MxMIndia

Author: Our Staff

  • Stars Akshay Kumar

    Lowe Lintas creates brand film for Dollar Bigboss

    Dollar Industries Limited, manufacturers of hosiery  and innerwear apparels, rolls out a new brand film starring Akshay Kumar. The film conceptualised by Lowe Lintas Kolkata.

    Said Mr Vinod Kumar Gupta, Managing Director, Dollar Industries Limited: “We have enhanced the Bigboss range to include not only innerwear but also athleisure, gym-wear, and casuals for men. Through our enduring decade-long partnership with our brand ambassador, superstar Mr Akshay Kumar, our brand has experienced substantial growth.”

    Commenting on the campaign, Mohit Pasricha, Unit Creative Director, Lowe Lintas said: “Quite frankly, being punctual isn’t something that should be even up for debate. Unfortunately, being late has become the usual norm. However, come to think about it, and we will realise that the people who should be the most ‘busy’, are in fact very particular about time. The same holds true for Akshay. Despite being such a busy superstar, Akshay is a real stickler for punctuality. So, when we conceived the new commercial, we decided to stitch Akshay’s life values with riveting water-sport action so that in the end, it is not just relatable to the audience but also makes for an entertaining watch.”

  • To elevate social presence

    Admatazz bags mandate for Boss Appliances

    Admatazz, a Mumbai-based digital agency that uses creative, media, and technology to solve marketing problems, has bagged the integrated social media and search engine optimization (SEO) marketing mandate of Boss Appliances.

    As part of the mandate, Admatazz will handle the creative communications of the brand across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to elevate social presence along with boosting organic traffic.

    Speaking on the account win, Yash Chandiramani, Founder and Chief Strategist at Admatazz, said: “We are glad to add Boss Appliances to our roster. As we grow as a company, we look to partner with brands who believe in our methods and approach, and we are glad Boss Appliances entrusted their digital presence duties to us. Our key aim is to strengthen the brand’s digital presence by curating interesting content that can be made in this category and increasing the brand’s reach and audience engagement.”

    Vidhi Gala, Director of Marketing at Boss Appliances added: “As a brand that has been present for over four decades, we have always moved forward with the times, and as we see the digital and social media space grow rapidly and consumers become more active, we realise the need to strengthen our online presence. With Admatazz, we are glad to find like-minded agency partners who are enthusiastic and excited to build our brand as we do. We look forward to our association with them.”

  • Move expected to create greater deterrence and support enforcement

    CCPA and ASCI join hands to strengthen Advertising Regulation in India

    The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) and The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) both operate with a mutual goal of protecting consumer interests. This objective is central to the missions of both ASCI and the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) when it comes to the issue of misleading advertisements.

    It is noteworthy that ASCI’s code and associated guidelines in the area of advertising are harmonious with several guidelines enforced by the Central Consumer Protection Authority. These encompass guidelines concerning misleading advertisements, dark patterns, influencer guidelines, coaching institutes, greenwashing and more.  In light of this alignment, the CCPA has recognized that any violation of ASCI’s code pertaining to misleading advertisements may potentially contravene the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and its related guidelines.

    Therefore, the CCPA has requested ASCI to forward any advertisement that is non-compliant with the ASCI Code and could potentially violate the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, along with its accompanying guidelines, to CCPA for appropriate action. Any such case escalated by ASCI concerning misleading advertisements will be promptly addressed and handled in strict accordance with the Consumer Protection Act 2019 by the CCPA.

    This collaboration comes amidst the growing complexity of the advertising landscape, especially with respect to digital advertising. Commenting on this development, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary DoCA said, “The alignment between ASCI’s code and CCPA’s guidelines highlights a collective effort towards promoting transparency and fairness in advertising. With similar objectives, CCPA and ASCI can work in complementary ways to ensure that any infringements are addressed effectively. New challenges are being created by digital advertising, and keeping pace demands a collaborative approach with like-minded bodies.  Regulators working closely with self-regulators is an established best practice, and we hope that with this partnership, regulation of Indian advertising keeps getting more effective. Where voluntary compliance with the CCPA guidelines is not forthcoming, or in the case of repeat offenders, the CCPA has the powers to impose fines and penalties. We will not shy away from enforcing the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act as needed.”

