Category: News Headline

  • Vidya Balan brings swagger to savings in Federal Bank’s latest push

    Vidya Balan brings swagger to savings in Federal Bank’s latest push

    MUMBAI: In a world where banks shout about interest rates and product features, Federal Bank is whispering something far more stylish: save, but make it smart.

    Enter Vidya Balan—actor, brand ambassador, and now, savings guru. In the newly launched ‘Savings Ki Vidya’ campaign, she serves up daily financial wisdom with a side of sass, showing that even small savings can be swanky.

    The witty, slice-of-life films ditch jargon for charm, tapping into those blink-and-you-miss-it moments where we splurge instead of stashing. Backed by the bank’s emotional tagline “Rishta aap se hai, sirf app se nahi”, the campaign doesn’t push a product—it sells a mindset.

    No rate wars here. Just a sharp reminder that being money-wise doesn’t mean being boring.

    Designed as a 360-degree campaign, it spans TV, digital, print, OOH and even on-ground branch activations, with versions in multiple languages. A peppy original soundtrack—think more street than spreadsheet—keeps the vibe playful yet pointed.

    Speaking on the campaign, Federal Bank CMO M V S Murthy said, “‘Savings Ki Vidya’ moves the spotlight to conscious financial choices and long-term relationships. It’s a move away from transactional conversations and toward owning the act of saving itself. Opening a savings account with Federal Bank isn’t just a product decision—it’s an enabler. This campaign gives us a flexible, long-term platform to amplify various facets of our savings narrative. You can’t miss Vidya for a moment in this warm, witty, and winning narrative. The campaign reflects Federal Bank’s essence, ‘Rishta Aap Se Hai Sirf App Se Nahi,’ and draws on the strength of the Bank’s team and our ability to deliver service excellence—this is the calling card to opening accounts with the Bank.”

    Balan, who also happens to be a Federal Bank customer, shared, “Federal Bank is maxing the potential of working with me as their ambassador. The witty word play around my name is almost serendipitous given that knowledge helps us make smart choices that lead to prosperity and it’s the everyday moments that make this campaign relatable. A simple storyline which reinforces that those who care about us look out for us. I’ve experienced the Federal Bank ethos of Human at the Core and Digital to the Fore firsthand when I opened an account with them which showed me that they mean it when they say, ‘Rishta Aap Se Hai, Sirf App Se Nahi.’”

    Ogilvy senior creative director Rohit Dubey added, “Savings are the soul of banking. With these films, we wanted to bring that habit alive—not with lectures, but through life’s little moments. Whether it’s planning a party or dodging impulse buys, we believe Vidya’s everyday wisdom can help the country rediscover the joy of saving. And what better partner to do it with than a bank that’s built on relationships. Federal Bank.”

    As banks battle it out for deposits in a cluttered digital bazaar, Federal Bank is cutting through with charm, not charts. With Balan as the face of financial sensibility, saving just got a makeover.

    Move over fintech flash. This is old-school sensibility, dressed in modern swag.

    Savings ki Vidya koi tujhse seekhe:

    Savings ki Vidya: Efforts aur Paise dono bachao:

     
     

  • Airbnb teams up with FIFA for three World Cups and global fan stays

    Airbnb teams up with FIFA for three World Cups and global fan stays

    MUMBAI: Fans won’t just be travelling for the beautiful game, they’ll be checking in for it too. In a landmark move that blends football fever with hospitality hustle, Airbnb and FIFA have announced a three-year global partnership across three blockbuster tournaments: the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, FIFA World Cup 26, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. Airbnb will serve as Official Fan Accommodation across all events with perks that include booking fan experiences, stadium adventures, and even one-on-one training with football legends like Tim Howard.

    From Dolby Atmos goal celebrations in Miami to melt-in-your-mouth brisket tacos in Houston, this tie-up isn’t just about beds, it’s about bringing the soul of the Host City to the fan’s front door.

    “The World Cup brings the world together and so do we,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, adding that the partnership will help create “once-in-a-lifetime experiences” for fans while fuelling local economies.

