iWorld
Chaitanya Verma releases soulful indie pop track ‘Meri Banke Rehna’
Mumbai: Emerging singer and songwriter Chaitanya Verma releases his latest single, ‘Meri Banke Rehna’, through Hoopr, India’s first music licensing platform. This Indie-Pop track expresses the universal desire to hold onto a loved one, with an infectious rhythm and emotionally resonant lyrics. The song serves as a heartfelt dedication for anyone wishing to express their deepest feelings.
Alongside the track, a lyrical video is available on YouTube, adding depth to the soulful tune. ‘Meri Banke Rehna’ demonstrates Verma’s talent for translating raw emotions into music that resonates with listeners. The song touches on love, connection, and commitment, and is available for streaming on Hoopr (https://hoopr.ai/track/meri-banke-rehna) and YouTube.
Chaitanya Verma, originally from Nainital, Uttarakhand, is a semi-classically trained singer based in Mumbai. He combines his heartfelt songwriting with sound engineering expertise, crafting a unique sound that blends soulfulness with contemporary flair.
Chaitanya Verma commented, “I’m incredibly thankful to Hoopr for providing a platform that not only supports independent artists like myself but also connects us with a wider audience. ‘Meri Banke Rehna’ is very special to me, and it’s exciting to see it reach new listeners through Hoopr. I’m looking forward to creating more music and continuing this journey with the amazing support from Hoopr.”
Hoopr’s co-founder and ceo, Gaurav Dagaonkar added, “At Hoopr, we believe in empowering all kinds of music artists, whether they’re just starting out or are established in their careers. Chaitanya Verma’s ‘Meri Banke Rehna’ is a beautiful addition to our platform, and we’re proud to provide a space for artists like him to share their unique talents with the world. Our mission is to give musicians the tools and opportunities they need to grow, and we’re thrilled to see such incredible talent being showcased on Hoopr.”
Hoopr’s general manager of music, Bhumika Shukla emphasised, “At Hoopr, our focus is on nurturing the indie music landscape by giving talented artists like Chaitanya Verma the platform to reach a wider audience. ‘Meri Banke Rehna’ exemplifies the rich, emotional depth that indie music brings to listeners. We are dedicated to fostering creative voices and ensuring that artists have the tools they need to thrive and connect with their fans.”
Chaitanya’s artistic mission is to inspire love and contentment in his audience. ‘Meri Banke Rehna’ extends his vision, marking another step in his musical journey. He looks forward to continuing this path and seeing where his music takes him next.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
