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  • Kicking Up Change as Rajasthan’s Girls Score Big in Pocket FM Story

    Kicking Up Change as Rajasthan’s Girls Score Big in Pocket FM Story

    MUMBAI: They didn’t wait for the world to hand them a playground, they built their own field of dreams. As the world gears up to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, audio series platform Pocket FM is shining the spotlight on Rajasthan’s young footballers who are rewriting the rules of courage, one goal at a time.

    The latest chapter of Pocket FM’s acclaimed brand series, Sound of Courage, tells the stirring story of girls from rural Rajasthan who quite literally kicked their way through patriarchy. Created in collaboration with the Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti (MJAS), the short film captures how a few determined girls turned a barren patch of land into their football ground and in doing so, reclaimed their right to freedom, expression, and dreams.

    For generations, their mothers and grandmothers had known a world limited by early marriage, household chores, and little to no education. Football, for them, wasn’t just a game, it was rebellion dressed in cleats. What began as a handful of girls dribbling against social constraints soon evolved into a local movement that got the entire community cheering.

    “Football gave us permission to dream,” says 17-year-old Maina Choudhary, one of the young players featured in the film. “When we play, nobody tells us who we can or cannot be.”

    The results of this small revolution have been nothing short of extraordinary. There’s been a visible drop in child marriages, more girls continuing their education, and parents who once disapproved now cheering from the sidelines. A few players have even gone on to represent their district at the state level proof that empowerment can start with something as simple as a football.

    “In today’s world, it’s easy to get lost in the noise,” said Pocket Entertainment SVP for brands Vineet Singh. “With Sound of Courage, we want to bring forward unique and unheard stories across the world that lift our spirits and remind us what courage truly looks like. The story of these Rajasthan girls reminds us that real change begins quietly when people are given a voice, a chance, and the space to dream.”

    This Rajasthan chapter follows Sound of Courage’s earlier feature on India’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team, expanding the campaign’s narrative from national-level heroes to grassroots changemakers. Both stories stand as testament to Pocket FM’s belief that courage doesn’t always roar sometimes, it takes the shape of a quiet kick on dusty ground.

    Conceptualised by Pocket Entertainment’s in-house creative team and produced with Colonial Films, the film is as visually stirring as it is emotionally grounded. It paints courage not as a grand declaration but as a daily act of girls who refused to be told what they couldn’t do, and in the process, taught an entire community what they could.

    From a rough patch of land to a field of hope, Rajasthan’s football girls have shown that dreams don’t just need wings sometimes, all they need is a good pair of boots.

  • Bharat Matrimony bets on AI to align stars

    Bharat Matrimony bets on AI to align stars

    MUMBAI: When tradition meets technology, even the stars take note. Bharat Matrimony has partnered with AI startup Ask My Guru (AMG), investing 500,000 dollars to bring centuries-old Vedic astrology into the digital matchmaking era. The move follows AMG’s 1.2 million dollar seed round, taking total funding to 1.72 million dollars, aimed at accelerating AI-driven astrological compatibility for modern users.

    Astrology continues to shape over 80 per cent of Indian marriages, and this partnership bridges cultural wisdom with AI precision. Ask My Guru’s platform makes horoscopes instantly accessible while adding deeper, nuanced insights to compatibility analysis, blending faith, tradition, and technology seamlessly.

    “Marriage is not only about bringing two people together but ensuring harmony between them. Astrology has always played a vital role in this process. With Ask My Guru’s AI-powered astrology, we combine tradition with cutting-edge technology for the benefit of millions,” said Matrimony.com Group founder & CEO Murugavel Janakiraman.

    AMG’s founders, Krishna Mohan Vedula and Vivek Sadamate, bring over a decade of experience in scaling consumer platforms. “Bharat Matrimony’s trust in our vision will elevate AI-driven astrology from a niche tool into a mainstream, culturally anchored solution,” Vedula said. “Users will now enjoy real-time compatibility assessments, personalised astrological guidance, and multi-dimensional life insights, making AI astrology a transformative part of matchmaking.”

    Launched in June 2025, Ask My Guru has already recorded 5 million chats and 400,000 registered users. With Bharat Matrimony’s backing, AI astrology will now be integrated into the matchmaking experience, expanding language support and predictive precision, and positioning AMG as a leader in AI-enabled Vedic guidance.

    This strategic partnership underscores Matrimony.com’s vision to future-proof India’s most cherished tradition, ensuring that even in a digital age, the stars continue to guide the journey to “happily ever after.”

