Mumbai: Jio Studios and Aamir Khan Productions are thrilled to announce the release date of the much-anticipated film ‘Laapataa Ladies’, directed by Kiran Rao, on 1 March 2024. The film’s teaser has already given a delightful glimpse into the humoristic world created by Kiran Rao, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating the full experience. The film recently earned international acclaim with a standing ovation at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), leaving an indelible mark globally.
To pique the audience’s excitement further, the makers have now announced the release date of the comedy entertainer with a new poster, offering a sneak peek into the quirky world of ‘Laapataa Ladies’. Kiran Rao, in her second directorial venture, is set to deliver a cinematic treat that has already won a lot of affection globally. Save the date as the search begins on 1st March 2024.
An Aamir Khan Productions film, Laapataa Ladies is presented by Jio Studios, directed by Kiran Rao, and produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and Jyoti Deshpande. Made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions in association with Kindling Pictures, this script is based on an award-winning story by Biplab Goswami. The screenplay & dialogues are written by Sneha Desai, with additional dialogues penned by Divyanidhi Sharma.
Mumbai: Ahead of the 19 Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, official broadcasters, Sony Sports Network, have launched the grandest campaign in the history of the Asian Games in India. In order to ensure that the message ‘Iss Baar Sau Paar, Phir se, Hum Hongey Kamyab’ resonates across every corner of India, Sony Sports Network has garnered support from an impressive line-up of influential and iconic figures such as the union minister of sports, Anurag Thakur, chief of defence staff, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan along with chiefs of tri-services Gen Manoj Pandey, Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar and air chief marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who have put their might behind the Indian athletes vying for top honours at the prestigious multi-sporting event.
Recognising the power of collective ambition, the campaign shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of Indian sports – those who have relentlessly dedicated themselves to their respective disciplines and are on the precipice of donning the national colours at this esteemed multi-sport event. Among the prominent influencers of the country who have joined the broadcaster’s mission and shared their messages for the participating athletes to reach higher echelons in this edition of the quadrennial extravaganza are Amitabh Bachchan, Sudha Murty, Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit, Aditya Roy Kapoor, John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan, Kapil Sharma Mirabai Chanu, Zaheer Khan, Anju Bobby George, Raja Randhir Singh and many more. Also joining the broadcaster, was an all-star lineup of Indian sports journalists who have been covering the journeys of our sporting heroes from Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Rajasthan Patrika, The Telegraph, Deccan Chronicle, Dinakaran, Lokmat, Eenadu, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Asomya Pratidin, Sportskeeda along with RJs from Radio City and Radio One and representatives from leading news channels Aaj Tak and NDTV 24X7.
This vast consortium unites with a singular purpose: to challenge Indian athletes to transcend past records, push boundaries, and ignite a nationwide fervour for sports. The strategy stands clear: a united India, cheering in unison, can inspire its athletes to unprecedented heights.
The hon’ble Anurag Singh Thakur shares a special message for our athletes | Asian Games –
A special message from Gen. Anil Chauhan, chief of defence staff, Indian Armed Forces | Asian Games –
Indian Army chief’s passionate call: Rally behind our athletes at Asian Games 2023 –
Best wishes from the IAF chief marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari | 19 Asian Games | Sony Sports Network –
India’s biggest stars unite for team India at the 19 Asian Games –
Amitabh Bachchan shares a special message for Indian Athletes | Asian Games | Sony Sports Network –
Aamir Khan joins the #GrandestAsianGamesCampaign | Sony Sports Network –
Mirabai Chanu Hai Zidd Par Sawar | 19 Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 | Sony Sports Network –
Journalists across India come together to wish Indian Athletes | 19 Asian Games –
Sony Sports Network’s ‘Iss Baar Sau Paar, Phir se, Hum Hongey Kamyab’ campaign is the grandest campaign ever made in the history of the Asian Games in India. The campaign has attracted a host of sponsors such as Hyundai, JSW, Limca Sportz, Paisabazaar, LIC of India, Ultratech Cement, State Bank of India, and Panasonic amongst others and more brands are expected to be announced by the time the Asian Games begin on 23 September 2023.
