MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • Film made by Leo Burnett

    Kurkure rolls out new campaign with Sara Ali Khan

     

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    Kurkure has rolled out a new campaign featuring brand ambassador Sara Ali Khan. The brand unveils its latest repositioning to celebrate originality and defy norms of conformity. The tagline: ‘Chatpate Se Sab Patein’.

    Said Aastha Bhasin, Category Lead, Kurkure, at PepsiCo India: “Kurkure, India’s cherished snack brand, has woven itself into the fabric of India households through its quirky taglines and compelling narratives over the years. As a brand that strives on its close connection with its consumers, we realised the challenges that come with conformism and a fast-paced hustle culture. Backed by this very insight, we’re thrilled to introduce our fresh positioning – ‘Chatpate Se Sab Patein’. Infused with a dash of humour and cheek, this positioning encourages individuals to liberate themselves from the shackles of conformity and embrace a balanced life. Rooted in Kurkure’s creative essence, our campaign film, starring Sara, masterfully captures the heart of this narrative. She not only impeccably embodies the protagonist’s role but also infuses authenticity and relatability into the storyline, staying true to Kurkure’s distinctive and flavorful identity.”

    Added Vikram ‘Spiky’ Pandey, National Creative Director, Leo Burnett: “Kurkure as a brand has always encouraged its consumers to make brave choices albeit with its signature quirky humour. With this film we wanted to use this humour to land an important message against toxic conformity. One such example that our film brings to life is that of toxic bosses. Often working long hours has been seen as badge of honour, but in reality, it takes away from precious family time. Kurkure encourages everyone to break these toxic cycles as #ChatpateSeSabPatein”

  • Actor Suriya Sivakumar is co-owner

    ISPL franchise Chennai Singams unveils its brand identity

    The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) franchise Chennai Singams unveiled its logo for the inaugural edition of the league. Rajdipkumar Gupta, Sandipkumar Gupta- promoters of Route Mobile Ltd and Actor Suriya Sivakumar are the co-owners of Chennai Singams, a Chennai-based franchise.The logo is a roaring lion, depicting the “great strength and valour of Chennai”.

    ISPL, the country’s first-ever T10 tennis ball cricket tournament, is scheduled to kick off from March 6 to 15,2024 in Mumbai. There will be 19 matches between six teams – Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Srinagar.

    Said Rajdipkumar Gupta, Co-Owner of Chennai Singams: “Both Sandip and I, besides being entrepreneurs, are very passionate towards sports and the same reflects in our ownership of multiple clubs in MCA that have produced talented players like Sudhir Naik, Zaheer Khan, Wasim Jaffer, Rajesh Pawar, Raju Sutar, Nilesh Kulkarni besides our ownership of North Mumbai Panthers that plays at the Mumbai T20 Premier League and Saraswati Sports Complex in Mumbai that provides good sporting amenities.”

  • Dentsu Creative launches a new integrated campaign

    KL Rahul is brand ambassador of Aditya Birla Finance

    Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL) and Dentsu Creative India have launched a new integrated campaign titled ‘Ab Kahani Badlegi’, featuring cricketer KL Rahul as brand ambassador.

    Speaking on the campaign, Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience, Aditya Birla Capital said: “Cricket as a sport inspires the Indian masses, and we chose KL Rahul as his journey closely resonates with everyone. As a cricketer, he has overcome all odds to make his mark on the Indian cricket team. We want all individuals to draw inspiration from our campaign ‘Ab Kahani Badlegi’ and transform their life stories with ABFL as their trusted partner who will support them in overcoming financial challenges on their way to success. We want to enhance people’s lives and empower them to rewrite their story with the help of our loan solutions.”

    Added Ajeet Shukla, Group Executive Director (West), Dentsu Creative India: “The moment we discovered about KL Rahul as the lead protagonist for this campaign, we were very excited & clear that this story needs to be as inspirational as his journey has been for millions of people just like how ABFL has been an inspiration for millions of dreams by providing easy loans for personal & business purpose.”

  • The Times of India group, the official country representative of Cannes Lions in India

    Entries are now open for Young Lions India 2024

    Young Lions, the global platform for young talent to showcase their creativity and prove their mettle, is back. The Times of India group, the official country representative of Cannes Lions in India, has launched this year’s Young Lions India competition in three categories – Print, Media and Marketing. The deadline for entries will be March 8, 2024. Winners stand a chance to win a trip to Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, which is scheduled from June 17 to 21.

    Professionals aged 30 and under (born on or after June 21,, 1993) can submit their entries in either of the three categories on the official website of the competition (www.timesyounglions.com).

    Entries will be judged by industry leaders and the winners from each category will get a chance to showcase their creativity at the global stage at Cannes for the next phase.

  • It becomes an imprint of Westland Books

    Write Order Publications, is now Indie Press

    Write Order Publications has announce that it will now be known as Indie Press, an autonomous publishing imprint of Westland Books.

