MxMIndia

Tag: Times of India

  • VML wins the 'Green Agency Of The Year'

    Olive Crown Awards: Times of India is ‘Green Brand of the Year’

    The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) hosted the 14th edition of its annual property, the Olive Crown Awards 2024. The awards acknowledged the remarkable work of those individuals and corporates who drove the message of sustainability or ‘green advertising’. We missed attending it, but are publishing this basis a communique we received.

    The awards saw a senior jury appraising the entries: Anupama Ramaswamy (Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India), K V Sridhar (Global Chief Creative Officer Nihilent Limited & Hypercollective), Pateek Bharadwaj (Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas India), Tista Sen (Creative Brand Consultant) , Carlton D’Silva (Co-Founder, Musemakers & House of Awe) & Mukund Olety (Chief Creative Office, VML) shortlisted the winners through a rigorous process.

    Said Avinash Pandey, President IAA India Chapter: “I believe these awards are not just unique but also very special. Unique because they are a symbol of intra-industry collaboration. Even though this is an IAA India Chapter property, it was launched 14 years ago at the Goafest which is jointly run by the Advertising Club and the Advertising Agencies Association of India. Even now, it is associated with the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations, thereby being the only property with a real reach in both the Eastern and the Western parts of the world. Special, because these awards symbolize the commitment of the Marcom industry to be not just guardians of their respective brands, but also guardians of Brand Earth.”

    Added Janak Sarda, Chairperson, IAA Olive Crown Awards: “Any awards are only as good as the jury that judges them. So let me begin by thanking our jury members who were a real asset to us. Our event could never have been held without the help of our supporters. Some have supported us for the second and third time. This clearly marks them as loyal supporters of the environment. And then I would like to thank those who have sent in their entries from all over the world. Their active participation shows that the marcom industry is indeed populated with people who believe that what’s good is also good for business. Finally, I would like to thank each and everyone who is here today. All true friends of the environment. Planet Earth needs you.”

  • Wavemaker & Mondelez shine @ Emvie 2024

    Wavemaker & Mondelez shine @ Emvie 2024

    The 24th edition of the Emvies, held last Friday (March22) saw Wavemaker India with 665 points recognised as ‘The Best Media Agency of the Year’ and Mondelēz India Foods Pvt. Ltd. with 440 points declared as ‘The Best Media Client of the Year’.

    Grand-EMVIE
    Grand EMVIE

    EMVIE - Client of the year
    EMVIE – Client of the year

    Grand EMVIE Thirty-five agencies participated to submit 1892 entries, of which 471 entries were shortlisted. Other than one Grand Emvie, 44 Gold and 68 Silver trophies were presented in addition to 88 Bronze prizes.

    Wavemaker India also bagged the Grand Emvie for Mondelēz India’s Cadbury Celebrations. Mindshare with 460 points stood second and EssenceMediacom with 325 points stood third. It was indeed a GroupM show at the top of the agency roster.

    The Emvie for Diversity Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) was awarded to Mindshare for Dove’s Stop The Beauty Test. The Young Emvie of The Year was awarded to Mindshare’s Rowena Rodrigues for Dove – Crafting Cannes-worthy Brilliance!

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, South East, and North Asia, and President of The Advertising Club: “The calibre of work showcased at the Emvie this year was truly phenomenal. Standing out in their unique ways, each entry exemplified the exceptional quality of work our industry professionals consistently maintain, reaching global standards. We are delighted to celebrate these winners, whose creativity and strategic brilliance set a new standard for excellence. A heartfelt congratulations to all the winners for raising the bar in the media industry!”

    Added Punitha Arumugam, Chairperson, Emvies Committee: “The work submitted for Emvies continues to astound us. Each year, the innovative and ingenious campaigns elevate the industry’s brilliance to new heights. A huge congratulations to this year’s winners! The quality of work witnessed sets a remarkable standard in the media industry, and we are thrilled to see where the continuing work takes the industry next.”

    The prestigious awards were powered by TV9 Network, co-powered by The Times of India, in association with UltraTech Cement, and category sponsors Craving Digital, Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), and South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA).