Comments:
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer – distribution & international business and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul:
“The Asian Games is one of the grandest stages in the sporting world of Asia and the Indian contingent is training hard to add to our medal count. It’s a moment of national pride as we have stalwarts from every walk of life joining us for the campaign to rally behind our Indian athletes making this the grandest campaign ever for the Asian Games. Adding to that, we have also received great support from our sponsors who will surely benefit from the strategic partnership with Sony Sports Network for the Asian Games.”
Sony Pictures Networks India head Ad sales, network channels, Sandeep Mehrotra:
“Over the years, multi-sporting events have attracted significant viewer interest and we have done well to tap into the immense potential of non-cricket sports in India. Brands want to associate with content that is not only culturally relevant but also inspirational and evokes national pride. The 19 Asian Games on Sony Sports Network will provide advertisers with the ideal platform to communicate their message to a wide demographic of receptive viewers from across the country through innovative advertising solutions. We are thrilled to witness a tremendous response for the upcoming 19th Asian Games with advertiser interest from across categories like Automobiles, BFSI, Beverage, consumer durables and others.”
Hyundai Motor India Ltd AVP & head of marketingVirat Khullar:
“Hyundai’s partnership with Sony Sports Network for the Asian Games signifies a strategic commitment that extends beyond the world of sports in India. Sport serves as a formidable catalyst, fostering performance, personal growth, teamwork, and discipline among our youth. By investing in events like the Asian Games, Hyundai not only promotes youth participation but also ignites their aspirations, encouraging them to dream big and realize their full potential. This initiative is one of many in Hyundai’s sports portfolio, aligned with our overarching mission of enriching vibrant and healthy communities.
Our strategic alliance with sports nurtures talent and resonates with Hyundai’s global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity.’ In this endeavour, Hyundai goes beyond manufacturing cars; we actively contribute to the construction and promotion of a brighter future for youth through the transformative power of sports.”
We are delighted to associate with Sony Sports Network for the 19th Asian Games, the biggest stage for sports in the continent. At Paisabazaar, we have always believed in leveraging the power of sports to take our brand to each and every household across towns and cities in India. Our association with the Asian Games is also in line with our commitment towards promoting sports and encouraging athletes across the country. This year’s Asian Games promises to be bigger and better with a record participation by the Indian contingent. We are firm believers in a long-term partnership with our media partners and with Sony Sports Network, Once again, we aim to leverage the power of the broadcaster’s customised solutions for this marquee event. Paisabazaar wishes the entire Indian contingent all the best for the Games.”
The 19 Asian Games will also see a first-ever appearance for the Indian cricket teams at the Asian Games with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Smriti Mandhana headlining the teams. Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra will be one of India’s top medal hopefuls in the Javelin throw followed by PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and the doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty who have been in excellent form in recent months and are strong contenders for medals in badminton. In addition to these athletes, the runners, archers, Indian rugby, hockey and football teams, swimmers, bridge, and chess teams, amongst others, will also be competing to add to the medal tally. All these athletes will be giving their best to help India achieve its goal of the 100 medal tally for the 19 edition of the quadrennial event.
Sony Sports Network has launched the grandest campaign ever for the 19th Asian Games which features eminent personalities such as Union Minister of Sports, Shri Anurag Thakur, Chiefs of the tri-services and Defence Staff from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force along with Bollywood Icons Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit, John Abraham along with Sports Icons Mirabai Chanu, Zaheer Khan, Anju Bobby George, Raja Randhir Singh and so many more. Sony Sports Network also announces the great advertiser interest and the brands onboarded for the prestigious multi-sporting event that starts next week.
Watch the 19 Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 – LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 2 & Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 & Sony Sports Ten 5 HD channels from 5:30 pm IST, 23rd September, 2023.
Mumbai: Viacom18’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, Nickelodeon, has joined forces with Aamir Khan’s upcoming “Laal Singh Chaddha.” The film is the endearing story of the determined “Laal Singh Chaddha” who, like Nicktoons Motu Patlu and Bhoot Bandhus, through innocence and strength of character, overcomes all obstacles.
With this collaboration, Nickelodeon has raised the existing fervour for “Laal Singh Chaddha” with unmatched and interactive initiatives that will provide entertainment and fun experiences for families to enjoy together.
In addition to the tentpole campaign IPs and contests, “Laal Singh Chaddha” break bumpers will also run across key shows on Nick and Sonic. The campaign also extends to the Nickelodeon franchise’s social media channels and other digital media platforms with innovative posts and stories and influencer outreach. We are sure the adventures of Nicktoons and “Laal Singh Chadha” will entertain families this Independence Day weekend.
