MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • To lead International Business and Operations

    SPNI elevates Jaideep Janakiram

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has announced leadership enhancement plans within its International Business and Operations division. Jaideep Janakiram, formerly the Head of International Business (Americas), has been promoted to Head of International Business and Operations, succeeding Neeraj Arora.

    Said Rajesh Kaul, Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer of Distribution & International Business and Business Head of Sports Cluster.: “Jaideep has been an integral part of our team, demonstrating remarkable expertise and leadership. I am confident that our international business will continue to thrive and expand under his guidance.” Janakiram will report to Kaul.

    In this transition, Shalin Patel, Head of International Business (Europe); Sharon Patel, Manager of Revenue Accounting; Naveen Kunal, Senior Manager of Ad Sales; Kavita Paul, Lead of International Operations; and Moitrani Dhar, Lead of Research and Programming Strategy, will report to Jaideep. The teams in the US and Canada will also continue to report to him.

  • It will be presented on October 1, 2024

    Piyush Pandey honoured with Created for Creatives LIA Legend Award

    Piyush Pandey, former Global Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy, will be accepting the Created for Creatives LIA Legend Award onsite, in Las Vegas on October 1, 2024.  Also in attendance will be the LIA Jurors, onsite Creative LIAisons attendees and speakers and global press.

    Notes a communique we have received: “The LIA Legend Award is given to a leader of the industry, past or present, who through their talent, vision and generosity has demonstrated outstanding creativity. They are those who are relentless and unwavering in their commitment to build up the industry through their indefatigable mentoring, teaching and developing of others. London International Awards (LIA), is pleased to honour Piyush Pandey with its 2024 LIA Legend Award. As the man who put Indian advertising on the world map, Piyush is the second creative giant to be bestowed this prestigious award by LIA. He was appointed the Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India in 2004. He also went onto serve as Global Chief Creative Officer for two and a half years. In January 2024, he stepped into an advisory role.”

    Pandey has been with Ogilvy since 1982 and has served as the Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India from 2004 to 2023.  On January 1, 2024, he stepped into the role of Chief Advisor Ogilvy India.  He continues to serve on the Ogilvy Worldwide Creative Council.

  • To advocate for dermatologist-guided skin health

    Cureskin launches TVC

    Cureskin, a skincare brand, launches its first television commercial (TVC) campaign titled ‘Skin Hai, Mazak Nahi’. The campaign features OTT actors Shrishti Ganguly Rindani and Ambrish Verma and is conceptualised by Sick Content Studios.

    Elaborating on the concept around the campaign, Guna Kakulapati, Co-Founder & CEO at Cureskin said: “Cureskin recognises that healthy skin is more than just aesthetics; it’s about promoting overall well-being and fostering self-confidence. Our ‘Skin Hai, Mazak Nahi’ campaign is designed to provoke a national dialogue around prioritising dermatologist-guided skin health via personalised science-based solutions. Cureskin is dedicated to providing the expert guidance and support necessary for everyone to achieve healthy skin.”

    Added Joy Chauhan founder of Sick Content Studios: “I feel we are witnessing a great brand, with a differentiated business model in the making. We are delighted to be a part of this journey. While the category is full of promises, our challenge was to bring forth our dermatologist-first model in a highly cluttered beauty and skincare category. Sincerity, honesty and not trivialising the critical Skin health issues were paramount. ‘Skin Hai, Mazak Nahi’ is a line, which captures the entire intent and essence of the brand’s existence. This campaign will bring to life every aspect of the issues that consumers face in the skin and hair health space.”

  • His journey from a modest background to becoming a media entrepreneur is nothing short of inspirational

    RIP, Ramoji Rao

    Ramoji Rao

    Visionary media-owner Ramoji Rao passed away on Saturday, June 8 at the age of 87. His passing away marks the end of an era for Indian cinema and journalism, leaving behind a legacy that has profoundly influenced the country’s media landscape. His impact on the film and media industry was acknowledged by numerous accolades throughout his life, including the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to journalism and literature.