    With fans expected to flood the 16 host cities of the FIFA World Cup 26, a Deloitte study estimates that over 380,000 Airbnb guests will contribute nearly 3.6 billion dollars to local economies. Hosts alone could rake in up to 210 million dollars, with Airbnb’s stays projected to support the equivalent of 34,000 full-time jobs through 2026.

    The collaboration will also see Airbnb roll out a 5 million dollars Host City Impact Fund, supporting local initiatives and enhancing the visitor experience through targeted investments in community infrastructure.

    Football meets fandom in a more literal way too Airbnb is offering original fan experiences like watching matches with Cobi Jones, dissecting tactics with FIFA’s Technical Study Group, or suiting up for a private goalkeeping session with Tim Howard. All these are bookable during the Club World Cup 2025, kicking off 14 June at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.

    With 89 per cent of fans worldwide planning to travel for matches, Airbnb’s bet on blending the love of sport with the love of stay is shaping up to be a golden goal.

    Or in this case, maybe a golden guest room.

  • Madchatter goes global with Worldcom PR pact

    Madchatter goes global with Worldcom PR pact

    MUMBAI: From Bandra to Berlin Madchatter’s next brainstorm could be worldwide. Mumbai-based integrated communications agency Madchatter Brand Solutions has joined the Worldcom Public Relations Group, becoming part of a 40-country-strong alliance of over 80 independent PR firms. The move signals a strategic leap for the young firm as it gears up to build campaigns that are globally informed and locally resonant.

    “This partnership is a huge milestone, especially at a time when regional boundaries are blurring fast,” said Madchatter founder and CEO Rachna Baruah. “It gives us access to a global brain trust of PR experts while ensuring that Indian narratives get the international spotlight they deserve.”

    Worldcom, which vets every member through a rigorous operational and cultural compatibility check, says India remains a market of growing strategic significance. “Madchatter’s regional depth and forward-thinking approach are a strong value-add,” said Worldcom recruitment chair Bjorn Mogensen.

    Founded with a focus on both Web2 and Web3 sectors, Madchatter has made a name for itself in storytelling across verticals like enterprise tech, fintech, real estate, wellness, crypto, and impact ventures. Its full-stack services include crisis comms, digital strategy, multilingual content, and policy-sensitive media training, a mix now poised to go global.

    With this partnership, Madchatter will co-create multi-market campaigns, exchange real-time insights with international partners, and offer on-ground India expertise to global clients expanding into the subcontinent.

    From local stories to global strategies, it’s chatter that now speaks many languages.

  • Yusuf Batliwala joins Hero Esports as global partnerships head

    Yusuf Batliwala joins Hero Esports as global partnerships head

    MUMBAI: It’s a power move in the world of competitive gaming. Yusuf Batliwala has been appointed senior director for global partnerships at Hero Esports, bringing with him nearly two decades of cross-continental experience across entertainment, media, and gaming. Based out of Singapore, Batliwala officially took charge in June 2025.

    Batliwala’s new role will see him leading Hero Esports’ global partnership strategy forging collaborations, securing brand alliances, and expanding the company’s footprint in international markets. With esports exploding into a mainstream spectacle, Hero Esports appears to be stacking its deck with strategic firepower.

    Before joining Hero Esports, Batliwala served as senior sponsorship strategist for the Esports World Cup Riyadh 2024, a high-stakes tournament that cemented Saudi Arabia’s place on the global esports map. He was previously associate director for strategic partnerships at Singtel, where he shaped digital entertainment initiatives across Southeast Asia. His diverse experience also includes stints with Bytedance, BBC, and Getty Images.

    Having worn multiple hats from content sales and sponsorships to strategic partnerships and business development Batliwala is no stranger to navigating the fast-evolving intersections of media, tech, and culture.

    With Hero Esports expanding rapidly across Asia, Batliwala’s appointment signals the company’s ambition to level up its global playbook. As esports matures into a billion-dollar business, industry insiders will be watching closely to see how Batliwala’s deal-making and brand-building expertise helps unlock the next phase of Hero’s journey.

