established and upcoming food and beverage brands that served up a delightful affair of international and local cuisine.
In this season, Zomaland curated an eclectic ensemble of 98 musicians and comedians, featuring a mix of international, national, and regional artists, to treat its attendees to 135 hours of pure entertainment. Some of the celebrated names in the music industry and crowd favourites such as Jay Sean, Juggy D, King, Ritviz, Jonita Gandhi, Daler Mehendi, and Indravathi among others set the stage of Zomaland ablaze with their electrifying performances.
Complementing the musical euphoria, renowned comedians of the country like Biswa, Gaurav Kapoor, Atul Khatri, and Aaditya Kulshreshth wooed the audience across these cities with their epic anecdotes and impeccable comic timing.
King, reflecting on his Zomaland experience, said “It was incredibly enjoyable to perform at Zomaland in different cities. The crowd’s energy was electrifying. As an artist, witnessing the audience genuinely enjoy the performance brings me immense joy”.
Jay Sean added, “I had an amazing time performing at Zomaland in India. It’s truly a special feeling to hear fans sing along to all the songs, even from the early days of my 2-decade career. A big shout out to every fan who came out to the event and had a great time, because I certainly did!”
Zomaland was a symphony of sights, sounds, and flavours! The iconic Ferris wheel, a towering landmark of the festival, presided over a scene bursting with carnival cheer. Laughter mingled with the excited chatter as attendees captured the vibrant atmosphere with a flurry of selfies. Games within the carnival city fueled the excitement, keeping the energy infectious.
That’s not all! From the “Table for Everyone” by Black & White Ginger Ale, a haven for discerning palates, to beauty pop-ups and stations for makeup aficionados, the festival catered to every desire. Immersed in the festival’s joyful spirit, Zomalanders savoured delicious food, captivating entertainment, and memories that would last a lifetime.
Commenting on the fourth season of Zomaland, Zeenah Vilcassim, CEO, of Zomato Live said, “Zomaland Season fourth was a resounding success! We soared to new heights, bringing the magic of India’s food and entertainment festival to eight cities across the country. We delivered on our promise of crafting a bigger and better experience than ever before.
As a platform that celebrates everything India loves, we poured our hearts into curating the ultimate extravaganza of food, LIVE entertainment, and culture. The overwhelming response this season has set a new standard. We’re already buzzing with ideas to make the next season even more immersive and unforgettable.”
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.
