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Category: News Headline

  • TV9 Bangla honours Bengal’s real-life healers with flair and fanfare

    TV9 Bangla honours Bengal’s real-life healers with flair and fanfare

    MUMBAI: On the eve of Doctor’s Day, TV9 Bangla pulled out all the stops to salute Bengal’s bravest in white coats. The fifth edition of the Suswasthya Health Awards & Conclave aired Sunday, July 13 at 11:30 am, celebrated not just doctors, but also disruptors in research, frontline caregivers, and even filmmakers championing health awareness.

    The glitzy gathering was kicked off by TV9 Bangla’s managing editor and business head, Amritanshu Bhattacharya, consulting editor Anirban Choudhury, and the ever-revered medical veteran, Dr Sukumar Mukherjee.

    The big applause was reserved for the big names. The lifetime achievement honours went to ophthalmology icon Dr I.S Roy and dermatology Dr Subrata Malakar. In a nod to innovation, professor Suman Chakraborty, director of IIT Kharagpur, was recognised for his pathbreaking research in healthcare tech.

    TV9 Bangla also added gravitas with two new awards named after legends—dr Subhas Mukhopadhyay, who pioneered India’s first test-tube baby, and dr Kadambini Ganguly, the country’s first female physician. Their spiritual successors—dr Subhankar Chowdhury and dr Geeta Ganguly Mukherjee—were celebrated for carrying forward that torch of excellence.

    Calcutta Medical College’s department of gynaecology and obstetrics took a bow for bridging science and the sacred process of birth. Elsewhere, Dr Kousik Lahiri and dr Debashish Bhattacharya added more sparkle to the winner’s list.

    The unsung heroes didn’t go unnoticed. Dr Tapas Kumar Das, Dr Samarendranath Roy, and nurse Dolly Biswas were quietly applauded for their tireless work away from the limelight.

    TV9 Bangla even tipped its hat to storytelling for a cause—filmmaker Kamaleshwar Mukherjee and actor Kaushik Ghosh were honoured for shining a cinematic light on public health and well-being.

    And just when you thought doctors only healed with their hands, a few grabbed the mic and took to the stage, adding some drama, rhythm, and laughs to an already dazzling do.

    Catch the full spectacle again on TV9 Bangla, where medicine met magic, and the healers had their moment in the sun.

  • Belgian Waffle Co stirs up National Waffle Day with #WhatsYourDrill campaign

    Belgian Waffle Co stirs up National Waffle Day with #WhatsYourDrill campaign

    MUMBAI: The Belgian Waffle Co is flipping National Waffle Day on its head this year. No more boring 1 August – the company has rescheduled it to the third Wednesday of July, with this year’s big day falling on 16th July. And as ever, they’re pulling out all the stops with a pre-buzz campaign that’s as playful as their menu.

    Enter #WhatsYourDrill, a campaign that taps straight into the brand’s fanbase’s obsession with their waffle rituals. Fans are asked to share their National Waffle Day plans – or rather, their ‘drills’ – in a bid to turn a humble date shift into a nationwide cultural moment. But here’s the twist: The campaign kicks off with a cheeky hoax – National Waffle Day is Cancelled! Cue panic from waffle lovers, before the big reveal: “Nope, it’s just rescheduled, folks!”

    “As we celebrate 10 incredible years of The Belgian Waffle Co, National Waffle Day holds even greater significance for us this year. What began as a single-store idea has now become a national movement across 660+ stores, bringing smiles to millions every day.

    Day is not just a day— it’s a celebration of our loyal community, our partners, and the culture we’ve built together. As India’s largest waffle brand, we remain committed to expanding access to quality desserts while staying rooted in innovation, consistency, and customer delight,” said The Belgian Waffle Co executive director and CEO Ankit Patel.

    This tongue-in-cheek fake-out set the stage for the full-scale campaign, which is all about intrigue, humour, and pulling fans deep into the waffle web. Highlights include ‘Mission Announcement – The Gimmick,’ where all orders – both online and in-store – came with “classified” mission slips and 3D glasses that, when worn, revealed the new date: 16 July. How’s that for immersive?

    Some meme that created a wave for the campaign:

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by NAUGHTYWORLD (@naughtyworld)

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A post shared by NAUGHTYWORLD (@naughtyworld)

    Meanwhile, loyal fans received ‘Post Office Mission Letters’ and were inducted as Waffle Lieutenants, tasked with spreading the word. On the digital front, influencers will hijack timelines to show how they’re prepping for the big day.