    Game face on the global esports arena just got a little more interesting.

  • Amazon rebrands as your everyday enabler, not just the everything store

    Amazon rebrands as your everyday enabler, not just the everything store

    MUMBAI: Once known as the ‘everything store’, Amazon India is now gunning for something a little closer to home—and heart. With its new campaign, Har Din Behtar, the e-commerce giant wants to be seen not just as a marketplace for all things, but as a thoughtful partner in everyday life.

    Conceptualised by Ogilvy, the campaign signals a quiet but meaningful shift in Amazon’s narrative: from a transactional utility to a brand that understands India’s everyday struggles, quirks, and quiet triumphs.

    The thematic film opens with a neighbourly face-off—a tongue-in-cheek tug-of-war of betterment. From swapping outdated décor to embracing new habits, the film portrays how a little friendly rivalry becomes the nudge towards becoming your best self. That spirit runs through three punchy follow-up films:

    A PG aunty takes the plunge and partakes in a Gen-Z party, all thanks to budget buys under Rs 300.

    A grandson uses thoughtful buys to bond with his grandfather—small gestures, big feels.

    A dad sneaks veggies into his kids’ meal with a clever kitchen hack, backed by products with crores of reviews.

    The campaign tagline—“Har chhoti badi koshish se banta hai din behtar”—cements the message: it’s the little things that make every day better.

    Commenting on the campaign launch, Amazon India director – growth & consumer marketing, Pragya Sharma said, “Today’s India is not for the fainthearted. It is where rising expectations are being met with expanding opportunities. We love this about India because it reflects the culture that has been a north star for Amazon since the first day of the launch of our e-commerce marketplace in the country. Customer obsession is at the centre of everything we do, it is what keeps us curious, nimble, and innovative. We love that our customers’ expectations are never static and always rising. It reminds us to not just respond to customers’ needs but anticipate them as well. With ‘Har Din Behtar’, we are not only acknowledging this spirit of relentless improvement, we also aim to match it by enhancing selection, speed, and service quality daily.”

    The campaign strikes a fine balance between emotional pull and retail proposition. Backed by RTBs like under Rs 300, innovative products, and crores of reviews, the films highlight how Amazon isn’t just about indulgence—it’s about effort turned effortless.

    Ogilvy India CCO Sukesh Nayak spoke about the campaign, saying, “Amazon as a brand has always been known as the ultimate online shopping destination in India – an everything store. With this campaign, we’ve added heart to what Amazon stands for. Evolving to become an everyday partner for all of life’s little-big moments. Through our films, we’ve shown how Amazon supports you in turning your small daily goals into big, beautiful wins. Helping you really make every day better.”

    From everyday buys to everyday better, Amazon’s message is clear: it’s not just what you get—it’s what you do with it that counts.

  • Kaunsal takes centre screen as NMH’s new marketing head

    Kaunsal takes centre screen as NMH’s new marketing head

    MUMBAI: From customer care cubicles to commanding campaigns Ajit Singh Kaunsal’s journey has come full stream. Kaunsal has been appointed as vice president & head of marketing at New Media Holding (NMH), a move he confirmed via a Linkedin post. In his new role, he will helm the marketing strategy for one of India’s most dynamic digital media ecosystems home to brands like One Digital Entertainment, Blush, Being Indian, Instant Bollywood, and Social Nation, among others.

    With over 20 years of experience in media, research, and digital growth, Kaunsal brings a toolkit honed across major media houses. Most recently, he spent five years at MX Player, navigating the platform through intense competition in the OTT space. Before that, he clocked nearly six years at Sony Pictures Networks India, where he shaped digital and analytics strategies for SonyLIV, helping steer its early digital transition.

    But it wasn’t all front row from the start. Kaunsal began his career in 2005 as a customer service agent at First Source Pvt. Ltd., before stints at Harapa International and TAM Media Research. That hands-on foundation spanning data, customer experience, and content makes him a uniquely well-rounded fit for a company as multifaceted as NMH.