The month-long integrated campaign will showcase Aamir Khan in his “Laal Singh” avatar having a fun time with India’s favourite Nicktoons, including Motu, Patlu, and Pinaki & Happy-The Bhoot Bandhus.
With ideas that build resonance with the character of Laal, who has childlike innocence and honesty much like Nickelodeon’s young viewers and Nicktoons, the deep integrations will witness Laal immerse himself in the world of Nicktoons seamlessly. Through Nick’s Golgappa Party contest and Sonic’s Bhaag Laal Bhaag contest, kids will also get a chance to meet megastar Aamir Khan, in addition to winning a host of exciting prizes by simply participating in the on-air contests.
Nickelodeon has also left no stone unturned to reach out to its young viewers with fun contests like the Chaddi Buddy Contest with Aamir.
Finally, adding to the endless excitement is an innovative virtual running game that is sure to drive conversations while keeping kids on their toes. Resisting on nickindia.com, the virtual game allows one to play as Laal, Motu, or Patlu to chase the feather and collect coins along the way while chasing away evil.
Speaking about the collaboration with “Laal Singh Chaddha,” Viacom18 head-Hindi mass entertainment & kids TV Network Nina Elavia Jaipuria said, “We are delighted to collaborate with “Laal Singh Chaddha” on this highly interactive and engaging campaign that will give kids and their families an opportunity to be a part of the film and celebrate the character of Laal along with their favourite Nicktoons. At Nickelodeon, each collaboration and partnership that we innovate for has kids at the heart of it, and this partnership with the adorable character of Laal is sure to strike a chord and provide many priceless moments. We look forward to further collaborating with brands and films to create deep and meaningful integrations for our young viewers.”
Speaking about reaching out to kids with this family entertainer and about the association with Nickelodeon superstar Aamir Khan, he said, “”Laal Singh Chadha” is an inspiring film and the innocence and honesty of the affable character of Laal is sure to strike a chord with kids and families. This massively interesting and fun collaboration with Nickelodeon and its characters, who embody the same positive traits as Laal, was hence a great way for us to together take the story of “Laal Singh Chaddha” and make it a part of every child’s life along with their favourite characters. We are sure that kids will have a great time watching our labour of love with their families and look forward to the same.”
On the collaboration with Nickelodeon, Viacom18 COO Ajit Andhare said, “The advantage at Viacom18 is the opportunities and ability we have to collaborate with the powerhouse brands in our platoon. Right from bringing the Paramount story to India under our banner to partnering with Nickelodeon, we have had seamless associations with the film. A family entertainer at its heart, we are looking forward to kids enjoying the film as much as adults, as they will resonate with the pure and simple soul of “Laal Singh”.”
Mumbai: Multiplex operator PVR has completed 25 years in the country. To commemorate this milestone, the brand has rolled out a multi-media campaign with a film “Iss Andhere mein bahut Roshni hai” (There is light in this darkness) featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. It has unveiled PVR’s 25th anniversary logo, along with PVR’s first NFT coin and an iconic ticket. PVR is also celebrating the occasion with contests.
The concept for the Khan film was derived from a consumer insight and the poem was written by Vineet KKN Panchhi, which was further evolved for the film. The film idea comes from the insight of all the emotions and experiences the audience goes through – the magic of movies, the bonding and escaping to a fantasy world when the lights go down. The film is a play of light and darkness, taking the viewer on a journey that is brought to life inside our cinemas, as that’s the only place where darkness plays that role. It reinforces the promise of “more magic,” “more memories,” “more adventures” and “more happiness” to moviegoers to remain relevant, both as a category as well as a brand.
PVR chairman and managing director Ajay Bijli said, “We take immense pride and feel extremely joyous on completing the 25-year milestone in India. The entertainment industry, the viewership patterns, as well as the audience have evolved over the years, and PVR has been able to live up to their expectations. As we continue to meaningfully engage consumers as well as introduce them to newer cinematic experiences, our focus will remain on bringing winning stories to the screen and adding joy and comfort to the life of our stakeholders.’’