    Said Gautam Padmanabhan, Business Head, Westland Books, “The decision to rebrand as Indie Press and integrate with Westland Books is part of our strategic evolution and is meant to enhance the publishing experience for both authors and readers. This collaboration allows us to leverage the strengths of Westland Books to provide authors with broader exposure and readers with more diverse literary works,” adding: “Indie Press, drawing strength from the vibrant community within Pratilipi, is planning to extend its publishing horizons across various formats, including comics, audiobooks, podcasts, and more. This reflects our commitment to innovation and ensuring a dynamic and inclusive platform for the literary community.”

  • Alstone is the metal composite brand

    Vigor bags PR Mandate for Alstone

    Vigor Media Worldwide has won the Public Relations (PR) mandate for Alstone, a leading metal composite brand.

    Said Nikhil Singhal, Founder, Vigor Media Worldwide: “We are pleased to join hands with Alstone, known for its exclusive range of exterior and interior solutions. Our goal is to highlight Alstone’s innovative products and its position in the industry as a trendsetter.”

    Added Sumit Gupta, Managing Director, Alstone Manufacturing Pvt Ltd:”We are delighted to take Vigor Media Worldwide on-board for our PR needs. With their expertise and strategic approach, we are confident that this collaboration will strengthen our brand presence and help us reach new heights.”

  • Our goal was to keep things simple, effective, and highly innovative, said Ankur Rander, Bombay Design Centre CEO

    Bombay DC crafts BITS Design School website

    Leading educational institution BITS Pilani announced the launch of BITS Design School with much fanfare recently. The design school’s website interface has been spearheaded by Mumbai-based Bombay Design Centre.

    Said Nandita Abraham, CEO and Interim Dean at BITS Design School:  “The objective was to create a benchmark site that met the high expectations of the design community, including design students. And we are delighted that the team at Bombay DC has delivered. Since the website was launched, we have received a lot of compliments from the industry. I am very happy that we decided to go with Bombay Design Centre.”

    Added Ankur Rander, CEO, Bombay Design Centre: “BITS Pilani is one of India’s leading higher education institutes, an intellectual powerhouse. Designing high-quality design and communication for their design school website brings us immense joy, and we are delighted to make our mark. The website design needs to have exceptional design aesthetics, as it serves as the focal point for building a vibrant design community. Our goal was to keep things simple, effective, and highly innovative.”

  • "Ankhi's strategic guidance will shape initiatives that prioritise inclusivity, empowerment, and support within the Coto platform," notes a communique

    Coto Communities gets Ankhi Das as Strategic Advisor

    Ankhi Das
    Ankhi Das

    Coto, the social community platform for women, has announced the appointment of Ankhi Das as its Community Advisor for their diverse communities of key opinion leaders (KOLs) and influencers. (Note: the ‘C’ in Coto is lower-cased (hence coto). However, as per the MxMIndia style, we always uppercase the first letter of a brand/company name – Ed).

    Das is a tech investor and a public policy expert, and for nearly a decade, she held the role of Facebook’s public policy leader for India and South and Central Asia. That stint was fairly controversial which eventually led to her exit from the internet giant. Noted a report in Hindustan Times on October 27, 2022: “Ankhi Das, Facebook’s head of public policy who was in the eye of storm over alleged bias in blocking of hate content on the social media platform, has quit the company.”

    Commenting on Das’s onboarding, Aparna Acharekar, Co-Founder, Coto said: “As a creative women-only platform, we are thrilled to welcome Ankhi Das to the Coto team. Her expertise in advancing women’s causes and her commitment to fostering safe and supportive online communities make her an invaluable addition to our team. With Ankhi’s leadership, we look forward to empowering women worldwide through Coto’s ever-evolving platform. Her passion, personality, and thoughts will help us curate high-quality content to empower and educate women about various topics. I am confident their contributions will inspire and encourage women and build a truly empowered digital ecosystem.”

    Added Das in a communique:, “I am delighted to be part of a platform that prioritises the voices and experiences of women. Coto’s dedication to creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering space matches my values. By joining the platform’s Community Advisory Board, I look forward to contributing to inspiring women to achieve their best, have faith in their capabilities, and pursue the unique paths they are drawn to. I’m certain that we’ll cultivate a supportive community of women creators brimming with innovative ideas for becoming digital entrepreneurs. I am confident Coto’s mission of connecting and empowering women economically will strengthen both the sisterhood economy and our community of women.”

  • Key leadership appointments have been made to drive this collaboration

    Everymedia & Plus 1 Comms announce global alliance

    Everymedia Technologies, a digital marketing and communications agency, and Plus 1 Communications, an integrated communications agency with a strong presence across Europe and the UAE, have announced a strategic alliance to expand global partnering opportunities for brands and businesses.