  • Kärcher powers up ‘Make in India’ with locally-made WD 3–17L vacuum

    Kärcher powers up ‘Make in India’ with locally-made WD 3–17L vacuum

    MUMBAI: In a move that aligns sparkle with strategy, Kärcher India has unveiled the WD 3–17L, a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner now proudly manufactured in India. The launch marks a milestone in Kärcher’s commitment to the Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative, combining global engineering with homegrown production to deliver powerful, affordable, and accessible cleaning solutions.

    Available across Kärcher’s official webshop, Amazon, Flipkart, and leading retail outlets, the WD 3–17L is designed to meet the evolving needs of Indian households, from everyday spills to balcony dust and garage grime.

    “Our proud German legacy of quality and reliability is now being carried forward in India,” said Kärcher India director Prashanth Srirangam. “By blending German engineering with local manufacturing, we’re ensuring greater accessibility, service support, and long-term value for customers nationwide.”

    Built on Kärcher’s signature WD Series platform, the WD 3–17L features a 17-litre container, a 1000w motor, and an integrated blower function for hard-to-reach areas. Its one-piece cartridge filter allows seamless switching between wet and dry vacuuming, no filter change required. With a compact design, energy efficiency, and clever storage hooks, it’s built for homes short on space but big on cleanliness.

    By localising production, Kärcher can now respond faster to seasonal demand, improve parts availability, and expand its after-sales service network across India.

    A subsidiary of Alfred Kärcher SE & co KG, Kärcher India continues to lead the way in domestic and industrial cleaning technology. Under its vision 2025, the company aims to fuse innovation, sustainability, and customer focus to clean up quite literally, in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. 

  • Applause’s Sameer Nair spills the secret sauce for hit storytelling

    Applause’s Sameer Nair spills the secret sauce for hit storytelling

    MUMBAI: At Ficci Frames’ silver jubilee edition, a candid panel discussion between Applause Entertainment managing director Sameer Nair and India Today senior editor and anchor Akshita Nandagopal, brought the house down with humour, insight and a healthy dose of industry nostalgia.

    Moderating the fireside chat ‘Scaling stories, earning applause,’ Nandagopal kicked off by asking if Applause Entertainment had cracked the “OTT code,” given its slate of acclaimed shows like Criminal Justice (2019-present), The Hunt (2025) and Black Warrant (2025).

    Nair brushed off the idea of any secret formula. “Storytelling is a difficult enterprise,” he said. “You put in all the hard work and finally show it to an audience, sometimes they love it, sometimes they don’t. What we try to do is tell stories that feel real, even if they entertain first.”

    Citing his fondness for contemporary history, Nair explained how Applause often draws inspiration from real people and events, and banks on the entertainment factor. Black Warrant, he pointed out, isn’t about the dark underbelly of the Tihar Jail and the inmates as much as it is about “three young people on their first day at work; only, their workplace happens to be the Tihar Jail.” The company’s celebrated Criminal Justice series, meanwhile, has gone far beyond its British and American counterparts. “By the fourth season, we weren’t adapting anymore. We were living in the world of Madhav Mishra,” he said with a grin.

    Continuing the conversation on creativity in Indian storytelling, Nandagopal asked Nair, “Creativity is always a buzzword, but sometimes it feels boxed in a certain way. You can’t talk about uncomfortable topics; you have to be mindful of controversy and what entertains an Indian audience. Do you think creativity is constrained like that?”

    Amusedly, Nair interjected, noting that this isn’t unique to India. “In the eight years we’ve been doing this, we haven’t really got into much trouble, so we must be doing something right. We don’t have an agenda; we’re telling stories that make you think, but not what to think. We find compelling characters, research their worlds, and present their stories as balanced and entertaining as possible. They are people like you and me.”

    He brought up The Hunt as an example, which begins with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi but quickly transitions into a police procedural. “It’s not about politics; it’s about crime and justice… In the process, you get to know the characters. There’s one scene where Sivarasan, the one-eyed LTTE mastermind, sits in a theater watching a Rajnikanth film. We loved putting that in, it humanises him without glorifying anything.”

    When Nandagopal brought up the theme of change, both broadly and through the lens of content, Nair noted how some formats have stood the test of time. “KBC is a classic because it has a great format and Mr. Bachchan,” he said, crediting both star power and familiarity for its relic appeal. “Audiences talk about change all the time, but they also love familiarity. Sometimes you don’t want a murder mystery; you just want to relax.” To which, Nandagopal nodded and said, ‘It’s a comfort watch. A lot of us do that. We’ve been watching a lot of the classics that we’ve seen before. Knowing that that’s something that’s predictable. We know what we’re expecting there. And yet we love to watch it.