PVR added that it was founded back in 1997 with one sole motive: to completely revolutionise the cinema experience for Indian audiences. Over the past 25 years, it has introduced the latest cinematic formats from across the world to the Indian audience. The brand has evolved with changing times with cutting edge technology through extra-large screens, Laser Projection Systems, and immersive sound to bring alive every little detail of the movie. Seats being pivotal to delivering the ultimate sensorial cinema experience, PVR has ensured an experience that befits a king. It has reimagined a cinema F&B offering curated by its chefs with concepts customised to cater to varied preferences and choices for its discerning customers. Through, PVR Privilege, India’s leading entertainment loyalty programme, it strives to deliver to its customers an experience which is specific to their consumption behavior.
PVR CEO Gautam Dutta commented, ‘’It’s been an eventful and phenomenal journey for PVR over the last 25 years and we are extremely excited and humbled as we celebrate this milestone. We would like to extend our gratitude to all our associates, partners, and especially movie enthusiasts, who have continued to have faith in us over these years. The enduring customer loyalty as well as enhanced brand recall and perception associated with our brand is an outcome of our customer obsession. Innovation has been our cornerstone to building a more delightful, cinematic atmosphere and delivering an exceptional experience to our patrons.’
“Of course, we couldn’t have achieved any of it without the hard work of our employees and the perseverance of our business partners, who are resolutely committed to building our brand and helping us redefine the entertainment experience all over the country.”
To commemorate its 25-year journey in India, PVR Cinemas has introduced a series of contests and offers to entice audiences and movie lovers across the country:
Short film contest: Participants need to make a two-minute film on the theme, “Iss Andhere mein bahut Roshni hai.” Content creators and independent film makers of the best entries judged by film critics will be able to showcase their creations on the big screens of PVR.
Social media engagements ‘filmy wishes contest’: Participants can use their favourite movie dialogues or song lyrics to create reels or stories and post them, tagging our official Instagram handle. The lucky 25 will get a chance to win free movie tickets for the entire year, invites to premieres, star meet and greets, and more.
#25yearsofPVR Instagram filter challenge: Every year of PVR’s existence, one iconic movie will appear as gibberish, and participants will have to guess which one it is. PVR will randomly gratify 25 participants who have answered correctly with exclusive merchandise.
Guest and privilege member offers: As a part of the 25th anniversary celebration, all guests who visit PVR in the celebration week get 25 per cent off on any of its food combos and unlimited Pepsi.
Earn 25 per cent points: During the celebration week, PVR privilege members can earn 25 per cent points instead of the usual five per cent earnings.
NFT collection: PVR also brings its heritage to life in the metaverse. Special edition NFT coins and tickets capture the story of its brand and its most iconic moment. To make it even more special, it is giving away movie vouchers and a chance to contribute towards its social cause.
Mumbai: Consumer healthcare app PharmEasy has launched its latest campaign starring the new brand ambassador Aamir Khan in a quirky triple role of a delivery person. This fresh marketing campaign titled
#GharBaitheBaitheTakeItEasy was conceptualised and executed by FCB India.
Comprising of three ad films directed by Abhijit Sudhakar and produced by Zigzag Films, the campaign has Bollywood actor playing a triple role of the PharmEasy delivery person who pops up in the oddest places and in the craziest manner to tell customers about all the offerings from the PharmEasy app and how all that people need to do now is ‘Take It Easy’ when it comes to all their healthcare needs.
Shedding light on the storytelling, FCB India CCO Surjo Dutt said, “PharmEasy has a very distinct voice and tonality crafted over many years of commitment to disruption through humour. Our challenge was to stay true to this commitment and create a campaign that would take forward this legacy.”
“The idea was to use Aamir Khan in a funny, unexpected, and effective way to create a campaign that is attempting to bring in many new users to the PharmEasy fold. Hence the triple role and the over-the-top style storytelling was thrown into the blender along with simple and clear benefits that the brand brings into the Indian consumer’s life,” Dutt added.
Speaking on the collaboration, Aamir Khan said, “It is indeed a pleasure to work together with the PharmEasy brand, to help provide economical healthcare at each person’s doorstep. I feel that in today’s times, PharmEasy is providing an essential service, in a sector that is itself a fundamental requirement for all of us, and I look forward to this association.”
With this collaboration with Aamir, the brand – managed by API Holdings said it hopes to further strengthen its belief in making healthcare accessible to every nook and corner of the country.