    Manisha Kapoor, CEO and Secretary-General ASCI said: “We have been working closely with DoCA and CCPA on several issues, and we are truly delighted to deepen this relationship.  ASCI has deep expertise and specialization in advertising regulation and we thank CCPA and DoCA for their trust and their collaborative approach. A robust self-regulatory system helps all stakeholders and this partnership is a positive step in taking self-regulation to the next level.”

    DoCA and ASCI have, in recent times, held joint consultations and collaborations on several issues surrounding advertising such as Influencer Guidelines, Greenwashing, Dark Patterns and Surrogate Advertising, creating greater dialogue and alignment between industry, civil society and regulators. Advertising self-regulators around the world work closely with the governments in models of co-regulation in formal and informal ways. Given the complex nature of advertising today and the borderless nature of the online space, issues like disguised advertising, deepfakes and scams are coming to the fore, such partnerships gain significance in effective advertising regulation.

  • To empower women to confront gender taboos

    Sirona Hygiene launches campaign

    Sirona Hygiene, a brand focusing on women’s menstrual health and intimate hygiene, ignited a  campaign aimed at smashing societal taboos and stereotypes surrounding women.

    A symbolic wall adorned with phrases like “Must be a girl driver,” “Periods are dirty,” “Women cannot enter the kitchen during periods,” “Women should have kids before 30” and other taboos were featured at the event. Plates, cups, and jugs made of terracotta were also inscribed with similar taboo phrases.

    Speaking about the campaign, Anika Wadhera, Head of Marketing at Sirona, said: “Our initiative to break taboos is about empowering women to reject stereotypes and embrace their true potential.” The event received overwhelming interest and involvement, with attendees expressing appreciation for the opportunity to speak out against deeply rooted social norms and share their experiences of shattering taboos.”

  • Partners with top comedians like Kapil Sharma and digital stars

    Sprite returns with ‘Joke in a Bottle’ campaign

    Sprite, the refreshing, lime-flavoured soft drink from the Coca-Cola Company, is back with ‘Joke in a Bottle’, following the success of its inaugural season. Strengthening its renowned ‘Scan Karo, Joke Suno, Thand Rakho! campaign from last year, the brand is set to become the ultimate heat hack for this season, delivering a fresh wave of comedic content. With a simple scan of a bottle, youngsters can unravel jokes across 9+ regional languages across their most relatable topics such as exams, college, relationships, food and much more.

    To spearhead the campaign, they’ve collaborated with three pairs tied by their love for comedy. For the nationwide commercial we will see Kapil Sharma, together with Suryakumar Yadav who is known for his quick-wit in the Indian cricket Team. Following this, the Bengali commercial will feature superstar Dev Adhikari and Comedian Niranjan Mondal, and the Oriya commercial will feature actor Sabyasachi Mishra and comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath.

    Commenting on the new campaign, Tish Condeno, Senior category director, sparkling flavours, Coca Cola India and South-West Asia, said: “We are thrilled to bring back Sprite’s Joke in a Bottle campaign, following the outstanding response from last year. Our goal remains unchanged: to infuse our consumers’ lives with happiness, delivering genuine and relatable content that resonates with our brand ethos. Sprite is dedicated to offering an unmatched, delightful experience, and we are eagerly looking forward to spreading joy and laughter with everyone!”

    Ritu Sharda, Chief Creative Office, Ogilvy India (North): “Sprite Joke in A Bottle, now running in its second year, not only has regional jokes, but the campaign is regional too. Real comedians have joined forces with popular personalities to keep the heat down and laughter up. The campaign features stars like Kapil Sharma and SKY for the north market, Dev and Niranjan for the Bengali market and Sabyasachi and Biswa for Oriya. The campaign will surely tickle you in the language you love and strengthen the brand’s promise of ‘Thand Rakh’.