    Looking back at the first Ficci Frames two decades ago, Nair painted a vivid picture of how dramatically the industry had evolved. “In 2005, television ruled everything. There was no Facebook, Twitter or Youtube, even the iphone didn’t exist. By 2015, digital platforms had become the barbarians at the gate. Now, in 2025, we’re minor players compared to Netflix, Youtube and social media. And just as we adjusted to that, AI arrived.”

    The conversation soon turned to the elephant in every creator’s room: will AI replace creativity or enhance it? Nair’s reply was measured. “AI will be a great tool if it can create that suspension of disbelief,” he said. “When you see a dinosaur chasing you in Jurassic Park, you believe it. If AI can make you believe without breaking the illusion, it’s magic. But if it looks fake, we might as well be watching animation.”

    He added that AI, much like earlier leaps in filmmaking, from special effects to computer graphics, would revolutionise the process but not erase human creativity. “Even an AI actor needs direction, a script and a story,” he said. “If machines create everything end to end, without human emotion, we’ll just be watching something intelligent but soulless. We must use it wisely.”

    As the conversation veered back to Applause’s future, Nair revealed that the company has recently acquired the rights to Jeffrey Archer’s books and has a robust slate of upcoming projects. Upcoming projects include new seasons of Criminal Justice and Black Warrant, the next installment of the Scam franchise, and a Tamil feature Bison directed by Tamil director and screenwriter Mari Selvaraj. He also teased Gandhi, a three-season epic inspired by Indian historian and author Ramachandra Guha’s books. “It’s not about Gandhi,” Nair chuckled and said, “it’s about Mohandas before he became the Mahatma: an 18-year-old who goes to college in London, and does all the standard things that rebellious teenagers do.”

    For Nair, storytelling remains deeply human: an approach that has shaped Applause Entertainment’s diverse slate, from thrillers rooted in true events to expansive biographical dramas.

    In a world where algorithms and art are learning to coexist, it’s a fitting reminder that great storytelling, no matter the medium, will always find its audience.

  • Livpure Clears the Confusion with Its No-Fine-Print Water Revolution

    Livpure Clears the Confusion with Its No-Fine-Print Water Revolution

    MUMBAI: In a world where fine print often muddies the water, Livpure is making a splash with honesty. The trusted water purifier brand has launched its latest digital campaign, “No Hidden Terms, Just Pure Water”, holding a mirror to the category’s often confusing claims and restoring clarity where it’s long been missing.

    The campaign, launched alongside Livpure’s Lotier AIoT purifier, takes a witty and relatable approach to expose how “terms and conditions apply” have become the modern-day trap for consumers seeking clean water and clean deals. Using a slice-of-life narrative peppered with humour, the film captures the everyday frustration of families caught off guard by fine print promises and contrasts it with Livpure’s commitment to transparency.

    At the centre of this promise is the Lotier AIoT purifier, offering 2.5 years of genuinely maintenance-free use. That’s not marketing spin, the plan covers filters, RO membranes, and maintenance, with no hidden exceptions. For Indian households dealing with high TDS, hard water, and unpredictable supply, the offering stands out as refreshingly straightforward.

    Livpure chief marketing officer Nitin Malhotra explained, “Indian consumers today are far more aware and expect honesty over hype. Too often, brands use jargon, complicated terms and fine print, leaving people unsure of what they’re truly getting. With this campaign, we wanted to start a conversation not about technology alone, but about trust. Innovation, for us, must come with transparency, empathy, and accountability.”

    Through its conversational tone and humour, the DVC not only entertains but educates asking consumers to look beyond glossy promises and question what’s in the details. The campaign extends Livpure’s larger mission of democratising access to safe and pure water for every Indian household, while reinforcing the brand’s philosophy of “Crafted for your Wellbeing.”

    Last year, Livpure launched India’s largest range of maintenance-free purifiers, redefining convenience for urban and semi-urban families alike. Now, with this new campaign, it’s moving the conversation from transactional sales to a more transparent and values-driven dialogue, one that puts consumer trust at the core.

    By cutting through jargon and keeping its promises clean, Livpure isn’t just filtering water, it’s filtering out confusion. And in a market full of complicated clauses, that might just be the purest thing of all.