    EMVIE 2024 AGENCY OF THE YEAR

    EMVIE 2024 CLIENT OF THE YEAR

    EMVIE 2024 RESULTS

  • To redefine in-lift advertising

    Schindler India has joined forces with Times OOH

    By Our Staff

     

    Schindler India has joined forces with Times Innovative Media Limited (Times OOH), a part of Times of India Group to redefine in-lift advertising.

     

    Commenting on the strategic collaboration, Nitin Chalke, CEO of Schindler India, said: “Our elevators are evolving into compelling communication platforms and channels that can be served and managed from a single source, allowing us to share spectacular entertainment and essential information with passengers daily, enhancing in-lift digital advertising experiences. Teaming up with Times OOH, a market leader in OOH advertising, we’re poised to revolutionize how brands connect with audiences. This collaboration brings cutting-edge technology and creative prowess to our in-lift digital screens, fostering captivating interactions. Times OOH’s proven track record in the Indian OOH advertising space aligns seamlessly with our commitment to innovation. Together, we’re set to elevate advertising within the confined spaces of elevators, creating memorable moments for viewers and unlocking new avenues for brands to shine. With a growing number of residential complexes and office spaces across urban metropolises and tier 1 and tier 2 areas, the Indian DOOH advertising space is poised for exponential growth. This trend is further accentuated by the fact that elevators are naturally suited for OOH advertising.  They’re confined spaces where people actively seek distractions, and ads can effortlessly capture their undivided attention.”

     

    Added Shekhar Narayanaswami, President of Times OOH:  “Regarding our association at Times OOH, our mission is to revolutionize untapped avenues with the potential to foster direct engagement between brands and their target audience. We find in-lift branding particularly fascinating as it provides an ample opportunity to create high recall brand value through one-on-one communication. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with Schindler India, a standout player in their industry. With our extensive experience in managing premium spaces like airports, city media, and agency business, we view in-lift branding as another successful addition to our portfolio.”

     

  • Having removed this sentiment of peace for Muslims by Zubin Mehta and then put it back, what ha Times of India gained but loss of face, asks Ranjona Banerji

    Misconduct with Zubin Mehta

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiAnyone who has ever worked in a newspaper knows that there are last minute changes made to copy at deadline time. New material has come in. A breaking story or an ad which has to be carried. Something has to be sacrificed. Adjustments must be made.

    What has to be removed to make the cut is another matter. The standard excuse when things go wrong is: judgment call. Also, journalists are human, they make mistakes and the default position in a newsroom is SNAFU. And occasionally even FUBAR.

    When a copy is important, usually someone senior is assigned to do the snipping. The worst sort of editing is to just cut the end. You will see this occasionally in newspapers and magazines. The assumption would be that it was left to the pagemaker or fell between the cracks. Hands up those who think we need proofreaders back?

    Anyway, that’s the excuses and system failures out of the way.

    So what happened with The Times of India interview with world-renowned conductor Zubin Mehta? The conductor recently performed in Mumbai, the city of his birth. This has caused much excitement, and he was interviewed extensively.

    One such interview was done by The Times of India. Before Mehta arrived in India.

    In a subsequent interview to journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire, Mehta revealed that the Times of India removed the following line from the interview: “I hope my Muslim friends can live in peace forever in India.”

    The excuse given by the newspaper is that the “interview was long”, “had to be trimmed to fit the page” and this line was towards the end and so presumably fell into the black hole of end lines.

    However.

    There are several curiosities here.

    This the online version of the Times of India interview with the line restored. It is not the last line, nor at the end of the interview, by any stretch of the imagination.

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/dont-underestimate-the-power-of-music/articleshow/102588769.cms?from=mdr

    There are several throwaway lines which could have been edited out.

    Why pick this particular line?

    The Wire has done a total breakdown of the incident:

    https://thewire.in/media/times-of-india-removed-quote-on-wanting-peace-for-indian-muslims-from-interview-zubin-mehta

    The line was restored, by the newspaper’s own admission, when Mehta spoke to the interviewer and asked for it to be put back.

    The line in itself is not controversial. It does not accuse anyone. It is not defamatory. All it does is hopes for peace. But of course, it has context. It is significant that a prominent person has hope for peace for a community in his home country which has been systematically attacked and targeted for the past nine years.

    Is even this hope for peace too much for a captive media to allow someone else to say?

