MxMIndia

Author: mxmadmin

  • Can Har Ghar Tiranga be Har Saal? Sanjeev Kotnala hopes this does not remain a one-time campaign

    Tiranga everywhere

     

     

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev KotnalaAs I look outside, I can see that the density of Tiranga decorations is slowly decreasing. And am sure that in a few days, it will be tough to catch a sight of the tricolour in the near vicinity. Unlike other years, there was something different. The energy and public participation were like any other major community/ religious festival.

     

    Yes, there was the usual hoisting of the national flag, a march past and the patriotic songs blaring since morning.

     

    The permission to fly the Tiranga at home is not new. It was in 1995 that Navin Jindal approached the courts as the Flag Code prohibited flying the tricolour by private citizens. The Supreme Court’s 2004 judgment allowed every citizen to fly the national flag with respect, dignity and honour, thus making it a fundamental right. However, more changes were needed in the Flag Code before the Har Ghar Tiranga festival could be pushed. The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended permitting national flags which were machine-made or made of polyester and earlier handmade khadi material. Further amendment on July 19 2022, allowed the flag during day and night, thus paving the way for the nationwide celebration.

     

    It is different that if one strictly followed the Flag Code, many citizens could be under scrutiny and penalised for Flag misuse. Understanding the passion and the festivity – many incidents have been overlooked as they confirmed flying the flag with respect and right intent.

     

    There was a marked difference in the level of respect and care demonstrated by the citizens. There was social media communication on how, when and where to fly the Tiranga. How to dispose of and what to do after the festival. Some brands sensing the opportunity, have come forward for the proper disposal of Tiranga with all respect and care. We need more of it.

     

    The government could be faulted for not using the opportunity to push educating citizens about the national flag and anthem. It could have been done by communicating it through media- and would have been a minor part of the overall cost. Maybe the media could have done it on their own.

     

    It is essential to impart this knowledge, respect, and care in the early stages of education- at the school level. In marketing and branding terms, this was a 75th year celebration, a window of opportunity to recharge the nation. A perfect window for a Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.

     

    Further, it may be noted that the government, as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga, urged the citizens to fly Tiranga at their homes. However, the citizens have the full freedom and fundamental right to fly Tiranga every day and night of the year.

     

    TIRANGA SHOULD UNITE, NOT DIVIDE.

    Tiranga is a national pride that every citizen respects and cares for. So, making it in any way associated with religious and regional symbolism is a waste. One was surprised that SRK and Aamir Khan flying Tiranga at their residence was news for all the wrong reasons. Flying Tiranga or not flying it is in no way a measure of someone’s Desh bhakti – patriotism or nationalistic sentiments. It should remain so.

     

    NET-NET

    I hope this does not remain a one-time campaign. I hope we use the two opportunities almost six months apart, Independence and Republic Day, to celebrate the nation. And for that to continue and be purposefully pushed, we need to be cautious, educated, and respectful in handling the nation’s pride- our Tiranga.

    I hope that in future, we do not have to make do with wrongly crafted, poorly printed and shoddily cut fabric as the tricolour. I wish that we get back to only hand-woven Khadi material Tiranga. Perhaps, it is time that we have a set window for the national anthem and hoisting of the flag across the nation on such a day.

     

  • Will work towards fostering rapid growth and benchmarking the creative agency

    Publicis Worldwide appoints Oindrila Roy as MD

    By Our Staff

     

    Oindrila Roy
    Oindrila Roy

    Oindrila Roy marketing has been appointed Managing Director at Publicis Worldwide India.

     

    Paritosh Srivastava
    Paritosh Srivastava

    Welcoming Roy to the agency, Paritosh Srivastava, who also helms PWW operations, said: “Publicis Worldwide is the flagship agency network for the Groupe and India is a very critical market. Finding the right leader for PWW was quite a task. Oindrila is just the right person for the role for many reasons. She is that rare breed who has solid traditional brand management experience along with a keen sense of where the future lies. Oindrila has a rich and varied exposure to creative agencies, media and data, which our wonderful brands and clients can benefit from. Having worked in the Groupe before, she is familiar with the philosophy of ‘Power of One’ and the magic it can create for our client partners.”

     

  • Creates TVC for Jumbo Fast Card spiral shaped paper-based mosquito repellent

    Wunderman Thompson backs Goodknight

    By Our Staff

     

    Goodknight, household insecticide brand, from the house of Godrej Consumer Products Limited, unveiled a TVC campaign for Goodknight Jumbo Fast Card, a spiral-shaped paper-based mosquito repellent.

