HDFC Life has launched its latest campaign featuring cricketer Rishabh Pant.
Said Vishal Subharwal – Chief Marketing Officer and Group Head Strategy at HDFC Life: “Rishabh Pant’s bounceback story is one that inspires us as a nation. India remains largely underinsured, and through this campaign, we hope to encourage people to prioritise securing their futures and protecting their loved ones. We aim to not only resonate emotionally but also raise awareness about the importance of life insurance as a reliable safety net.”
Added Vikram Pandey, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia: “Life can be unpredictable. The only way to ensure a secure future is when you are prepared not only for the wins but also for failures. Our latest film for HDFC Life shares this poignant message with a heartwarming example of the real-life hero – Rishabh Pant, who has fought against all odds for his future. We hope this film will be inspirational to our audiences to plan for their family’s future.”
As reported earlier, Miami Ad School conducted Portfolio Evening on August 30 Over 65 young creatives were shortlisted to meet the following senior creative leaders (in no specific order): Raj Nair, Garima Khandelwal, Kainaaz Karmakar, Ramanuj Shashtry, Viren Noronha, KV Sridhar, Kartik Smetacek, Hetal Ajmera, Naila Mateen and Sameer Sojwal, Tista Sen, Pallavi Chakravarti, Raj Kamble, Manish Bhatt, Agnello Dias, Bobby Pawar, Parixit Bhattacharya, Ashish Chakravarty, Amit Akali and Vikram Gaikwad
Said Raj Nair Chief Creative Officer Garage Worldwide: “Helping put Portfolio Evening together for Miami Ad School and Garage Worldwide has been one of the most fulfilling moments of my advertising life. Young, enthusiastic aspirants showcased their abilities to an amazing, inspiring bunch of creative leaders. A sincere thank you to all the legends who accepted my invitation to attend by contributing their time and feedback to the young ones who came seeking their inputs.”
Added Prabhakar Mundkur, Miami Ad School Advisory Director: “It was a fantastic evening. So many creative people on our campus. A fusion of young and experienced creative minds interacting with each other.”
Havas Worldwide India, the creative arm of Havas India, has strengthened its strategy team with three key appointments. Dhananjoy Ray, Aniruddh Subramanian and Jahan Nargolwala have joined the agency as Associate Vice President – Planning & Strategy. All three will report to John Thangaraj, Chief Strategy Officer, Havas Creative Network India, and will be based out of Gurgaon.
Said John Thangaraj: “I am thrilled to welcome Dhananjoy, Aniruddh and Jahan to the Havas family. The world is changing and so are we. Strategy needs to be more business forward, digital first and data driven than ever before and our journey towards creating a more converged, multi-disciplinary team begins now. Each of them brings a deep and divergent level of expertise and experience to the table. Dhananjoy brings a deep passion and excitement for all things tech and auto. Aniruddh’s understanding and experience on the CPG category is second to none. And Jahan’s digital-first expertise across multiple categories nicely rounds out the team. Their hires underscore Havas’ deep commitment to delivering insight & data backed strategic solutions that focus on keeping our clients ahead of the curve. That said, we’ve only just begun – watch this space!”
Iqoo, the smartphone brand of the Vivo group, has launched The Film #MyQuestStory, directed by filmmaker Shoojit Sircar. The three-minute film features a message by content creator and actor, Bhuvan Bam.
On the creative process, Ritu Sharda, CCO (North), Ogilvy, added: “Iqoo celebrates the spirit of a generation that believes in continuously exploring and questing. Bringing this narrative to life was a thrilling endeavour for us. The vision was to craft a story that not only reflects the boldness and ambitious nature of youngsters today, but also to inspire viewers to push boundaries and chase their dreams with unwavering determination. Collaborating with visionary talents like Shoojit Sircar and Bhuvan Bam gave our concept a huge boost. We believe this film will resonate with audiences and ignite a spark of relentless questing within them.”
South Indian Bank has unveiled its latest Onam campaign.
Said Ramesh K P, Head of Marketing, South Indian Bank: “As we celebrate this Onam, South Indian Bank is proud to present a heart-warming story that reflects the core of our values; relationships built on care and trust. Our latest brand film beautifully portrays the strong bond between a mother and her daughters, symbolizing the deep connections we have nurtured with our customers for over 90 years.”
VML and Tirupati Edible Oils have launched a campaign celebrating the joy of healthy living. It stars actor Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Said Shaileen Patel, General Manager, Business Development & Marcom at N K Proteins Pvt. Ltd.: “Through ‘Healthy Wali Happiness’, Tirupati Edible Oils aspires to motivate families to make thoughtful decisions regarding their health and well-being, ensuring every festive occasion is truly special. We aim to highlight the intrinsic link between health and happiness, showcasing that a healthy family is indeed a happy family. Our continued association with Kareena Kapoor Khan as the brand ambassador only helps us to organically build our new proposition even stronger.”
Added Sameet Soni – ECD VML India: “We look forward to festivals, meeting friends, family and celebrations. However, if you’re a foodie, you look forward to all the good food that’s served during these festivals. We wanted to celebrate the foodie in each of us with Kareena as brand ambassador.”
Vinod Cookware has launched a new television commercial highlighting the SAS (Steel-Aluminium-Steel) metal technology used in their premium range.
Conceptualised by Network Advertising and produced by 10 Films, the TVC depicts a robbery gone wrong. It highlights the key features and advantages of Vinod Cookware’s premium SAS metal range, which provides consistent heat distribution and minimizes food burning.