  • Our offices are closed on Friday, March 29 for Good Friday

    Good Friday holiday. See you April 1

    We apologise for two ‘no edition’ days in a calendar week, but since it’s Good Friday and a holiday for most offices in our ecosystem, save the newsfolk of course, our offices are shut too. There will hence be no scheduled updates and newsletter edition tomorrow, March 29.

    But we will be back on Monday, April 1, with our regular views, news and analyses.

    See you then.

  • To support the company's India's journey of growth in the region

    PHD India wins Oppo mandate

    Oppo smartphone and accessories has appointed PHD India to lead its integrated media mandate, following a competitive multi-agency pitch.

    Said PHD India CEO, Monaz Todywalla: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey of growth with our new partner, OPPO. The brand is an innovator in its space and with PHD’s deep expertise in media, consumer strategies and advanced thinking – ‘Intelligence. Connected.’ – that combines data, technology, and human expertise collaboratively, we look forward to building a stronger affinity for Oppo India.”

  • Billed as a cinematic tribute to Mmotherhood

    Chrome unveils ‘Galact’ TVC

    Chrome Pictures has unveiled its latest film ‘Galact’, directed by Roopali Singhal. The film, notes a communique, celebrates motherhood and the bond between the child and their mother in a candid, authentic, and graceful manner.

    Said Sidhant Mago, Creative Head at Daftar Creative Consultancy: “When I first heard about Galact, it instantly reminded me of the iconic Bollywood line ‘Ma ka doodh piya hai toh saamne aa…’ We all know there’s nothing that compares to a mother’s milk. That’s why we wanted to craft the film around this powerful theme, reminding everyone of the irreplaceable bond between a mother and her child. Kudos to Roopali and the team for bringing this vision to life so beautifully.”

    Added Singhal: “Sidhant Mago yet again came up with a unique and edgy script and Abhishek Notani (Producer) and I were instantly hooked.  As a Director I knew it was paramount to get the tonality right. While retaining the essence of the subject, the biggest challenge was to make an engaging and light-hearted film. On top of that, we had to get viewers to accept the visual of a mother breastfeeding on camera. I was sure that the best way to do this was to shoot with real lactating mothers. Thanks to an incredibly sensitive and graceful crew we were able to overcome that challenge with ease. It was a joy to shoot with children and is reflected in the film. Shubhojit Mukherjee’s music was the last magic touch that the film needed.”

  • Launches AI-powered fun-filled #FansWaliHoli

    Colors launch third collab with Imperial Blue

    Viacom18’s flagship Hindi entertainment channel Colors launched a campaign to launch its third collaboration with Seagram’s Imperial Blue Packaged Drinking Water and Wavemaker India for its #FansWaliHoli campaign, powered by generative AI technology. This initiative delivers a personalised and interactive Holi experience for the fans, unprecedented in its scope.

    Said Vivek Mohan Sharma – Head, Branded Content, Viacom18: “We are constantly striving to push boundaries and explore innovative ways to connect brands with audiences. Building on Viacom18’s vision of adopting technology every step of the way, we are approaching content marketing through the lens of technology as well. By leveraging generative AI, we have created a fun and interactive experience for fans to celebrate Holi with their favourite Colors stars, while seamlessly integrating the Seagram’s Imperial Blue Packaged Drinking Water brand message. This campaign is a perfect example of how we are marrying content solutions with cutting-edge tech to deliver a holistic brand and content experience.”

    Added Ishwindar Singh, Pernod Ricard India: “Seagram’s Imperial Blue packaged drinking water stands for embracing life with a smile and Holi, the festival of colours, is the perfect occasion to showcase our brand’s commitment to inspiring smiles and light-hearted moments. Partnering with Wavemaker and Viacom18 has allowed us to merge technology with celebrations to amplify the consumer experience through developing engaging campaign around key festivals like Holi.”