    On 16 July, all Waff-wiches and Waffle Crisps will go for just Rs 100 at over 660 stores across 220 cities. It’s the kind of crispy celebration fans live for – and this year, it’s got that extra crispy zing.

    #WhatsYourDrill isn’t just about waffles, it’s about turning a random Wednesday into a movement. So, what’s your drill for National Waffle Day?

  • Swiggy serves up LOLs as it swaps menus for memes on the ‘gram

    Swiggy serves up LOLs as it swaps menus for memes on the ‘gram

    MUMBAI: Once known for delivering food, Swiggy is now delivering punchlines and the internet’s loving every byte. Somewhere between “order now” and “out for delivery,” Swiggy pulled off a rebrand no one saw coming. What began as a food delivery app is now dishing out cultural currency in bulk, using meme-first content, creator collabs, and moment-led mayhem to claim a spot as one of India’s most culturally fluent brands online.

    Gone are the days of the polished influencer integration. Swiggy’s digital strategy is now built on a different recipe: creators who feel real, trends that begin in group chats before boardrooms, and humour that’s more Instagram DM than advertising brief.

    Remember the viral “croissant” mispronunciation? What could’ve been just another fleeting laugh became a nation-wide earworm, thanks to creator Prashant and Swiggy’s impeccable meme timing. Then came the “Tedhe Medhe Guy”, the blank-staring student Shagun, Pakistani creator Abuloo, even lookalikes of Virat and Rohit, all roped into the brand’s ever-expanding ‘content kitchen’.

    Swiggy’s collab with internet oddballs Famous Ram and Khushi for the IPL season, or its chaotic creator-led push for Group Ordering, shows its refusal to play it safe. This isn’t content engineered for awards, it’s built for shares, comments, chaos and connection.

    “We don’t just create content, we co-create with the internet,” said Yukti Satija, who helms Swiggy Food’s social media. “Participating in trends is not enough, we’re here to start them.”

    It’s working. With millions of organic views and minimal ad spend, Swiggy’s feed has morphed into a digital dhaba for India’s meme-hungry audience. No filters, no frills just hyperlocal humour that hits harder than a 3 am paratha craving.

    “There’s often a tendency to dismiss unpolished creators as ‘cringe’, especially those outside the metros,” Yukti notes. “But we’ve learned that the internet rewards honesty over polish. Realness beats reelness.”

    Swiggy’s Instagram bio sums it up: khaana khau raat bhar, crazy collabs karu har baat par. In a digital world full of filters, this food app is staying deliciously unfiltered and redefining what it means to be a brand online.

  • Russhabh Thakkar on cracking India’s CTV code, one immersive ad at a time

    Russhabh Thakkar on cracking India’s CTV code, one immersive ad at a time

    MUMBAI: For Russhabh Thakkar, founder and CEO of Frodoh, held a curiosity back in time about where technology intersects with media CTV, DOOH, and the systems behind how ads really work. He knew that he wanted to build something of his own in that space. Frodoh came from spotting the gap between how people watch today and how brands still plan. The goal was simple, build for the way attention actually works now, not how it used to.

    Perched in his no-frills office in the heart of Lower Parel, Thakkar was all set for a deep-dive chat, coffee brewed and insights loaded. But in true Mumbai fashion, the city’s legendary traffic had other plans. Yours truly arrived fashionably late (read: embarrassingly delayed), much to Thakkar’s polite but unmistakable dismay.

    Still, being the sport he is, we squeezed in a zippy 20-minute power convo before he dashed off for an urgent client meet. “No worries,” he smiled, “I’ll put pen to paper or well, fingers to keyboard and send over the rest.” And just like that, what started as a botched in-person interview turned into a digital dialogue packed with CTV gold.

    With the mantra “Don’t just get viewed, get noticed,” Thakkar and his team are helping brands ditch passive impressions for precision engagement. “We saw the gap early,” says Thakkar. “People were watching content differently, but ads hadn’t caught up. Frodoh is built for the way attention works now and not how it used to.”

    According to the FICCI-EY 2025 report, India has over 30 million CTV sets, with viewers clocking 40+ hours per month on smart TVs. But Thakkar believes this isn’t just about reach, “It’s where scale meets intent in real time.” With tier 2 and 3 towns joining the CTV party thanks to affordable smart TVs and bundled OTT deals, the viewing landscape has exploded. But most brands, he says, are “still fumbling with legacy playbooks.” Yes, Frodoh is helping them unlearn.