     

    Commenting on the TVC, Somasree Bose Awasthi, Chief Marketing Officer, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), said: “As the leader in the household insecticides category, Goodknight is committed to innovating and providing effective yet safe solutions at an affordable price point. With this TVC campaign, we want to emphasize that the moments spent with family are the ones that truly matter, and they don’t need interruption especially from mosquitoes. Goodknight Jumbo Fast Card vouches to protect families so that these special moments are cherished. Goodknight Jumbo Fast Card with its fast action instantly provides relief from disease-causing mosquitoes for a longer time.”

     

    Added Priya Pardiwalla and Steve Mathias, VPs and ECDs, Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, added: “The film is based on the insight that evenings are a time when we all come back home from work. A time to bond with families and play with our kids. But evenings are also a time when maximum mosquitoes enter our homes. Most of the solutions used in the evening don’t last long. The idea was focused on bringing alive a fun-filled evening between a dad and his daughter. And how Goodknight Jumbo Fast Card’s 4-hour long effect doesn’t let mosquitoes spoil their fun.”

     

     

  • … with a musical commercial, bringing alive Onam festivities while showcasing its wide product range and festive offers

    Godrej Appliances woos Kerala consumers

    By Our Staff

     

    As Kerala sets to embrace Onam, Godrej Appliances, the business unit of Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, has launched a new television commercial bringing alive the festive spirit with a characteristic local sound. The musical film integrates Onam festivities with the brand’s wide product range and new exciting offers.

     

    Conceptualised by Creativeland Asia, the campaign is the third in the series of brand’s collaboration with popular musician and singer Anoop Sankar.

     

    Speaking on the campaign Swati Rathi, Head-Marketing, Godrej Appliances said: “Onam marks the beginning of the festive season for appliances industry and accounts for more than 35% of the state’s sale. Kerala consumers have always demonstrated strong preference for the brand and the tailor made commercial celebrates this love while showcasing the brand’s wide product range for consumers to pick from, along with specially crafted Onam offers. The video will be promoted on TV and digital media.”

     

    Added Anu Joseph, Co-founder and Creative Vice Chairman, Creativeland Asia: “Godrej Appliances has a really special relationship with Kerala. Come Onam, and you can see that translate into some great offers that add to the festivities. This year’s film captures the joy that the Lucky Lakshaprabhu Offer brings with it. The song composed by Anoop Sankar adds to the magic.”

     

     

  • … by the death of stockmarket investor & billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, notes Ranjona Banerji

    When I-Day celebrations were almost overshadowed….

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiThe death of stockmarket investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala on August 14 almost overshadowed India’s Independence Day celebrations.

    Media outlets were lavish in their praise of the late billionaire. They informed readers and viewers who may not be up on stockmarket that Jhunjhunwala was “India’s Warren Buffett”, that he was the “Big Bull”, and that he “always believed in India” (whatever that means) and he was a big “philanthropist”.

    Jhunjhunwala also invested in companies and that often meant that those companies did very well and made a lot of money for their owners. He apparently was not a big investor in internet startups. He had recently started an airline.

    And let’s not forget that he “believed in India”. Some clarified that he believed in the Indian stockmarket. Or that he felt that the Indian stockmarket had not been given its due. I quote from the Times of India’s front page: “Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Big Bull who backed India, dead: …always believed deeply in India… unflagging belief in the country…” (see screenshot).

    Of course in today’s newspaper rules, the news part (how and when) is left out or comes later on the assumption that the internet and TV got there first. So, news about what happened to the gentleman comes in para 3, after all the commentary and praise. Obviously there was no mention of Jhunjhunwala’s comment that democracy was a hindrance to growth. India’s doesn’t do obituaries, only eulogies. And to be fair, no article claimed that the late investor believed in Indian democracy.

    I was however somewhat saddened by the “Big Bull” name, by just about every news outlet, because I belong to that generation where the Big Bull was Harshad Mehta. One article even said the first Big Bull was MJ Pherwani. Given the whole stockmarket scam of 1992, “Big Bull” had become a somewhat pejorative term. Clearly, times change.

    I was also intrigued by the philanthropist bit. I have a crazy interest in the overall general lack of generosity of big Indian business. Belief in India or not.

    An internet search for philanthropy informed me that he had invested in Asoka University. Am not certain that qualifies as philanthropy exactly.

    He had also planned “in a candid admission” said Business Today, though I am uncertain why candid has been used in this context, to set up a foundation. The article from 2021 candidly admits that Jhunjhunwala did not specify what this foundation would do but that it would have a starting capital of Rs 500 crore.

    https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/in-focus/story/rakesh-jhunjhunwala-lays-down-charity-plans-to-set-up-foundation-with-over-rs-500-cr-capital-301672-2021-07-18

    America’s Warren Buffet of course has planned to give away 99 per cent of his wealth ($103 billion) to charity. And has already given away a lot.