    Said Shekhar Banerjee at Wavemaker India: “At Wavemaker we are extremely proud to partner with our client Pernod Ricard India and brand Imperial Blue packaged Drinking Water to have continuously deliver on engaging innovatively with our consumers. Holi wishes delivered through an AI led campaign which puts you in the same frame with your favourite celebrity and recreates a beautiful poster which can be shared on social, go up as a poster in your room, be your wallpaper or give you bragging rights within your circle, is simply magical.”

  • Production companies are invited to pitch ideas for factual and entertainment brands

    BBC Studios Social searching new talent globally

    In the first event of its kind, the commissioning team from BBC Studios Social is inviting indies of all scales and backgrounds to pitch fresh, short form concepts that extend and enrich existing IP, engage loyal fans, and reach new audiences on digital platforms.

    Said Chris Allen, Director, Digital Content Development: “In an increasingly competitive and fast maturing digital-first market, BBC Studios Social are committed to finding, developing, and partnering with the best independent producers and new talent globally. We love our world-class brands, and we’re super excited to share them with you to deliver new formats, new talent, and new ideas that are critical and commercial successes. Whether silly comedy sketches, or a mind-bending science documentary, we hope this will be the start of some beautiful creative partnerships.”

  • With team partnerships valuing around INR 300 cr

    Rise Worldwide dominates IPL 2024 sponsorship

    Rise Worldwide, the sports and event management company, has facilitated multiple marquee deals for the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a communique from the firm has claimed. It has closed team partnerships worth around INR 300 cr which includes five front-of-jersey deals, capturing an impressive 50% of the coveted inventory for IPL 2024. It has secured over 50 brand partnerships ahead of this season.

    Among these significant partnerships, Dream11 has joined forces with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders, while Luminous has taken the spotlight as the front-of-jersey partner for Rajasthan Royals.

    Said Nikhil Bardia, Head of Rise Worldwide: “This IPL season has reaffirmed our status as the preferred partner in the Indian Premier League ecosystem. Overall, we have locked over 50 agreements as of now across our various partner teams. We have witnessed an increase of 20 percent in the team sponsorship deals.”

  • To handle marquee brands, including Figaro Olive Oil, Bertolli Olive Oil

    Digitas India wins digital creative mandate of Deoleo Olive oil

    Digitas India, a connected marketing agency within the Publicis Groupe, has won the digital creative mandate of Deoleo India Pvt Ltd., the global leader in olive oil with esteemed brands such as Figaro and Bertolli.

    This collaboration entrusts Digitas India with the creative and social media responsibilities for Deoleo’s marquee products, including Figaro Olive Oil, Bertolli Olive Oil and Figaro baby range. The objective is to transform these classic brands through cutting-edge digital narratives and enhanced consumer engagement. Digitas India will also help the brands to venture into new markets while reinforcing the allegiance of existing clientele and heightening awareness about olive oil consumption.

    Sonia Khurana
    Sonia Khurana

    Sharing her enthusiasm on the partnership, Sonia Khurana, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Digitas India, said: “We are excited about our partnership with Deoleo. Building a brand on social media takes a deep understanding of the platforms, how the audiences interact with the content on these platforms and an appreciation of the brand & category. We hope to bring the best of all these to make Figaro and Bertolli a success on social media.”

    Satarupa Majumdar
    Satarupa Majumdar

    Added Satarupa Majumdar, Marketing Director – India and Middle East, Deoleo: “Collaborating with Digitas India represents a significant step in our strategy to connect more deeply with our consumers leveraging social media. Their creative ideas align entirely with our brand ethos, and we are confident that this partnership will help us tell our story in more convincing and significant ways to our audience.”

    This partnership heralds the launch of a series of innovative campaigns designed to showcase the distinct attributes of Deoleo’s products while engaging a wider audience through creative and interactive social media marketing initiatives.