Said Shayondeep Pal, CCO of Network Advertising: “The idea was to move away from the typical ‘happy-family-mother-in-the-kitchen’ films and explore new ways to communicate the SAS metal technology. By showcasing the ‘Steel-Aluminium-Steel’ layering that evenly spreads heat, we aimed to demonstrate how this product reduces the risk of food burning. The unique narrative of a protagonist caught in a kitchen heist brings a humorous touch to the product demonstration. We were fortunate to have a talented cast that nailed the timing—crucial for humor to succeed.”
Added Shouvik Basu, Founder & Executive Producer of 10 Films: “The concept of merging a robbery scene with cookware in a hill station setting was a fresh and exciting challenge. It required careful casting and seamless storytelling to shift the audience’s focus from the heist to the utility of Vinod Cookware. The shoot was a perfect balance of humor and product integration, and we are proud to have worked alongside Network Advertising in delivering this memorable film.”
Said Sunil Agarwal, Director of Vinod Cookware,: “At Vinod Cookware, we have always upheld the highest standards of quality and functionality, and our SAS Metal range is a testament to that commitment. Through this new campaign, we aim to communicate the core values that define our brand—quality, reliability, safety, and sustainability. By integrating wholesome humor into our messaging, we’re reinforcing to consumers that Vinod Cookware remains a trusted partner in Indian kitchens, dedicated to enhancing their cooking experience with products they can rely on.”
Zee TV’s singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is all set to launch its latest season with a brand film that touches upon the season’s promise Nayi Aawaaz, Naya Andaaz.
Mangesh Kulkarni
Said Mangesh Kulkarni, Chief Channel Officer, Zee TV: “As India’s longest-running singing reality show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has consistently reinvented itself, setting trends across the industry. This season, we’re infusing freshness by introducing a new set of mentors who have their finger on the nation’s musical pulse, alongside diverse voices and a contemporary vibe that resonates with our evolving audience. Our brand film beautifully captures the emotional connection people have with music, and we promise to celebrate those emotions with performances that touch hearts across India.”
Kartik Mahadev
Added Kartik Mahadev, Chief Marketing Officer, Content SBU, Zee: “Earlier this year, we launched ‘Hamara Parivar’, a direct line to our viewers, allowing us to listen to their preferences and craft content that truly resonates. The upcoming season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is a reflection of this initiative, offering a refreshed experience with Nayi Aawaaz, Naya Andaaz—new voices will be shaped by new mentors whose music captures the full spectrum of emotions across India. With a fan-first mindset, we empowered our viewers to decide the best talent from over 50 audition videos posted on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s Instagram page. With our integrated marketing campaign creating even more digital touchpoints for engagement, we’re confident this season will connect deeply with our viewers.”
Kotak General Insurance has re-branded itself as Zurich Kotak General Insurance, following the Zurich Insurance Group’s acquisition of a majority stake in the insurer, which was completed on 18 June 2024. Reflecting the shared vision of the Zurich Kotakentity, the new brand symbolizes the collective commitment to trust, innovation, integrity, and customer excellence.
Said Tulsi Naidu, CEO Asia Pacific, Zurich Insurance Group: “The rebranding to Zurich Kotak General Insurance represents a significant step in our shared journey to create a premier general insurer for the new India. This new identity is not just a change in name but a reflection of our combined strengths, values, and commitment to deliver insurance solutions tailored to the diverse needs of Indian consumers and businesses.”
BrandMusiq, the audio and sonic branding agency, has created the sonic identity for Jio BP, a brand that symbolises the collaboration of two industry giants: India’s Jio from Reliance and the global petroleum leader, British Petroleum (BP). The sonic identity, meticulously developed by BrandMusiq, captures the essence of this powerful partnership.
“The Mogo will build on the core emotions of empathy, dynamism, and innovation, while expressing the confidence in leadership in the mobility solutions market. The sonic identity will become a valuable trademark overtime. It will reinforce trust and inspire loyalty among customers,” said HC Mehta, CEO of Jio BP.
Added Rajeev Raja, Founder and Soundsmith, BrandMusiq: “It was truly a privilege to create the sonic identity for Jio BP. We recognized the fact that it was the coming together of two giants, India’s very own Jio from Reliance and the global leader, BP. The Sonic Identity created by BrandMusiq was very optimistic and future-forward even while building in the core emotions of empathy and caring. The sonic graph of the longer MOGOSCAPE®️ expressed the scale, stature, and the soft power of the brand, while the Mogo or ‘musical logo’ summarized the confidence of a leader.”
Global multi-asset broker VT Markets launched its #BuiltforWinners campaign.
Said Ludovic Moncla, Head of Strategic Operations at VT Markets: “In an environment where split-second decisions matter, it is accuracy, coupled with lightning-fast execution that gives you the upper hand. We believe in creating, in this sense, a distinct advantage for our traders in today’s financial arena.”
Dentsu India has launched its Fresher Accelerator Program (FAP), an initiative tailored to equip fresh graduates with the cutting-edge skills and expertise essential for success.
Commenting on the launch, Unmesh Pawar, Chief People Officer, South Asia, Dentsu said: “I am thrilled to introduce our Fresher Accelerator Program. At dentsu, learning never stops! This programme provides fresh graduates with continuous learning and adaptation opportunities in our fast-paced industry through rigorous training, mentorship, and hands-on experience. We are committed to fostering a diverse, dynamic workplace that promotes creativity and innovation. By investing in great talent to support our clients’ transformation journeys in the marketing space, the FAP program is our way of building talent density at dentsu. This program is designed to unlock the potential of this industry’s next generation of talent. We strongly encourage fresh graduates to apply for this challenging and rewarding programme.”