    NMH, with its diverse play across content, creators, and commerce, is at the centre of India’s evolving media zeitgeist. Kaunsal’s appointment signals a sharper focus on marketing leadership as the company scales its brand ecosystem and influence in pop culture and the creator economy.

    In a digital-first world where attention is currency, Kaunsal’s brief is clear: keep NMH at the top of feed and mind.

  • Pocket FM gives global influencers a good earful

    Pocket FM gives global influencers a good earful

    MUMBAI: In a world drowning in digital noise, Pocket FM has found the ultimate Indian hack: an old-school ear-cleaning.

    The audio entertainment platform’s latest campaign, India, Kuch Acha Suno!, sees global influencers—yes, actual internet celebs—sitting cross-legged on Indian pavements getting their ears cleaned the desi way.

    Featuring familiar names like Brown Wanderers, Kyle Paul, Andy Evans aka The Aussie Bhai, Joshua Barnes, and Praveen, the phygital series follows these creators as they ditch algorithm fatigue and embrace an age-old Indian street tradition. What begins as comic relief soon turns meditative. With each cotton swab and tiny ear-spoon, the influencers shed unsolicited advice, performance anxiety, and motivational junk—only to pop in their earbuds and tune into Pocket FM for actual storytelling that soothes.

    “We live in probably the noisiest times. We are exposed to unsolicited advice, opinions, and noise from every direction,” said Pocket Entertainment head of brand marketing and communications, Vineet Singh. “The ‘roadside ear cleaners’ concept both metaphorically and literally holds a mirror to our lives, filled with noise we never signed up for. It takes forward our brand ideology  and adds a quirky and global twist to it. It further reinforces our message – Block out the chaos and listen to something that actually makes us feel better.”

    Shot on real streets with real reactions, the campaign is all texture and truth. It also clicked with audiences: over 900,000 video views in a week, a million-plus engagements, and a 37 per cent spike in app search trends.

    At a time when even influencers are crying burnout, India, Kuch Acha Suno! hits a universal nerve. Before you can hear something worthwhile, you might just need to clean the wax out—digital or otherwise.

  • MediBuddy builds a tiny world to salute dad’s giant heart with #JustDadThings

    MediBuddy builds a tiny world to salute dad’s giant heart with #JustDadThings

    MUMBAI : MediBuddy has gone small to make a big point. The digital health giant has rolled out a tender Father’s Day campaign-#JustDadThings-that builds an intricately designed miniature world to highlight the often invisible, under-celebrated sacrifices dads make daily. While fathers never miss a beat for their families, they often skip a visit to the doctor.

    Crafted in-house and brought to life with a touch of AI wizardry, the 36-second spot captures poignant vignettes of a father’s quiet devotion—never missing the school run, always fixing the jammed door, yet consistently putting off that health check. The tiny, lifelike sets pack emotional punch, showing that when it comes to love, dads go big—even if no one’s looking.

    But beneath the emotional storytelling lies a hard truth: men, especially fathers, are less likely to seek preventive care. They downplay symptoms, delay tests, and carry on—until it’s too late.

    Speaking on the campaign, MediBuddy head of brand marketing, Manu Sankar Das said, “Culturally, fathers have long been cast in the role of silent providers—always present, yet rarely prioritising their own well-being. This insight, rooted in both data and daily observation, formed the foundation of our campaign. With #JustDadThings, we’ve used the power of AI and miniature storytelling to spotlight this quiet selflessness and reframe appreciation as action. True gratitude, we believe, lies not just in words, but in ensuring the health and longevity of those who’ve quietly safeguarded ours.”

    It’s part nostalgia, part nudge. And as the film spreads across social platforms, MediBuddy hopes it sparks a new tradition: giving back by giving dad the health care he’s too modest to ask for.