     

    Born Cherukuri Ramoji Rao on November 16, 1936, in Pedaparupudi, Andhra Pradesh, Rao’s journey from a modest background to becoming a media entrepreneur is nothing short of inspirational. He founded the Eenadu newspaper in 1974, which quickly grew to become one of the largest circulated dailies in India, setting new standards for regional journalism. His media empire expanded to include the ETV network, which launched several channels catering to diverse languages and regions across India, further democratising access to information and entertainment. His media empire included Newstime, the English daily, and a slew of non-Telugu channels which he later sold to Television Eighteen.

     

    His Ramoji Film City is as much a must-visit for tourists as is the Charminar in Hyderabad. Established in 1991, the Ramoji Film City is spread over 1,666 acres near Hyderabad. It holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest film studio complex in the world.

     

    Under Rao’s leadership, Ramoji Group’s ventures also spanned into sectors like hospitality, retail, and education, showcasing his versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. Priya pickles is a brand that he owns. He ventured into Soma, a fruit drinks brand that was sold in sachets.

     

    Not content to rest on past laurels, Rao blessed an aggressive foray in digital media. The Eenadu group is actively involved with events in the advertising and marketing world. For instance, at Goafest 2024 held late last month, Eenadu was among the partners.

     

    The writer is a senior industryperson who expressed his/her desire to stay anonymous.

  • Showcases a series of six digital films

    Publicis India creates campaign for Enamor Lingerie

    Publicis India has unveiled its latest campaign, “Fabulously Futuristic,” for Enamor, lingerie brand. It is a series of six digital films that breaks away from traditional lingerie advertising and showcases the limitless power and grace inherent to everyday activities.

    Said Shitu Patil & Aman Mannan, Joint National Creative Directors, Publicis India: “Enamor has been at the forefront of innovation in the category for a long time. So, for the Innovations range campaign, we wanted the brand to claim what it rightfully owns. It showcases stylish, strong women flexing their bodies and possibilities in moments of complete unabashed freedom that the cutting-edge technology in the bras support them with. We chose artforms like ballet and aerial yoga to power punch the ‘proof of concepts’ beautifully. The music and movements are all a celebration of the Enamor woman’s free spirit as she moves into a fabulous future.”

    Added Sandra Daniels, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Enamor: “Lingerie is an extremely personal and fundamental part of a woman’s life. Not only is it a product she uses every single day, but also an essential experience for her as a woman. She wants to ensure that she is picking a piece that is perfect in every way- be it the perfect fit, the perfect fabric or the perfect style. With the Innovations campaign, we have aimed to address these concerns and all with the objective of allowing women to have the best lingerie experience, so they can be completely free and comfortable to explore and experience their most fabulous self.”

  • Video content consumption witnessed significant increase; 194% from 2023

    Wavemaker presents Earned Equity Report on IPL 2024

    Wavemaker MESH – the Real Time Data Intelligence solution released the 9th edition of Earned Equity report around the Indian Premier League (IPL). The report analyses how the audience perception of IPL has evolved over the years. It focuses on the digital audience and uses data points like consumption data around digital content and also social and search insights.

    Commenting on the report, Ajay Gupte, CEO – South Asia, Wavemaker said: “We are excited to present the 9th edition of Earned Equity Report on IPL. This report is poised to be an invaluable resource for cricket enthusiasts and brands alike, particularly in shaping their marketing strategies. We are confident that it will provide valuable insights to brands, paving the way for future sponsorships and partnerships.”

    Talking about the report Vishal Jacob, Chief Transformation Officer, Wavemaker India added: “The Earned Equity Report offers a comprehensive analysis of the social buzz surrounding IPL 2024, providing brands with actionable insights to navigate the competitive sports media landscape.”

  • A series of four films has been created by Leo Burnett

    Flipkart launches campaign

    Flipkart, e-commerce marketplace, has launched a campaign of four films featuring Shehnaaz Gill, Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak, Rupali Ganguly, Raghu Ram and Rajiv Lakshman.