“Collaborating with someone as versatile as Aamir Khan fills us with immense joy,” API Holdings CMO Gaurav Verma said, talking about the collaboration. “With this association, we aim to reach more people while making affordable healthcare accessible to everyone. We are looking forward to a great collaboration with him this year and widening our reach through offerings and such campaigns.”
Mumbai: Homegrown fashion footwear brand Walkaroo has launched an integrated marketing campaign called ‘Walk More. Restless.’ to reinforce its consumer connect this festive season. Starting 12 October the brand will release six films, featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, in which he will be seen in six different quirky avatars.
Conceptualised & executed by Havas Creative Group India, the campaign includes six light-hearted films showcasing Khan playing different characters of a private detective, career counsellor, principal, CBI, a doctor, and a grandfather in each version of the film. The idea was to exhibit the variety of choices that Walkaroo offers to its consumers, using fun and humour.
“The campaign marries the constantly changing shades of Aamir Khan with the trendy and wide variety offered by Walkaroo, which includes 1000+ designs across Gents, Ladies and Kids categories,” stated Walkaroo International Pvt Ltd managing director VKC Noushad.
Through engaging storytelling, the brand weaves its brand ambassador into the narrative in different fun personas. The films aim to create brand awareness amongst consumers and encourage people to explore the modern range of footwear designed for young consumers, who seek comfort and style at an affordable price.
“Today’s generation is always on their toes, forever moving, restless and edgy. We have conceptualised the films keeping in mind the young consumers, who are eager to try something new and are not afraid of experiments,” said Havas Group India chairman & chief creative officer Bobby Pawar.
He further added, “The film encourages people to keep walking, and never let anything come between their aspirations and dreams. Through the creative interpretation, we have taken the brand thought of Be Restless literally and translated it into various situations that allowed us to showcase the variety and durability of the brand.”
The integrated campaign will be rolled out across television and social media channels.
Mumbai: Ceat Tyres has launched a new integrated marketing campaign featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan that aims to propagate road safety through a resounding message. The campaign, which has kicked off during the second leg of the IPL 2021, promotes Ceat’s SecuraDrive range of tyres.
The campaign comprises three advertisements with the actor playing different avatars in each version. The storyline of the first ad humorously talks about an idealistic world, where roads are truly meant to be for traffic and everyone follows traffic rules. However, in reality, our roads are full of startling surprises, and hence one needs the safety of tyres that offer superior braking and secure stability.
Ceat Tyres Ltd chief marketing officer Amit Tolani said that Aamir has been a great brand ambassador as the actor embodies Ceat’s honesty, enthusiasm, perfection and innovation. “The new campaign with Aamir focuses on our vision of ‘Making Mobility Safer and Smarter Every day’. Our SecuraDrive Car and compact SUV tyres offer a safe ride through improved braking performance and ultimate riding comfort- the best friend for your car on any road. The campaign emphasises the significance of buying reputable and reliable tyres,” he further said.
Mumbai: Digital payments platform PhonePe on Thursday announced the launch of a new TV campaign for the gold category. On air for six weeks, the campaign comprises multiple 25-30 second ad films showcasing the ease and safety of buying gold on the PhonePe app. It will run on TV as well as on the brand’s digital platforms.
PhonePe has tailored the messaging to appeal to a diverse set of audiences by customising the storylines and actors. The campaign brings back the famed ‘Inspector Desai (played by Aamir Khan) and Shinde duo for audiences in the northern, western and eastern parts of the country. Additionally, it uses popular songs in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam to appeal to South audiences.
Commenting on the launch, PhonePe, head of mutual funds & gold, Terence Lucien, said, “Our aim is to help people from across India fulfill their aspirations of building their gold investments. We provide easy and secure access to the highest quality 24K gold coins and bars at the best prices that are safely delivered right to the customer’s doorstep by our gold partners.”
PhonePe launched the gold category over three years ago in association with MMTC-PAMP and SafeGold. Customers can click on ‘Buy 24K Gold’ under the ‘My Money’ section of the PhonePe app and order gold coins and bars starting from 0.5 grams. In addition to the best prices, they are also assured of insured delivery and tamper-proof packaging.
MUMBAI: Ceat Tyres has signed Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for two years. As part of an integrated marketing campaign, Aamir Khan will feature in two commercials during the course of the IPL 2020 to promote Ceat’s SecuraDrive range of premium car tyres. The first ad will be aired at the beginning of IPL and will also be rolled out/promoted across different media platforms both online and offline. The campaign based on the theme ‘don’t be a dummy’ emphasises on the usage of high quality tyres that provide complete safety in any kind of driving conditions.