    Old-school demographics don’t work in today’s CTV ecosystem. Thakkar explains, “It’s not about who is watching, but why, when, and how.” His team helps brands track viewing behaviour, content types, and time-of-day data to serve dynamic creatives, sequential stories, and context-rich moments.

    To supercharge this, they built Frodoh Forge, an AI-powered campaign planner that takes a brand brief, decodes audience signals, suggests channels, and builds a media plan in minutes. “No extra forms. No lag. And everything’s tracked live,” he adds.

    While many still see programmatic CTV as a shiny new buzzword, Thakkar insists it’s “the backbone of how smart media gets delivered today.” As a supply-side platform (SSP), Frodoh curates inventory across niche OTTs, regional OEMs, and long-tail content players—making them DSP-agnostic and giving agencies the flexibility they crave.

    And with India’s ad market pegged to hit Rs 1.64 lakh crore according to GroupM’s TYNY 2025 report, CTV is no longer a footnote. “It’s the bridge between scale and precision,” says Thakkar. “We’re already seeing brands move from testing to long-term bets.”

    Frodoh sees shoppable TV, QR overlays, and pause ads as the next big frontiers—formats that turn the screen into a point-of-sale without breaking immersion. “We’re not just watching CTV anymore, we’re starting to use it,” he says.

    Thakkar is clear-eyed about the road ahead. “India’s CTV shift isn’t a trend, it’s a tectonic change. Some are adapting. We were built for it.”

    With the right blend of technology, talent, and timing, Frodoh World is ensuring brands don’t just survive this bonfire, they shine through it.

  • Mission Sponsor Possible as Special Ops 2 locks in 14 brand partners

    Mission Sponsor Possible as Special Ops 2 locks in 14 brand partners

    MUMBAI: Espionage has never looked so marketable JioHotstar’s Special Ops 2 is back, and it’s bringing more than just bullets and secrets to the screen this 18 July. It’s bringing brands. Fourteen of them. Special Ops 2, the latest instalment of the hit thriller franchise, is already making headlines before its premiere not just for its high-stakes cyber warfare plot, but for its impressive brand line-up. With 14 marquee sponsors on board, the show has set a new benchmark in branded entertainment for scripted Indian OTT content.

    From automobiles to FMCG, and personal care to mutual funds, Special Ops 2 has attracted a cross-sectoral advertiser base that includes Hyundai, Jaquar & Co, Directors Elaichi, Asian Paints, UTI Mutual Fund, Envy, Philips, Lux Industries, Domino’s, JK Cement, Oppo, Swiggy, Toothsi, and Sony Bravia. This marks the highest-ever sponsor count for a title under the Specials banner on JioHotstar.

    “With Special Ops, we’ve built an iconic IP that delivers both cultural impact and business value,” said JioHotstar head of revenue entertainment & international Ajit Varghese. “This kind of brand response speaks to the power of premium storytelling and the platform’s ability to deliver engaged, meaningful audiences at scale.”

    Returning to the screen is Kay Kay Menon as Himmat Singh, the stoic intelligence officer at the centre of the action. But this time, he’s stepping into a more shadowy world of cyber espionage, system sabotage, and faceless digital enemies, a timely theme in an age of digital vulnerability.

    The rise in sponsorships also underscores how advertisers are shifting focus towards long-form, high-quality original series as strategic storytelling platforms. JioHotstar’s previous original, Criminal Justice Season 4, similarly drew widespread brand attention, signalling a growing trend in content-backed advertising integrations.

    Special Ops 2 premieres on 18 July exclusively on JioHotstar, and if the buzz (and brand budget) is anything to go by, this mission’s already a success before its first intel drop.

  • Vikas Boni appointed Crunchyroll’s India lead for global distribution & partnerships

    Vikas Boni appointed Crunchyroll’s India lead for global distribution & partnerships

    MUMBAI: Vikas Boni has taken on the role of senior director and India lead for global distribution & partnerships at Crunchyroll, the world’s leading destination for anime and fandom. Based in Mumbai,  Boni’s mandate is to shape the next phase of growth for Crunchyroll in the region. He commenced his new role in July 2025.

    With over 16 years of experience across the media and digital landscape, Boni specialises in building high-impact partnerships, driving revenue growth, and leading content-driven businesses at scale.