    Speaking about the new campaign, Pratik Shetty, Senior Director – Marketing and Media, Flipkart, said: “Our latest campaign reaffirms Flipkart’s commitment to customer delight by offering great value on original brands, exceptional savings on monthly grocery, same-day delivery through our ‘Dawn to Dusk store’ and our promise of being the single point of contact for a speedy resolution for all consumer concerns. This promise is reinforced with beloved characters like Virus, Maya, and Monisha, alongside celebrities such as Shehnaaz Gill, Raghu, and Rajiv, who join us as Flipkart officers for each of these promises.”

    Added Sachin Kamble, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett India: “We thoroughly enjoyed bringing together some of the most iconic audience-favorite characters and the creative process of bringing their signature dialogues into play with real characters resulting in a series of humorous yet very reliable brand promises for Flipkart. We have woven a series of 4 films with quirky characters and each film reiterates an important attribute about Flipkart while keeping it fun and humorous.’’

  • From the Editor: We need to change!

    From the Editor: We need to change!

    When I watched the Exit Poll results over the weekend, I was dismayed. How can the masses be such asses, I wonder. Should I go in for a Vipassana-like self-exile for a week after the results and figure what I should be doing in life, and with MxM?

     

    Yes, I am a Hindu, and am proud of my religion, but I am of the firm belief that majoritarianism sucks. Especially of the form that has existed over the last three decades and that reached a crescendo in the last five years. I have seen some close friends and even members of my family turn aggressive (if not rabid) Hindutva propagators. That India or Hindustan is meant for Hindus. I have seen a vulgar exchange of trash in many WhatsApp groups.

     

    Over the years, MxM has paid a very heavy price for its journalism. We’ve been castigated just because we believe in commenting on the editorial policies of media entities. Even now – and the absence of any ads on our homepage is testimony to this, we don’t get too many ads, because we refuse to call a spade a rose.

     

    But this article is not about MxM. It’s about how the Indian media catapulted. MxMIndia was the first to flag off a clear bias that was creeping into the narrative of our news channels. Senior journalist and friend Ranjona Banerji has been at it – scanning the print, television and digital media. Her columns are an integral part of MxM, and are by far the most read on our website and across the media spectrum. Some of our other columnists have also been fairly critical of the news media.

     

    There have been times when I’ve been embarrassed when they have written about someone known to me, or a channel with whom I am set to close an advertising deal. But I have never disagreed with them, and I’ve never ever asked them to change their views.

     

    The election results have been amazing. Amazing in the way the BJP fared, and the margins in many of their wins – including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi – have dipped. That despite all the frenzy around the building of the Ram temple, the BJP lost in Ayodhya indicates a clear anti-BJP wave. Yes, a wave, just as there was one in 2014 for the BJP.

    Coalition politics can be quite a bitch. Be ready for a fair bit of action over the next few years.

    So what do we do now: We will continue the way we are. Applaud and Damn. Offer bouquets and brickbats, wherever necessary. The election results have given us hope that despite the negatives of various political formations, there is hope in Indian democracy.

    The masses aren’t; asses after all.

    Meanwhile, MxM will change. Our business model is advertiser-dependant. That can’t continue given the kind of journalism we love to practise. In the next few months, we will move to a platform that will only be available if you pay for our content.

    Thank you for keeping the faith,

    Pradyuman Maheshwari

    Editor-in-Chief

  • Executed by Ogilvy

    Kurlon unveils fresh identity

    Kurlon, the mattress brand, has refreshed its identity with a new logo and the tagline ‘Life Banegi Hula Hula’. This rebranding marks a significant evolution for the brand, positioning it to resonate with contemporary consumers and signalling freshness in the current market.

    Said Nilesh Mazumdar, CEO SheelaFoam Ltd.: “Innovation and comfort have always been at the core of Kurlon. Kurlon’s new proposition and identity reflects our continuous evolution to meet the dynamic needs of our consumers. This rebranding milestone is not just a visual transformation, but a fresh take on the category itself, where everyone is talking about sleep, Kurlon is going beyond it;. With ‘Life Banegi Hula Hula’, we wish to bring joy and comfort into every home. Kurlon pioneered the modern mattress category in India and is now poised to achieve even greater heights.”