Created by O&M, the campaign, is based on an interesting storyline set in an advanced tyre testing facility, where test dummies are used for testing. Aamir Khan’s character is that of a dummy who comes to life when no one’s watching and manipulates situations to save himself from the perils of tyre testing. The idea is to propagate safety and showcase how the Ceat SecuraDrive car tyres enable a safe drive in different driving situations, through superior control at high speed turns and precise braking. Ceat’s SecuraDrive tyres are meant for premium sedans and compact SUVs such as Honda city, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Honda WR-V, etc.
Ceat Tyres CMO Amit Tolani said, “We at Ceat have always believed in our vision of ‘Making Mobility Safer and Smarter Every day’. The launch of our new campaign articulates the same for our premium sedans and compact SUVs tyre range. The central idea is to highlight the importance of using credible, reliable and durable tyres as against using any ‘dummy’ tyre. We are delighted to have Aamir Khan on board for this campaign as he perfectly embodies Ceat’s core values of integrity, passion, perfection and innovation. With one of the best actors in the industry, associating with one of the best tyres in its segment, we believe we have a winning combination at hand. IPL offers an ideal opportunity for us to connect with our customers as it is one of the most widely watched events in India with a massive viewership.”
Aamir Khan said, “I am proud to be associated with one of the most respected brands in India. When Ceat reached out to me for this campaign, I instantly connected with the idea and completely fell in love with the script. Playing a character of a dummy was a unique experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the shoot. I am looking forward to an exciting journey with Ceat tyres.”
O&M group creative director Rohit Dubey said, “On a regular day CEAT tries to push the envelope of tyre advertising, so when it came to Super Bowl of India – IPL, the brand set the bar higher for itself. Disruption, with a tinge of CEAT’s trademark tongue-in-cheek approach, led us to collaborating with Aamir Khan. A big challenge was, what newness can we create with him. And hence the ‘paranoid, crash test dummy.’ Being aware of COVID production reality, we scripted it such that it doesn’t require a crowd scene and kept it contained. We hope “Baat safety ki hai, Don’t be a dummy”, strikes a chord with consumers and stands out in the crowd of IPL spots.”
The Ceat SecuraDrive tyres with the wide longitudinal tread grooves and smart compounding technology help keep the vehicle within the driver’s control on wet and dry road conditions. The enhanced tyre tread technology helps in lowering noise levels while commuting and delivers an extremely comfortable driving experience.
NEW DELHI: Some call it the biggest advertising festival of the Asian subcontinent; others equate it with the Super Bowl of India. Amid the raining sixes, cartwheeling stumps and crowds cheering their respective teams, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the perfect platform that offers humungous reach, multiple brand integration opportunities and a billion plus attentive eyeballs. Which marketer would want to shy away from this offer if he has the budgets.
Initially, audiences were only watching the game in Hindi and English feeds but now the broadcaster is offering multiple feeds in different languages along with live streaming on Disney + Hotstar. The spectrum is wider than ever.
Despite Covid2019 pushing the the game to stadiums with no audiences in the UAE, the virus has not been able to deter the enthusiasm of audiences as well as marketers. This year multiple brands across categories have already signed on with team, broadcast rights owner, Star Sports and the BCCI to cash in on the pulsating excitement of sticky audiences, who will be witnessing a major live event after a hiatus of five to six months. The expectations in terms of viewership are huge as IPL will be a much-needed breather during these difficult times.
PhonePe, a popular fintech brand, has returned as the co-presenting broadcasting sponsor of IPL 2020, repeating the association it had with the league in 2019. With reason: director of brand marketing PhonePe Richa says it has sky high ambitions. Currently, 230 million consumers conduct transitions with the app; the goal is to take that to 500 million by 2022.
Says she: “The tournament helps to create visibility, reach, and high brand recall for PhonePe. It has also helped us create awareness around digital payments for different user segments in the country. Our IPL sponsorship will help us reach both urban and rural audiences alike.”
In addition to IPL, the digital wallet brand has plans to digitise 25 million offline merchants across all 5,500 talukas of the country in the next 12 months with the mission to make PhonePe a household name across the country.