    They could have put a disclaimer if life is so tough for them with Some People in Power: “This newspaper does not hope for peace and is not liable if anyone powerful gets upset”. No?

    It is unlikely that the interviewer did this. From Mehta’s comment to The Wire, it appears that he was shown the interview before it went to print.

    The question for The Times of India to answer – to itself, because what are the odds it would tell the general public – is why people within its newsrooms feel that this line “I hope my Muslim friends can live in peace forever in India” is a controversial line.

    Is this the general position in TOI newsrooms? Is the fear of retribution from Someone or Someones in Power so enormous that they cannot even allow a famous person to say this?

    And having removed this sentiment of peace for Muslims by Zubin Mehta and then put it back, what have Times of India gained but loss of face?

    Already, bad editorial decisions have only earned this newspaper insults from its readers.

    Forget showing truth to power, this is cowardice and stupidity of the lowliest sort.

     

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

     

  • Part of an ongoing campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger

    TOI releases Tiger Film

    By Our Staff

     

    The Times of India’s “Saving Our Stripes” campaign released a Tiger film this week, aimed at raising awareness about the critical importance of tiger conservation and the urgent need to protect these magnificent creatures from extinction. The ongoing campaign commemorates the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, a centrally-sponsored scheme that aims to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population in specially constituted tiger reserves throughout India.

     

    The Tiger film serves as a poignant reminder of the critical role tigers play in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. The film showcases the awe-inspiring beauty of tigers in their natural habitats while shedding light on the numerous challenges they face to survive. Click here (link to the film) to watch the heartwarming film.

     

    Said Kaustuv Chatterjee, Director, TOI: “Through the ‘Saving Our Stripes’ campaign, we hope to spread awareness of the critical role Tigers play in the conservation of our national treasures, our forests and biodiversity, and help maintain an increasingly fragile ecological balance. Project Tiger in India has been globally acclaimed as a case study on conservation, given our population and consequent pressure on natural resources, and many countries are now learning from it. We hope that the power of storytelling, as demonstrated by TOI’s Tiger film, will make the subject matter more relatable and drive greater consciousness on why we need to protect Tigers and our forests.”

     

    The “Saving Our Stripes” campaign has featured a variety of content across TOI’s print and digital platforms, including quirky contests, thought-provoking editorials, and a special Tiger Anthem curated by celebrated artists including Nalla Muthu (a national award-winning wildlife cinematographer) and Shantanu Moitra (composer and musician for Bollywood films like 3 Idiots and Parineeta). The winners of the contest have also been announced (link to the winners list).

     

  • To Enable Online News Subscription with One-Tap Access

    Times of India & Simpl collaborate

    By Our Staff

     

    Times of India Digital and Simpl have partnered to enable online news subscriptions. This collaboration enables TOI+ subscribers to enjoy seamless one-tap checkout, eliminating complexities of traditional payment procedures.

     

    Said Radhika Shukla – Head – Subscription Growth, Strategy and Analytics, TOI+ said: “We are excited to partner with Simpl to make it easier for our readers to access premium news content. Simpl’s 1-tap checkout solution is simple, secure, and convenient, and we believe it will make a big difference in the way our readers subscribe to TOI+.”

     

    Added Nitya Sharma, Founder and CEO of Simpl: “We are thrilled to partner with TOI+ to bring the power of one-tap checkout to the news industry. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between convenience and quality journalism for millions of readers across the country. By leveraging Simpl’s revolutionary 1-tap Checkout, this partnership seeks to enhance the accessibility and ease of news subscriptions.”

     

  • The occasion: The  ‘Big End of Season Sale’ event, hopes to bring close to 200,000 sellers and more than 10,000 + brands

    Flipkart’s sale promoted on Times Square, NYC

    By Our Staff

     

    What’s a big bang sale of Indian e-commerce major doing by spending top dollars for a billboard on Times Square. And this is not outside the Times of India building in Mumbai or New Delhi, but the original one in New York City. Why? Well, we don’t know. But it’s all about creating an impact, and we guess the folks in the Bengaluru-headquartered company think this could grab the right eyeballs.