  • Clove Oral Care bites into the toothpaste game with dentist-designed launch

    Clove Oral Care bites into the toothpaste game with dentist-designed launch

    MUMBAI — India’s largest dental chain has something fresh to smile about. Clove Oral Care has officially taken the plunge into the fast-moving consumer goods aisle with its new line of clinically developed toothpastes and toothbrushes—crafted by dentists, backed by Dabur, and now live on Amazon, Flipkart, and cloveoralcare.com.

    This isn’t just another shiny smile promise. Armed with insights from over a decade of chair-side experience and a sharp focus on Indian oral health issues, Clove’s new range tackles real problems—think enamel erosion, dry mouth, sensitivity, and even the brushing battles of fussy kids.

    The star-studded lineup of pastes includes:

    .   Hydrate, India’s first dry-mouth toothpaste powered by Optaflow technology

     Revive, a remineralising formula that gets tooth enamel back on track

     Sensitive, with Potassium Nitrate for that “ouch!” moment

     Kidz, a fun, colour-changing fluoride blend that’s all play and protection

    Ultimate, the everyday all-rounder for healthy gums and stronger teeth

    German fragrance and sensory tech company Symrise adds flair to function with patented OptaFresh and taste-boosting innovation, turning brushing into a sensory ritual.

    On the brush front, Clove’s dentist-designed models come fitted with ultrasoft DuPont Tynex bristles, promising precision, plaque-fighting power, and long life—no wobbly heads or marketing fluff here.

    Clove Oral Car founder & CEO Amarinder Singh said, “We’ve been very deliberate in how we’ve priced this range. Oral care that is scientifically backed and professionally developed shouldn’t be restricted to niche markets or luxury price tags. By positioning our products in the mid-premium segment, we’re ensuring that high-quality, dentist-approved solutions are within reach for a much wider audience. It’s about delivering real value products that meet clinical standards yet remain practical for everyday use across Indian households.”

    The brand’s hybrid ‘product + service’ model ups the game further. Each purchase comes with a complimentary dental consultation, redeemable at any of Clove’s 600-plus clinics across 26 cities—making it the only oral care brand offering clinical backup with your brushing routine.

    Backed by Dabur’s innovation team and German materials, Clove’s bold new move may just rattle the toothpaste tube in a category long dominated by cosmetic claims. Call it the dental seal of approval—packaged.

  • Asian Paints rolls out ‘Royale Glitz – Tribute to Odisha’ with a splash of soul and shimmer

    Asian Paints rolls out ‘Royale Glitz – Tribute to Odisha’ with a splash of soul and shimmer

    MUMBAI: Asian Paints is adding a coat of culture to its colour charts. The company’s latest limited-edition launch, Royale Glitz – Tribute to Odisha, isn’t just a new look for its luxe emulsion range—it’s a curated homage to the rich tapestry of Odisha’s traditions.

    Wrapped in the elegance of Pattachitra art and infused with motifs from the state’s iconic heritage—think Odissi dancers, the mighty Hirakud Dam, and the timeworn glory of the Konark Wheel—the pack is less packaging, more cultural artefact.

    “At Asian Paints, we believe that every state is not just a market, but a living story. Our Royale Glitz ‘Tribute to Odisha’ edition is more than packaging—it’s a celebration of Odisha’s enduring artistry, spiritual energy, and cultural depth. As a market, Odisha is discerning and design- aware, and this initiative reflects our intent to not only lead in innovation and aesthetics but also lead in cultural sensitivity. This is how we continue to elevate décor from just product to purposeful expression,” said Asian Paints MD & CEO Amit Syngle.

    Known for its crème-finish glow and anti-crack performance, Royale Glitz now arrives with a dose of regional pride. The move is part of Asian Paints’ ongoing push to regionalise its offerings—fusing décor and storytelling to create deeper consumer connections.

    Backing the pack is a localised campaign featuring an original Odia track composed by Geet Vani and sung by Barnali Hota. The music video wraps Odia pride in melody, adding a lyrical layer to the product’s visual punch.

    Available across select markets in Odisha, the Tribute to Odisha pack paints a picture of how luxury décor can echo local identity—one brushstroke at a time.