  • Haldiram’s sweetens the season with a Diwali full of delights

    Haldiram’s sweetens the season with a Diwali full of delights

    MUMBAI: It’s not Diwali until the first bite of mithai melts on your tongue and Haldiram’s is making sure of that. The Indian snack and confectionery giant has unwrapped its new festive campaign, “Aap Diwali manate hai, Hum Diwali banate hain!”, a joyful ode to the nation’s sweetest season. With an array of traditional sweets, gourmet assortments, and gifting delights, the brand invites patrons to taste the many flavours of togetherness.

    True to its legacy, Haldiram’s has found the perfect recipe to blend nostalgia with novelty. Its new festive range features indulgent Stuffed Dates, Exotic Baklava, and Khajoor Anjeer Bites under the “Festive Marvels” collection; Premium Sweets under “Sweet Symphony”; and curated hampers such as Dry Fruit Delights, Majestic Gourmet Collection, and HR Finest Nut Extravaganza. Each box is a celebration in itself, a marriage of heritage recipes with modern indulgence.

    Across the country, Haldiram’s outlets have been decked up in festive finery, a visual treat of golden lights, fragrant sweets, and shimmering hampers. The ambience invites customers to not just buy sweets, but to feel Diwali to pause, pick, and pack joy for loved ones. Whether it’s a corporate gift box or a tray of laddoos for the family, Haldiram’s is positioning itself as both the maker and messenger of festive warmth.

    Haldiram president of retail QSR Kailash Agrawal said, “With Diwali 2025 just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate the joy of togetherness, sharing sweets, and creating cherished memories. At Haldiram’s, we’re proud to have been part of countless Diwali celebrations over the years whether through our traditional mithai or our modern festive collections. This year, we’ve introduced an exclusive range that blends heritage with indulgence.”

    He added, with a wink to the campaign line, “Iss Diwali, aap Diwali manayenge… hum aapki Diwali banayenge. Toh ho jaaye Haldiram’s!”

    What began nearly a century ago as a humble mithai shop has now become synonymous with India’s festive palate. With each new season, Haldiram’s doesn’t just sell sweets, it delivers memories, aromas, and stories of celebration. This year’s campaign reinforces that Diwali isn’t just about lights and firecrackers, it’s about the shared sweetness that binds people together, one bite at a time.

  • Wpp Media bags integrated media mandate for Leeford Healthcare

    Wpp Media bags integrated media mandate for Leeford Healthcare

    MUMBAI: Wpp Media has won the integrated media mandate for five of Leeford Healthcare Limited’s strategic consumer brands, covering atl, full-funnel digital, e-commerce, q-commerce, performance marketing, and seo. The win marks a significant expansion of Wpp Media’s footprint in India’s healthcare and personal care sector.

    Under the mandate, Wpp Media will oversee end-to-end planning and buying across key platforms, leveraging data-led strategies to deliver scale, efficiency, and measurable impact. For Leeford, one of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and the second-largest player in general medicine, the partnership aims to strengthen brand visibility, optimise consumer journeys, and drive sustainable business growth.

    “Leeford Healthcare’s journey is rooted in trust while rapidly scaling into personal care and orthopedics,” said Wpp Media South Asia president- client solutions Navin Khemka. “This mandate goes beyond media, it’s about shaping how a brand of scale connects with millions in a digital-first world. By fusing data intelligence, commerce expertise, and creative storytelling, we aim to craft seamless consumer experiences across platforms.”

    Echoing the sentiment, Leeford Healthcare founder & managing director Amit Gupta said, “Our vision is to build Leeford into a diversified consumer powerhouse that blends healthcare credibility with lifestyle relevance. To scale this vision, we needed a partner who could combine strategy with execution and Wpp Media is best equipped to help fuel the next chapter of our growth story.”

    Founded with the purpose of making quality healthcare more accessible, Leeford Healthcare continues to evolve into a broad-based health, wellness, and personal care brand. With this partnership, both companies are set to craft a media strategy that’s equal parts precision, performance, and purpose, a formula fit for India’s fast-changing healthcare landscape.

  • Zouk packs a punch with a hilarious Diwali twist

    Zouk packs a punch with a hilarious Diwali twist

    MUMBAI: Looks like this Diwali, men are finally unburdening their pockets! Zouk, the proudly Indian and vegan lifestyle brand, has rolled out a witty festive campaign that turns a familiar household joke into a clever gifting idea.

    We’ve all seen it, the brother, husband or father weighed down with everyone else’s keys, phones and lip balms, all because “her outfit doesn’t have pockets.” Zouk’s new film spins this everyday comedy into a relatable story of one man’s lightbulb moment, this Diwali, he gifts Zouk bags to his wife and sister, solving the problem once and for all.