     

    The occasion: The  ‘Big End of Season Sale’ event, hopes to bring close to 200,000 sellers and more than 10,000 + brands The brand: Flipkart Speaking about the event, Abhishek Maloo, Senior Director, Flipkart Fashion said, “At Flipkart, the ‘End of Season Sale’ is truly a festival for us and is an opportunity to bring joy to stakeholders across our ecosystem. This season, the festival is the biggest fashion celebration and we decided to channel this into our advertising endeavours. For the first time ever, we’re extending the shopping euphoria across oceans, all the way to Times Square. Season after season, this event has received immense appreciation from customers across India, unlocking tremendous growth for the sellers and brands on our marketplace. It is our constant endeavour to provide an expansive range of the latest fashion apparel, footwear and accessories, made accessible by a seamless technology-led shopping experience. As India avails best value on the most sought after brands, we intend to enthral shoppers globally with India’s festive fervour.”

     

     

  • The campaign commemorates the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger

    TOI rolls out campaign for Big Cat conservation

    By Our Staff

     

    The Times of India launched the “Saving Our Stripes” campaign to raise awareness about the importance of tiger conservation. The campaign commemorates the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger, a centrally-sponsored scheme that started in 1973 and aims to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population in specially constituted tiger reserves throughout India.

     

    Said Kaustuv Chatterjee, Director, TOI: “This year marks the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger, a world famous conservation model and success story. Times of India is giving the nation a popular film(s) and song on the occasion to drive home the importance of the project for future generations as well. Through this initiative, we are taking the message of conservation to the masses, signifying that tigers and forests are a national treasure and an inheritance for our children.”

     

    The “Saving Our Stripes” campaign has featured a variety of content across TOI’s print and digital platforms, including quirky contests, thought-provoking editorials, and a special Tiger Anthem curated by celebrated artists including Nalla Muthu (a national award-winning wildlife cinematographer) and Shantanu Moitra (composer and musician for Bollywood films like 3 Idiots and Parineeta).

     

    Added  Moitra: “The hearts of the toughest human beings will melt on seeing a tiger cub caressing its mother’s face. It will work because the song and visuals are from a cub’s perspective. I am hoping children will pick it up like the ‘lakdi ki kathi, kathi pe ghoda’ song of the 80s.”

     

    Elaborating on how music and films are the best mediums for communicating a message to people, Nalla said, “The minute you talk about tigers and poems, people remember William Blake’s ‘Tyger, tyger burning bright’ first. Using music or a narrative-driven medium like a feature film to convey a message can have a profound impact on an audience. Emotionally engaging content often resonates with people on a deeper level, making it more likely that they’ll remember the message and potentially act on it.”

     

    “The ‘Saving Our Stripes’ campaign is a call to action for all of us to do our part to protect these majestic creatures,” said Chatterjee. “By raising awareness about the importance of tiger conservation, we can help ensure that these magnificent animals continue to thrive for generations to come.”

     

  • Sanjeev Kotnala on some of the advertisements that caught his attention, in the recent past

    These are a few of my favourite creatives…

     

     

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev KotnalaVermajee, my mentor, asked if I had seen some good work in advertising and communication recently and why they didn’t make it to my blog and article. I realised that the audience might be feeling the same way, despite my appreciating the work I liked. It was time for me to list some creative hits of recent times. No, this is not a universal sample, as many good works could have escaped my attention, but I liked and enjoyed these few. And for a change, I killed my urge to title it: Good, Bad and Ugly.

    Apart from my TV viewing, newspaper reading and regular digital interaction, my exposure to creative work is thanks to @Beastoftraal on Twitter, Gokul Krishnamurthy column ‘Work that speaks’, Economic Times updates and Campaign. If I missed some work that should have been a part of this- do let me know.

     

    Hyatt: We put the ‘you’ in your wedding.

    How one wishes that things could be so smooth in a marriage. HYATT promises (or over promises) that special smooth destination wedding because they care for the details and go out of their way to make that special day memorable for you. Hyatt puts the ‘You’ in the wedding!

    It is different that the party would be more comfortable with a large team of wedding planners at such weddings than the hotel staff. The trust factor with hotels in events is still not high, which may be the reason for the communication.