    Added Piyush Pandey, Chief Advisor, Ogilvy India: “Kurlon’s new identity and the ‘Life Banegi Hula Hula’ campaign represent a bold step forward in rebranding the iconic brand Kurlon. We understand that the mattresses are more than just a place to sleep—they are where life unfolds, where countless memories are made. This rebranding is not just about a fresh look; it’s about celebrating the joy and comfort that Kurlon brings to every household. With this campaign, we aim to connect deeply with our consumers, ensuring that every moment spent on a Kurlon mattress is a joyful experience; defining comfort for modern India.”

  • Aims to amplify its brand presence

    Media Corridors secures communication mandate for Incuspaze

    Incuspaze, a managed office space provider, has onboarded Media Corridors, a public relations and online reputation management agency, as its communications and public relations partner.

    Said Sanjay Chathrath, Managing Partner, Incuspaze: “We are excited to partner with Media Corridors, a team that understands our vision and has the expertise to elevate our brand narrative. Their strategic approach and proven track record in the PR domain makes them the perfect fit for us as we continue to grow and expand our footprint.”

    Added Ayushi Arora Gulyani, Founder & CEO, Media Corridors: “We are delighted to have Incuspaze on board and are committed to delivering impactful PR campaigns that drive brand awareness and engagement. Incuspaze’s innovative approach to co-working aligns perfectly with our goal of promoting brands that make a difference in their industries. We are excited to be part of their growth journey.”

  • Campaign created and executed by Thought Blurb Communications

    Parle launches new campaign for 20-20 Cookies

    Parle Products has launched its latest campaign for Parle 20-20 biscuits. The three-film campaign has been created and executed by the Mumbai team of Thought Blurb Communications.

    Speaking on the campaign, Mayank Shah, Vice President, Parle Products, said: “We tried this new brand message last year and tested it out. The market response was positive, so we decided to put our full effort behind it. All marketing initiatives were directed towards supporting the brand message”, he said. “Still, no caution has been thrown to the wind and everybody knows that a brand message needs to grow in stages.”

    Added Renu Somani, National Creative Director of Thought Blurb Communications: “It was interesting looking for an alternate take on the tagline. Last year, we were trying to establish the idea, and needed the films to simply explain the direction of the messaging. We now have the confidence to push the envelope outward.”

  • There are 19 categories for participation

    Venice TV & Branded Content Festival 2024: Entries close June 30

    The Venice TV and Branded Content Festival has announced its call for entries. It follows the Venice Film Festival every year. The Festival is supported by Egta( Brussels), ACT and the City of Venice. The deadline for submission of entries is June 30, 2024.

    Indian companies have done well in winning Awards in recent times, according to a source. Viacom18 won Golds every year in the last four years for Nickelodeon and Big Boss while Zee, Sony and Freemantle have also won awards in previous years..

    There are 19 categories with key ones being Branded Content, Craft in Film Production, Film Craft in Cinematography, Animation, Direction, New Talent, The TV and OTT properties cover Documentary, News, Reality TV, Comedy, Sport, Light Entertainment, Program Promotion, Performing Arts, Children/Youth, Best of Technical, New Talent, Best Soap / TV Novella, Animation, Cinematography, Direction, Cross Platform Programming etc.

    Many leading lights from global TV networks like Disney, BBC, ITV, Sky Italia, Fox, Kansai TV etc are on the jury every year. This year’s ury includes Frauk Neeb RTL Germany, Carlo Arturo Sigon, President Italian Directors Guild; Cristina Freiherr, Sky Germany, Alan Holland, Head of Documentary, BBC Studios; Arild Erikstad, President IMZ; Karim Bartoletti, Indiana Production Company, Marcello Lezama, AMC Argentina; Paula Kirchner, Unscripted Content Director, Warner Bros. Discovery, Latin America.