    Prior to joining Crunchyroll, he served as business head & chief operating officer at Stars N Stripes, an award-winning digital marketing agency, from April 2023 to June 2025. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing and implementing the agency’s go-to-market strategy, aiming for a tenfold expansion within five years. His responsibilities included managing the agency’s overall profit and loss and establishing four distinct growth services: Studio SNS (branded content division), Social Circle (social media management), Shortcuts (short video content and tech solutions), and In The Air (creator platform).

    Boni also held significant leadership positions at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd  for over 13 years. His roles there included vice president and head of content licensing & partnerships for JioTV & JioTV+, where he led content licensing, acquisition, and partnerships to enhance the content portfolio and drive value for Jio Platforms Ltd.

    He also served as vice president and head of partnerships for Voot Select & Voot Shots, leading global partnerships for Voot and launching the short-form video product Voot Shots. Additionally, he was vice president and head of MTV Beats, business planning & content partnerships (YME), overseeing business planning and strategic partnerships for Viacom18’s Youth, Music & English Entertainment cluster. He played a pivotal role in launching and scaling youth-focused platforms like MTV Beats, MTV Indies, and Voot Shots.

    He began his career as an assistant manager in the strategy group at TAM Media Research from December 2007 to March 2010. Boni holds an MBA in marketing and a BE in information technology from the University of Mumbai.

  • Baggage claim to fame as Safari and Boat launch trackable luggage

    Baggage claim to fame as Safari and Boat launch trackable luggage

    MUMBAI: No more baggage blues Safari’s latest launch ensures your luggage never goes off-track, even if your flight does. In a first-of-its-kind travel tech collaboration, luggage major Safari has teamed up with Boat to launch Safari Trackr, a Bluetooth-enabled, smart luggage range designed to take the anxiety out of airport chaos. Debuting during Amazon Prime Day, the collection blends boAt’s tracking tech with Safari’s trusted build, offering stylish peace of mind starting at just Rs 4,499.

    Whether your suitcase has taken a detour to a different carousel or vanished into a hotel lobby’s backroom, Safari Trackr ensures you’re not left wondering where your life-in-a-bag has gone. Equipped with Boat Tag, powered by Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the luggage range works seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices, letting users track their bags in real time no matter where they are in the world.

    The campaign’s tagline, “Your Safari Got Safer,” captures the pitch-perfect blend of reliability and innovation. Told through two witty digital films, the campaign spotlights those all-too-familiar travel fiascos swapped bags, forgotten check-ins, and suitcase slip-ups juxtaposed with the smooth, in-control experience of a tech-savvy traveller.

    The range comes in three sizes Cabin, Medium, and Large and three colours: Signature Black, Blue, and Green. Crafted from 100 per cent polycarbonate and strength-tested, the bags are built to last and be found.

    “People don’t just carry luggage, they carry their life,” said Safari Industries MD Sudhir Jatia. “Safari Trackr is our answer to the very real fear of losing that life in transit. With Boat as a tech partner, we’ve created a solution that’s smart, stylish, and simple.”

    Boat CEO Sameer Mehta added, “We’re bringing Boat Tag tech to something deeply practical keeping your belongings safe, visible, and connected. This partnership solves a real-world problem at scale.”

    The product will be available across India through Amazon, with the e-commerce giant promising fast delivery to 100 per cent serviceable pin codes. Amazon director of fashion & beauty, Siddharth Bhagat noted, “This collaboration is all about innovation and everyday utility. It’s a fresh take on what luggage can be.”

    With 330 plus service touchpoints and free installation in metros (plus virtual support for remote areas), GRIPIT’s servicing model adds another layer of ease to an already impressive offering.

    Safari Trackr doesn’t just hold your belongings, it holds your trust. In a world where travel is unpredictable, at least now your luggage won’t be.

  • Dream11 elevates Yash Mehta to director of product marketing content

    Dream11 elevates Yash Mehta to director of product marketing content

    MUMBAI: Dream11 has announced the promotion of Yash Mehta to director of product marketing content, effective July 2025. In his new role, Mehta will spearhead the product content division, focusing on orchestrating innovative product marketing campaigns to significantly boost feature and platform adoption, engagement, and retention. 

    Dream11 highlighted that Mehta’s team has already contributed to increased product usage through interactive and data-informed content strategies. He will now be responsible for leading content performance across various channels, including push notifications, banners, emails, and static web pages, while developing user-centric, data-driven creative solutions and spearheading innovative interactive intellectual properties to enhance user adoption and retention. 