    The instances framed in the communication are relatable and interestingly done. One hopes the brand lives up to the promise because the day is special for the stakeholders, and a bad experience would kill it. The campaign did remind me of the ‘I TAKE CAHRGE’, a successful internal campaign developed by Lintas for Oberoi hotels in the early nineties.

     

    Falling in Love: Home Centre

    I was misled entirely when I watched the Home Centre ad for the first time. Then I watched it, again and again to appreciate how the whole story. How the mind was purposefully diverted, and I enjoyed the little diversions.

    I find the ad again long; however, it holds the interest, and maybe the subject demands that the story is told ever so gently. Watch it and see how it traps you. The communication may take time to be appreciated, but such work impact remains longer.

     

    Make My Trip: Hotel Refund

    I like Make My Trip’s ads more than their product and services.

    Now, that is courageous of the brand. In the last few years, one has seen so many complaints about hotel and travel bookings with MMT that one has personally shifted loyalties. Maybe the brand must have realised the issue and appreciated the traveller’s desire for this freedom resulting in this communication. Hopefully, MMT is ready with better service. The cancellation charges on hotels and airlines are really frustrating for any traveller. This is not the first time MMT is talking in this language. One remembers their  MMT pe book kiya and Zero cancellation charge communication.

    This ad series reiterates the advantage of consistently using the same brand ambassador – Alia and Ranveer. Both perform admirably in different situations and characters. And then I do love multiple creative campaigns with synergy.

     

    The Times of India: Ad Flipbook

    It is not a new idea, but it is well executed. A similar idea was executed in early 2012 by the Dainik Bhaskar Group. The format of the physical book restricted the reach.

    The Times of India digital flip book avatar demonstrates to the clients and agencies the possibilities in innovative shapes and sizes with Times of India.

    The underlying thought ‘because one size does not fit all’ is so true that brands are blind to it. However, a digital version gives a higher reach, but the real feel is missed. Hope the teams have a whole set of sample prints to share with the agencies and clients.

    To succeed, rate and offer renationalisation is needed, which the masters in space marketing- Times of India does the best.

     

    Ashok Leyland: 75 years

    “Koi Manzil Door Nahin” is the new campaign part of the 75th-year celebration of Ashok Leyland. It continues with the life impact stories- the transformation the commercial vehicle promises in the customers’ lives. It is reassuring under ‘Koi Manzil Door Nahin’, which means no dream or destination is too far. The brand promises to be with the customers in this journey. Hopefully, this ad is a minor part of a more extensive detailed programme.

     

    Tanishq: Dream

    I love it for the simplicity and the twist at the end of this UGADI new year ad. And the question that I raised at the end is very pertinent. I am also happy that Tansihq, for a change, did not find some fault and suggested changes in Hindu rituals and traditions. It is nice to see the brand and take the route of reflecting on the positives.

    Tanishq had a lovely ad on women’s day titled superwoman; it presented the other side of her being a human too. Not something new or surprising, but the presentation is quite nice. Though I still find it to be too long.

     

    Skore: Can’t miss to change the game

    The SKORE  ad I first saw with WPL telecast, is so simple and so apt with the proposition of Change the game. Just watch it. The brand Skore has been doing some good work. Interesting is also the work of Love-Depot by TTK the manufacturer and marketer of Skore Nothing.

     

    Net-net

    Some good creative work is happening in the industry, but one rarely finds something superlative or excellent. I have in past written about the campaign,  Samsonite- Tested like samsonite  and Cadbury- Kisi Aur Ki Khushi.  Another addition to list is Dhan– for nothing but sheer clear TG definition and focus.

    It is good to see a decrease in brands taking potshots at Hindu traditions and rituals. This time, one found only the Holi ad by Bharat Matrimony as offtrack and completely exceeding the brand arena. Yes, a small section of rowdies gives the festival a bad name- but then the same message could be shared in a different tonality rather than colouring the whole Hindu society and festival in it.

     

  • We now have elements within media houses either deliberately inciting anger, or inciting anger to take advantage of it, writes Ranjona Banerji

    When media tells lies, for benefit

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiThe spread of fake news by other agencies is something we discussed last week. What about the spread of fake news by news outlets themselves?

    At the edge of social media has been this raging fight over migrant workers from Bihar being beaten up in Tamil Nadu for speaking Hindi.