The digital-first brand shared a piece of insight from its IPL 2019 data and indicated that the reach and viewership of the tournament have increased significantly with each season. During IPL 2019, the app platform launched the #DadduGublucampaign featuring Aamir Khan in an avatar not seen before; that of a doting but confident grandfather. Each TVC concentrated on a single feature of the app. For instance, one of the TVCs talked about how it serves all the payment needs of an individual. Another spot talked about the high level of protection and security that PhonePe transactions are armed with. With its smart marketing tactics, the app also took a dig at its rival brand.
PhonePe competes with Paytm, Google Pay, and several other players in the market. Media reports suggest that it has set aside a hefty ad war chest of Rs 800 crore to make its presence felt through a push both above the line and below the line. This will include a big advertising splash for television and digital outlets.
The over-arching theme that PhonePe has adopted for its advertising campaign for this season’s IPL is 'KarteJaBadteJa.’It includes four TVCs shot in different states and languages earlier this year, featuring Alia Bhatt and Aamir Khan. The ads educate users about the various services availableoin the app be it booking a hotel, recharging bills or transferring money to a friend.
Sharma asserts that in addition to the PhonePe TV commercials, the brand will also be on other media – social and digital, which she believes is essential to help build brand recall and reach.
“This year our campaign focuses on tapping into the large base of Indians who are all digital-savvy but for various reasons have not taken to digital payments yet. Being the category leader, it's our endeavour to handhold each and every Indian and get them to experience safe, fast and convenient digital payments through PhonePe,” she explains. “With that in mind, we launched our campaign almost a month back (18 August) with a series of messages around safety, trust, convenience to help our audiences understand the ease and security PhonePe provides for digital payments. We will continue to break new messages and going into IPL you'll see more new ads on the same creative theme. Alongside IPL on TV, we will also be utilising various social and digital platforms and the varied ad formats they offer to create a more holistic audience outreach.”
Sharma elaborates that customer acquisition and brand recall among the target audience are a few of the metrics that the PhonePe team looks at while measuring the effectiveness any brand association. “We aim to grow the pie of digital transactors in the country, especially from tier 2, 3 markets and beyond. We aim to drive greater awareness and preference for PhonePe's features and services. The key theme will be to catalyse progress for everyone through our brand platform of ‘KarteJa. BadhteJa,” she says. .
Last month, the brand rolled out a film titled ‘Unstoppable India’ sensitively conceptualized by Leo Burnett. The film portrays the despondency amongst all of us as we battle with the ennui and frustration of the covid2019 prompted change inour lives. But it also highlights the indefatigable, never-say-die spirit of Indians who are finding ways to get back to near normal in the new normal. And of course helping them in the journey back is the contactless payment app PhonePe which like Indians does not how to stop (Ruknatohhumeinaatanahin), which is the tagline of the brand in the film.
According to an ASSOCHAM-PwC India study, the Indian digital payments market is currently valued at $64.8 billion. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.2 per cent to reach $135.2 billion in 2023.
Post demonetisaton, in 2016, and the government’s drive towards cash-less India, digital transactions have grown exponentially in the country. The pandemic has further accelerated contactless transactions, across income levels and geographies and amongst all age groups, but more so amongst millennials, for whom it has become a habit.
“We hit a record high in June 2020 in terms of our daily user activity as well as the total payment volume processed through PhonePe. Our transaction volume for July 2020 was at 620 million transactions that surpassed the February 2020 levels (pre-lockdown),” explains Sharma. “This was driven by continued user adoption of PhonePe across core use cases such as P2P payments recharges, and bill payments as well as the opening up of offline and online merchants across the country.”
The good thing is that Sharma is already seeing the signs of revival across industries. She acknowledges, “We are back to our pre-lockdown numbers. June and July have been our biggest month so far in terms of transactions.”
However, she acknowledges that the last quarter of the calendar year is very crucial for every brand due to the commencement of the festive season. “Luckily this year IPL is being held amid the festive season, creating a feel good factor and brands are hoping to get on the path of recovery very soon. IPL is the biggest sporting event in the country and has a lot of mass appeal. We are sure it will help lead to a revival in overall consumer sentiment who will go out and shop,” she concludes.
That would be good news for the economy. And more so for PhonePe if a large part of that consumer shopping is paid for by the digital payment app.