    Key leadership appointments have been made to drive this collaboration: Karen Lane – Currently Managing Director of Plus 1 Communications, will act in a dual capacity as Director of Global Partnerships, Everymedia.  And Pooja Thakker, who previously served as Director, Client Partner, has been appointed as Global Director- Strategy, and Innovation.

    Commenting on the development, Gautam B Thakker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Everymedia Technologies, said: “I am thrilled to announce this global alliance with Plus 1 Communications and these strategic appointments that reflect our commitment to nurturing top talent within the organisation and advancing our mission to enhance global communications reach. With their extensive experience and leadership qualities, I am confident that Karen and Pooja will play instrumental roles in driving success in the years to come, strengthening our ability to connect with consumers worldwide.”

    Added Ricky Ghai, Chairman, Plus 1 Communications: “Although a relationship between Everymedia and Plus 1 Communications has existed for over a decade, these changes and the general intent signifies an exciting time for us. India is a complex and booming marketplace and without ‘boots on the ground’, many struggle to reach the growing consumer base. We can now offer an incredible one stop shop as a completely integrated communications agency for global clients.”

  • To revamp brand image

    Rungta Steel unveils TVC with SRK, Alia & Ranbir Kapoor

    Rungta Steel, an integrated steel company, is revving up its branding with the launch of a TVC starring Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor.

    Said Arvind Kumar, AVP- Sales & Marketing (TMT & Wire Rod), Rungta Steel: “It is always a pleasure sharing our latest endeavours with you, this time with the second TVC starring the esteemed Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. This campaign reflects our drive and ambition to being India’s most sought-after TMT Bar brand. With steadfast focus, it is our continuous pursuit to position ourselves in the best possible light, ensuring smooth business and expand our reach to connect with both our valued and potential customers.”

  • … introduces WhatsApp Helpline

    Crackdown on WhatsApp University. MCA & Meta collaborate to curb AI-generated misinformation

    The Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA) and Meta are working on launching a dedicated fact-checking helpline on WhatsApp in an effort to combat media generated using artificial intelligence which may deceive people on matters of public importance, commonly known as deepfakes, and help people connect with verified and credible information. The helpline will be available for the public to use in March 2024.

    Commenting on the partnership, Shivnath Thukral, Director, Public Policy India, Meta, “We recognise the concerns around AI-generated misinformation and believe combatting this requires concrete and cooperative measures across the industry. Our collaboration with MCA to launch a WhatsApp helpline dedicated to debunking deepfakes that can materially deceive people is consistent with our pledge under the Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 elections. As a company that has been at the cutting edge of AI development for more than a decade, we remain committed to work with industry stakeholders to introduce common technical standards for AI detection, transparency solutions and policies, along with empowering people on our platforms with resources and tools that make it simpler for them to identify content that has been generated using AI tools and curb the spread of misinformation.”

    Added Bharat Gupta, President, Misinformation Combat Alliance:  “The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) will serve as a critical and timely intervention to arrest the spread of AI-enabled disinformation among social media and internet users in India. Its formation highlights the collaboration and whole-of-society approach to foster a healthy information ecosystem that the MCA was set up for. The initiative will see IFCN signatory fact-checkers, journalists, civic tech professionals, research labs and forensic experts come together, with Meta’s support. We hope the DAU will become a trusted resource for the public to discern between real and AI generated media and we invite more stakeholders to be a part of the initiative.”

    MCA is a cross-industry alliance bringing companies, organisations, institutions, industry associations and entities together to collectively fight misinformation and its impact. Currently, MCA has 16 members including fact-checking organisations, media outlets, and civic tech and are inviting strategic partners to collaborate in this industry wide initiative to combat misinformation and create an enlightened and informed society.

    The concern of course is not just AI-generated misinformation. It’s when human intelligence is at play.

  • The league will take place from March 6 to 15 from 5 to 10 pm in Mumbai

    Sony bags rights for Street Premier League

    The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), the tennis ball T10 cricket tournament to be played inside a stadium, has awarded its exclusive media rights to Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI). The league’s matches will be broadcast on both linear television and the OTT platform.

    To be held in Mumbai from March 6 to 15 from 5 to 10 pm, the league, notes a communique, aims to “provide a platform for undiscovered talents to display their skills and potentially carve a path to playing cricket professionally”.

    Said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India:

    “With the philosophy of ‘#Street2Stadium,’ the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) T10 is bound to revolutionize cricket’s popularity in India while also retaining its true essence. As a sport often considered a religion in India, street cricket is typically the starting point of every cricketer’s journey in the country. We strongly believe in the concept of the tournament and are delighted to partner with ISPL for the live broadcast of all games on Sony Sports Network. Our endeavour is to elevate the interest and popularity of the sport, making it a delightful watch for all cricket and sports fans in the country.”