    Videos and allegations flying up and down. Political statements. Outrage and all the rest of what happens when such information makes the news.

    Given the tensions in India’s North-South social and cultural divide, any aggravation can be dangerous and disruptive. Which of course is the underlying intention.

    The choice of Tamil Nadu and Bihar is interesting – and glaringly obvious – from a political perspective. Neither state is within the current “double engine” model of the BJP government at the Centre. One is setting itself up as an alternative force, the other is a rage-inducing renegade.

    The problem here is that the source of the misinformation appears to have been a mainstream media organisation. The Tamil Nadu police have filed a case against the Dainik Bhaskar, a BJP leader and a Twitter handle for spreading misinformation.

    https://thewire.in/politics/tn-police-files-case-against-dainik-bhaskar-bjp-leader-for-misinformation-on-migrants-attacked

    Of course, news outlets have in the past misunderstood spoof videos, mistaken war game shows for real life wars and many other such misdemeanours. You might be kind and argue they were misled, they didn’t do enough checks and due diligence, they were careless and stupid.

    But not in this case. When the result was to create massive social disturbance along an existing faultline, then excuses are hard to come by.

    https://theprint.in/india/call-with-bihar-cm-hindi-statements-tamil-nadu-govt-in-damage-control-mode-over-attacks-on-migrants/1418469/

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/beating-fake-news-tamil-nadu-and-bihar-governments-show-how-dangerous-social-media-rumours-can-be-swiftly-countered/

    So various other media houses – with a large North Indian reach – have jumped into to assuage tensions.

    The Times of India edit provides insights into how people can stop lies from spreading. But it does not acknowledge the role played by the mainstream media itself in taking a bad situation and making it worse. It also does not acknowledge the role of the particular political party which aggravated the lies and tried to make political capital out of it. We all understand that we need to check before we spread information. But the responsibility for the media is much larger than it is for the general public.

    Thus, we reach that significant meeting point of deliberate mischief and manipulation. This is where individual politicians and parties need to be called out for their involvement in spreading disharmony. Instead we have elements within media houses either deliberately inciting anger, or inciting anger to take advantage of it.

    This is not sensationalism. This is using lies to benefit yourself or someone else.

    If we within the media do not call out such behaviour, it only gets further institutionalised. It also makes it very difficult for the media to hold governments to account when they try to suppress freedom of expression. And increasingly, this is the issue that we face. Actual journalists who do actual work bear the brunt of government anger.

    TV anchors take their mummies and sisters to meet their most beloved political leaders.

    Happy Holi!

     

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

     

  • For the general public, unless TV takes up the actual story, and as long as internet misinformation rules, no one will really be the wiser, writes Ranjona Banerji

    Mum’s the word!

     

     

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    Ranjona BanerjiWhere is the Adani story in the Indian media?

    Not ignored in print and digital, but still hidden somewhere on the inside pages.

    With The Times of India’s nation pages, in the local edition of February 27, 2023, we learn how Gautam Adani has slipped to number 30 on the world billionaire index and how his group stocks have lost Rs 12 lakh crore in one month. The article, from PTI, squarely blames the Hindenburg report with came out in February and alleged stock manipulation and fraud for Adani’s fall.

    In the Business Standard (see screenshot, red line not mine, this pic is borrowed from @churimuri on Twitter), financial journalist Debashis Basu asks why no one bought those Adani shares when they fell, and contuinue to fall. Basu, who is also editor of moneylife.in, points out that it is because the Adani stock is still terribly overvalued that no one’s buying.

    Larry Summers, former Harvard professor and US treasury secretary, has been quoted across the Indian media. He said, without naming Adani, that India was facing a “possible Enron moment”. That is when the American energy giant collapsed into 2001 on allegations of inflated revenues and hidden losses. India had its own tricky relationship with Enron at the time, for those who care to remember.

    https://thewire.in/business/adani-group-enron-larry-summers

    With Adani having been praised to the skies so far for its massive growth, and all grumbles of getting too many government favours being dismissed as jealousy, slowly market experts are revealing their own positions. Mild concern and criticism, but if you remove the fear of political reprisal, who knows what they’re actually saying. Adani carries too much debt says this expert.

    https://www.businesstoday.in/markets/company-stock/story/adani-group-overleveraged-carries-3x-as-much-debt-as-it-should-says-aswath-damodaran-371667-2023-02-28

    There are signs that regulators are not responding to the red flags:

    https://www.thehindu.com/business/markets/adani-firms-addition-in-14-nse-indices-prompts-red-flags-for-investors/article66557216.ece

    A why needs to be asked here.