    Of the Pledge that Buffet and Bill Gates started, Wipro’s Azim Premji was one of the first Indian businesspersons to sign up, the Nilekanis, and Anil Agarwal of Vedanta have also signed up.

    The news that Jhunjhunwala ($8.5 billion) wanted to give his money away is great news.

    One would only wish that the media would tell us exactly what, in a few candid admissions.

    Instead, we have speculation and guff.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2022/08/14/billionaire-investor-rakesh-jhunjhunwala-known-as-indias-warren-buffett-dies-at-62/?sh=2cfccd4e7378

    https://www.india.com/business/rakesh-jhunjhunwala-as-a-philanthropist-big-bull-donated-approx-rs-13-69-lakh-per-day-5571664/

    Perhaps Jhunjhunwala’s family will fulfil his wishes.

     

    **

    Meanwhile, as journalists and their newsrooms forget all about Jhunjhunwala by next week, on to India’s 75th year and 76th Independence Day celebrations.

    The usual high praise minus context for the Prime Minister’s speech. Uncontested were his comments on ending corruption (am certain I heard that in 2016 on the eighth of November to be precise), how women should not be insulted (also on the day, rapists and murderers of Bilkis Bano and her family were granted early freedom for Independence Day), and how family favours or dynasty and nepotism were wrong (shhh, not a word about the Union Home Minister’s son and the BCCI).

    That India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was left out of several official government released and photographs did not get as much traction as it should have, in the mainstream media. Barring perhaps from The Telegraph.

    Aaj Tak has to win the award here for trying to follow the BJP government diktat in erasing Nehru by sticking an anchor right in front of Nehru, while showing a film from August 15, 1947. Apparently, they later “corrected” this.

    Get fooled by this if you really want to be a fool.

     

    Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal

     

  • An unfair question to ask since connects with God (prayers, 'mannats', etc) are always hyper-personal. But then we don't fashion ourselves as being fair. So, let's hear it from Dr Bhaskar Das in the August 178 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

    Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das | You are a devotee of Lord Krishna and it’s Janmashtami. Any special missive for Him today?

    Bhaskar DasAn unfair question to ask since connects with God (prayers, ‘mannats’, etc) are always hyper-personal. But then we don’t fashion ourselves as being fair. So, let’s hear it from Dr Bhaskar Das in the August 178 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

     

    If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

     

    Q.   You are a devotee of Lord Krishna and it’s Janmashtami today. If we were to tell you that we can ensure your message will reach Him, would you like to send him any special missive?

     

    A. My pray to Lord Krishna would be to give me strength and inspire me to face all challenges of life with great courage. Incidentally, He is aware of it anyway even if I don’t verbalise it. He listens to all who has faith in Him. When We repose our faith in Him, He resides within us.

     

  • Features Dia Mirza and Shweta Tripathi Sharma

    HK Vitals launches first campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    HK Vitals, Vitamin and Mineral Supplements (VMS) has launched its first brand campaign featuring  actors Dia Mirza and Shweta Tripathi Sharma.

     

    Said Chella Pandyan, Chief Operating Officer at HealthKart: ‘As a brand, our primary focus is to provide health supplementation of outstanding quality & making it easily accessible to our customers. Our effort with this campaign is to build wide awareness around the benefits of quality, real collagen in holistic skin care.’

     

    Speaking about the new campaign, Neha Gupta, Head of Brand, HK Vitals added: ‘Health is Wealth but overthinking about it causes more harm to us than good. Health is generally seen as a serious topic, something that brings fear and stress in our minds. However, at HK Vitals, we feel that a healthier inside leads to a happier outside and we encourage people to act and start their health journey by embracing supplements as a part of their daily routines. HK Vitals Skin Radiance Collagen lets you do just that so that you can live worry-free, knowing that our product will take good care of you.’

     

     

  • To build brand awareness through strategic counsel for the cloud enterprise

    Endorphins Entertainment bags PR mandate for ZStack

    By our Staff

     

    Endorphins Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, an integrated communications agency headquartered in New Delhi, has won the PR mandate for ZStack International, a cloud computing technologies vendor specialising in the research and development of cloud computing software and hardware.

     

    Commenting on this association, Keith Poon, Executive Managing Director, ZStack International said: “We are excited to offer our Cloud solution services and the values they bring to help leverage the market potential for our technology, as well as accelerate our India go-to-market strategies. For arrangement of PR activities, we decide to work with Endorphins Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, a digital marketing and creative solutions-based company specializing in providing solutions to meet corporates as well as social needs. They provide result-oriented services, skilfully crafted by a global team of experts. I strongly believe that they would help ZStack discover unique and engaging ways to capture the attention of audience. The multi-billion cloud services market in India is expected to grow further stronger with a significant part of the enterprise workload finding its way on the cloud. ZStack International is ready to proactively deliver our Cloud solution services to empower every enterprise to have own cloud in India!”