    Full of humour and festive warmth, the campaign gently nudges viewers to see bags not just as accessories but as thoughtful, practical gifts that carry meaning long after the lights go out.

    “The festive season brings families together and with it come those uniquely Indian moments, like men being handed random things to hold,” said Zouk founder Disha Singh. “Our film captures that truth with humour. A Zouk bag doesn’t just solve the ‘no pocket’ problem; it’s a meaningful festive gift.”

    Beyond the film, Zouk has launched The Big Bag Festival, a curated gifting experience featuring festive combos and collaboration-led boxes with Palmonas, Bombay Sweet Shop and Renee Cosmetics. And for the last-minute shopper, Zouk’s products are now just a click away on Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Blinkit, Flipkart Minutes and Myntra M-now.

    Blending tradition with functionality, Zouk continues to celebrate modern Indian households with its vegan, stylish and thoughtful designs. This Diwali, it seems the smartest gift you can give her, is a little less for him to carry.

  • White turns Mumbai gold with Ralph Lauren’s dazzling festive soirée

    White turns Mumbai gold with Ralph Lauren’s dazzling festive soirée

    MUMBAI: In a night that shimmered with understated luxury, White, the creative powerhouse known for its culture-first storytelling, transformed Mumbai’s Nilaya Anthology into an immersive Ralph Lauren festive experience on 23 September 2025. The soirée, hosted by Kalyani Chawla, was a masterclass in elegance, emotion, and experiential design.

    Bringing together the city’s crème de la crème, from Mira Rajput and Sara Tendulkar to Shanaya Kapoor, the evening unfolded like a perfectly tailored Ralph Lauren moment: timeless, polished, and quietly spectacular. Guests were treated to live tunes by Copycats, celestial insights from astrologer Zohra Shakti, and a decadent three-course dinner curated by chef Rijul from Indian Accent.

    Every detail sang Ralph Lauren, from the glow of hand-crafted paper lamps to bespoke furniture and intricately carved candleholders, all woven into a tapestry of refined indulgence. It wasn’t just décor; it was design poetry.

    “Experiences have the power to shape how brands are remembered,” said White founder and CEO Vishesh Sahni. “This evening wasn’t just an event, it was a living narrative of Ralph Lauren’s timeless elegance, brought to life with intention and artistry.”

    For White, the night marked more than another luxe collaboration. It was a statement that storytelling isn’t confined to screens or campaigns, but can be lived, felt, and remembered. With this soirée, the agency once again proved its flair for crafting cultural moments that sparkle long after the last candle burns out.

  • Bigg Boss Tamil 9 sets screens ablaze on Jiohotstar

    Bigg Boss Tamil 9 sets screens ablaze on Jiohotstar

    MUMBAI: Looks like the Bigg just got bigger! Bigg Boss Tamil Season 9 stormed onto Jiohotstar with a blockbuster opening, clocking an impressive 7.8 crore minutes of cumulative watch time on day one. That’s nearly 1.74 times the reach of its previous season, proof that Tamil Nadu’s favourite reality show still reigns supreme in living rooms across the state.

    Hosted by Vijay Sethupathi for the second consecutive year, the show’s new season has lit up the festive mood, turning October into appointment-viewing season. And this time, fans aren’t just watching, they’re part of the action.

    Jiohotstar has reimagined the Bigg Boss experience with interactive features like a 24 by 7 live chat feed and a buzzing fanzone where viewers can react to every drama-filled twist in real time. Adding a desi digital twist, Meme the Moment lets fans capture and share their favourite on-screen moments instantly, making sure every eyebrow raise and argument lives on beyond the episode.

    Interestingly, nearly 47 per cent of total opening-day viewing came via connected TVs, showing how Tamil audiences increasingly prefer gathering around the big screen for a shared family watch.

    Jiostar head of cluster, entertainment (South) Krishnan Kutty said, “The strong opening reflects how audiences are embracing interactive formats. We’re turning passive viewing into active participation, setting new standards for content and community engagement.”

    With title sponsor Healthy Grocer and brand powerhouses like Asian Paints, Maruti Suzuki and Head & Shoulders joining the line-up, Bigg Boss Tamil 9 has kicked off not just a show but a full-blown celebration of entertainment, technology and fandom.

    After roaring success across Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada editions, the Tamil season’s fiery opening cements Jiohotstar’s position as the streaming stage where audiences don’t just watch, they live the drama.