    And actually, this is what is missing.

    Apart from the usual suspects, that is the media which has not completely capitulated to government pressures, the Adani story has not shaken us the way it should have. Compare the way the story has been covered to the Harshad Mehta scam of 1992. It was big news every day, the rise, the fervour, and the fall.

    There was no 24 hours news TV in those days and no internet, so print was all we had. And the story was covered meticulously and dramatically.

    (Rare plug: It is definitely worthwhile watching Scam 1992 on Sony Liv.)

    So also the collapse of Enron, because of the India connection in both politics and business terms, 10 years later.

    So also the 2008 global financial collapse.

    But one cannot deny that a one-month relentless fall in the stocks of the most politically powerful company in India, which should have been daily headline news, has just lurked about in the business pages after a week of attention.

    This includes all the government-sponsored drama about foreign attacks on India and all the rest of it.

    Since 2014, we’ve been fed the glory of the “India story” regardless of market realities and self-inflicted blows like demonetisation, bad implementation of GST and various government policies which have not encouraged growth.

    Has the “assault” on Adani by the Indian stock market opened up a few cans and are a few worms now struggling to get out?

    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/adani-isnt-the-only-indian-tycoon-in-trouble-andy-mukherjee/articleshow/98262044.cms

    We know how it is. All possible criticism will be veiled and variously garbed, to avoid creating too much of a splash and attracting unwanted attention.

    That is the story of the Indian media today.

    And sadly, as far as the general public is concerned, unless TV takes up the actual financial story, and as long as internet misinformation cells rule, no one will really be the wiser.

    This storm will pass.

    But the depression which caused it will not dissipate.

     

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

     

  • Invites every Indian to participate and celebrate the Idea of India in their own way

    Wunderman Thompson partners with The Times of India for campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    The Times of India launches The Idea of India  an epic film to celebrate the invisible thread that binds India. The idea of the seamless thread that has held us all together as one nation over the 75 years of our Independence.

     

    Created by Wunderman Thompson India, the campaign is live across national news media, social media and various digital platforms. #WhatMakesUsOne campaign has a unique hashtag that invites every Indian to participate and celebrate the Idea of India in their own way.

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Kaustuv Chatterjee Brand Director  TOI & Languages, said: “Over the past decades India has made rapid strides in various sectors, and this has fuelled a sense of pride in the nation’s growing stature in the world. In this context, our new initiative from TOI – #WhatMakesUsOne, focuses on the many unifying threads that make up our Idea Of India. Despite our diversity and multiculturism, the threads that unite us also drive our growth in the world today powerfully. Just look at what’s happening in Space-Tech, Defence, IT, Sports or our cultural influence across the world. We hope this initiative will spark conversations and connections around What Makes Us One, as we prepare to celebrate our 74thyear of becoming a Republic.”

     

    Senthil Kumar, Chief Creative & Film Director, Wunderman Thompson India, added: “INDIA WAS AN IDEA LONG BEFORE IT BECAME A FREE NATION. It was the song from a thousand years ago. It was the spirit of thousands of freedom fighters. It was written in blood by the thousands who laid down their lives for our freedom. It was the same thread of unity in diversity and adversity and festivity. It is the same thread that continues to bind us as one nation, in spite of our diverse differences. It is the invisible ektara that stirs our souls and ignites our hearts. This binding thread of tolerance and inclusivity is represented as the thread of light cinematically and metaphorically in the powerful Times Of India narrative form.”

     

    Said Joy Chauhan, Sr. VP & Managing Partner, Wunderman Thompson, Delhi: “The idea of India is a campaign that makes you pause and yet again fall in love with our magical nation. What makes us one is a question with over a billion answers. Its depth is unseen and uncharted. Today with our potential and the will to lead this world the Idea of India has never looked brighter. It was an opportune time to celebrate our diversity and #WhatMakesUsOne We are proud to partner the iconic Times of India in this celebration.”