     

    Added Manish Bhatia, CEO and Creative Head, Endorphins Entertainment Pvt Ltd.: “We are elated to be trusted by ZStack International for a critically important role of helping them to build their business in India through strategic public relations. With our expertise, we will be able to position the brand as the industry leader in providing the Cloud solutions services to the enterprises at a competitive price. We will also help the brand to regularly engage with the key audiences in the country.”

     

  • Allows customers to #BrewYourOwnStarbucks

    Tata Starbucks celebrates 10th anniversary

    By Our Staff

     

    Tata Starbucks is observing its 10th anniversary. A campaign has been launched to announce #BrewYourOwnStarbucks. The campaign film highlights Tata Starbucks’ 10-year milestone in India and has been conceptualised and produced by Edelman India in collaboration with The Yellow Umbrella Films.

     

    Talking about the campaign, Deepa Krishnan, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd said: “At Starbucks, customers are at the centre of everything we do, and it all starts with their names. As we mark our 10th anniversary in India, we want to celebrate all our customers and the hidden barista in them. Our customers are as passionate about coffee as we are and are full of new ideas and creativity. In this unique campaign, customers are invited to share their own bespoke recipes for a Starbucks beverage and stand a chance to get their names and special beverages featured on the Starbucks menu. This unique first of its kind initiative is our way of thanking our customers and giving them an opportunity to be Starbucks Baristas.”

     

  • On the all-new range of Floral Essence Shower Gels

    Yardley London unveils new campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Yardley, a British personal care brand specialising in cosmetics and fragrances, has launched its new commercial on its all-new range of Floral Essence Shower Gels.  The commercial has been conceptualised by Contract Advertising.

     

    Said Manish Vyas, CEO, Wipro Yardley: “While Yardley has always being known for its fine floral fragrances, through this new range of shower gel under Floral Essence sub brand, we intend to bring forth goodness of floral ingredients apart from the fragrance.”

     

    Added Ayan Chakraborty, General Manager, Contract Mumbai: “When you hear of a spa like experience, something that is invigorating and indulgent immediately comes to mind. This is the thought that we used to launch Yardley’s range of Floral Essence Shower Gels. The fragrance uplifts you instantly and the floral oils work on the skin. It is like being in a spa everyday.”

     

  • To consolidate the performance organisation

    GroupM Nexus appoints senior leadership in APAC

    By Our Staff

     

    GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, has unveiled a roster of C-suite appointments in Asia Pacific (APAC) who will lead the regional transformation of GroupM Nexus, a global performance organisation that unites the network’s performance talent and technologies into one single outfit.

     

    Arshan Saha
    Arshan Saha

    GroupM Nexus APAC leadership appointments comprise Arshan Saha, CEO of GroupM Nexus APAC (formerly CEO of Xaxis & Specialty Businesses APAC), Jon Thurlow, COO of GroupM Nexus APAC (this is an additional appointment to his corporate remit as COO of GroupM APAC), Deepika Nikhilender, CEO of Xaxis APAC (formerly Senior Vice President of Xaxis APAC) andBrett Poole, CEO of Finecast APAC & AUNZ (formerly Managing Director of Finecast Australia).

     

    Said Saha: “GroupM Nexus is a cross-channel performance-led organisation that unites our expertise in service excellence, AI-technology and the most advanced solutions. This is the future of marketing, and we are poised to offer our clients and agencies the most powerful performance engine that will accelerate their growth. I’m honoured to be working alongside some of the world’s best specialists at GroupM Nexus to collectively cultivate a better media ecosystem.”

     

  • To promote freedom from fraud

    HDFC Bank launches ‘Vigil Aunty’ campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    HDFC Bank has announced that the Bank will celebrate 75 years of India’s independence by launching a new campaign, ‘Vigil Aunty’, which will encourage people across the country to practise safe banking habits.

     

    Commenting on the launch of this campaign, Sameer Ratolikar, Chief Information Security Officer, HDFC Bank, said: “Fraudsters are increasingly adopting social engineering tactics to steal money from customers’ bank accounts. On the pretext of offering certain services or promising help, the fraudsters are luring customers into sharing their PINs, OTPs, passwords, and other confidential banking information with them. Hence, there is a need to educate customers on safe banking habits and make them aware of the various modus operandi used by fraudsters. At HDFC Bank, we recognise our role in creating this awareness.”