    Prior to this promotion, Mehta served as senior manager, product marketing | content at Dream11 from August 2023.  In that capacity, he was instrumental in maintaining and growing product marketing channel click-through rates (CTRs), including 3.5 per cent for push notifications, 20 per cent for stories, seven per cent for banners, 30 per cent for app inbox, 16 per cent for in-apps, and a 52 per cent email open rate. He also led a team of five on adoption, engagement, and retention initiatives through interactive content strategies. 

    Mehta’s nearly decade-long experience in content strategy and campaign orchestration includes stints at MTV India, National Basketball Association (NBA), and Ozy Media. He previously held roles such as integrated marketing associate at Ozy Media and production trainee, digital and social content publishing at the NBA. His career began as a social media executive at Merry Men in April 2011. 

    He holds a master’s degree in integrated marketing and digital marketing from NYU School of Professional Studies, graduating in June 2018. He also earned a master of business administration (MBA) from Lala Lajpatrai Institute Of Management and a bachelor of commerce (B.Com.) in marketing from H.R. College of Commerce & Economics.

  • Titan announces leadership reshuffle in jewellery and watches

    Titan announces leadership reshuffle in jewellery and watches

    BENGALURU: Titan Co Ltd  has announced key appointments within its senior management, effective later this year and early next. These changes follow previous intimations regarding the succession of C.K. Venkataraman as managing director and the resignation of Suparna Mitra, CEO of the watches division.

    Arun Narayan, currently overseeing the Tanishq India business for retail, marketing, and merchandising, is set to become the chief executive officer of the jewellery division from 1 January 2026. He will succeed Ajoy Chawla, who is slated to take over as managing director on the same date.

    A post-graduate from IIM Calcutta and a veteran of the Tata Administrative Services cadre, Narayan brings nearly three decades of experience in retail, marketing, and sales leadership roles within the Tata group and Titan. Since April 2020, he has been leading the Tanishq India business and previously held key positions as regional business head (west, all categories), Helios business head, and national sales & retail head for Titan watches.

    Meanwhile, Kuruvilla Markose, currently the CEO of Titan’s international business division, will take over as the chief executive officer of the watches division from 13 August  2025. He steps into the role vacated by Suparna Mitra. Markose, who holds degrees in agriculture and an MBA from IIFT, New Delhi, also joined the Tata Administrative Services in 1995. His three decades of experience span diverse sectors including FMCG, telecom, BPO, consulting, digital, and retail across the Tata group. He joined Titan in 2015 as chief digital officer and has been leading the company’s international expansion in watches, jewellery, and eyecare as CEO of the international business division.

    These appointments are part of a broader leadership transition within the company’s senior management.

  • Aayush Wellness launches Brain Fuel to combat cognitive decline

    Aayush Wellness launches Brain Fuel to combat cognitive decline

    NEW DELHI: Aayush Wellness Ltd has expanded its nutraceutical portfolio with the launch of Brain Fuel Capsules, a new product designed to enhance cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity. This move addresses a growing concern: the silent epidemic of cognitive strain affecting millions, including students, professionals, and the elderly, often before the age of 40.

    The company highlights factors like digital dependency, poor sleep, multitasking, nutritional imbalances, and chronic stress as major contributors to declining mental acuity. Global health estimates suggest over one in four adults exhibit signs of cognitive strain prematurely.

    Brain Fuel Capsules feature a synergistic blend of traditional herbs: brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) for memory and learning; ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) to reduce stress and improve concentration; ginkgo biloba for brain circulation and alertness; turmeric extract (Curcuma Longa – curcumin) for antioxidant benefits; and gotu kola (Centella Asiatica) to revitalise the nervous system and boost mental clarity.

    Aayush Wellness managing director Naveena Kumar stated, ” We believe that true wellness starts from within, and brain health is central to overall well-being. With the launch of Brain Fuel capsules, we are offering a time-tested solution to one of the most pressing challenges of our generation — cognitive fatigue driven by modern lifestyles. This herbal formulation supports long-term mental clarity without the side effects of synthetic alternatives.” 

    Following the successful introductions of Sleep Gummies and Beauty Gummies, this launch aligns with Aayush Wellness’s strategy to capitalise on India’s burgeoning $18bn nutraceutical industry, which is expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 15 per cent. The brain health segment, particularly herbal and natural solutions, is projected to be among the fastest-growing verticals, with a CAGR of 14.78 per cent, fuelled by increased mental health awareness, academic and work-related stress, and an ageing population.

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