Tag: Adani Group

  • Big FM tunes into the power of sun with record-breaking solar campaign

    Big FM tunes into the power of sun with record-breaking solar campaign

    MUMBAI: When the sun comes up, Big FM doesn’t just play music, it powers it. The radio giant, in partnership with the Adani Group, rolled out its ambitious ‘Story of Suraj’ campaign, turning solar energy into a cultural talking point across India. The 360-degree initiative spanned 39 cities, blending radio, digital, and on-ground activations. Its opening act? A nationwide content roadblock introducing every listener to Suraj Bhaiya’s story. With 80 RJs creating over 250 content pieces, the campaign reached an impressive 2.91 crore listeners on-air. Online, it struck another chord, clocking 21 million plus digital impressions across Big Live and RJ social handles.

    But the real showstopper came when Big FM set a world record with the first-ever dual-city solar-powered live broadcast, running studios in Delhi and Pune entirely on solar energy no grid, no diesel. The feat earned spots in both the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records, putting sustainability firmly in the spotlight.

    The campaign didn’t stop at the airwaves. Listeners tuned into stories of solar-powered villages, practical tips, and pledge walls across Delhi, Pune, Modhera, Indore and Lucknow, while the Solar Rooftop Studio Shift showcased the lives of real solar beneficiaries. The crescendo came from Modhera Gram Panchayat, India’s first fully solar-powered village, where Big FM went live to give audiences a glimpse of a cleaner, greener future.

    As Big FM’s CEO Sunil Kumaran summed up: “When purpose meets innovation, the impact can extend far beyond the airwaves.” And with ‘Story of Suraj’, the network proved that sustainability can be as powerful as any song on the charts.

  • Swapnil Mishra takes charge of corporate communications at Adani group’s Jaipur airport

    Swapnil Mishra takes charge of corporate communications at Adani group’s Jaipur airport

    JAIPUR:  Swapnil Mishra has joined Adani Group as lead, corporate communications, after a career spanning pharmaceuticals, airports, and heavy industry. He leads  communications for Jaipur International Airport under Adani Airport Holdings Ltd.

    A Bits  Pilani alumnus and trained journalist from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Mishra has built his career across marquee firms. He held senior communications roles at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Zydus Group, TDK and JSW Steel, besides a stint in journalism with Hindustan Times.
    “I believe the dynamics of media may have changed, but content remains king,” Mishra said. “My aim is to craft communication that is succinct, sharp and trusted.”

    With over a decade in corporate communications, Mishra now takes on the task of shaping brand trust and strategy for one of India’s most visible conglomerates.

  • Mirchi powers up world’s first live solar radio show with Adani Group

    Mirchi powers up world’s first live solar radio show with Adani Group

    MUMBAI: Talk about a bright idea! Mirchi has flipped the switch on the world’s first live solar-powered radio studio, proving that sunshine can power more than just rooftops, it can fuel an entire cultural moment.

    In partnership with the Adani Group’s campaign Hum Karke Dikhate Hain, Mirchi staged live solar-fuelled broadcasts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. RJ Jeeturaaj, RJ Krutarth and RJ Urvi kept the energy high at two buzzing venues: the BMC Office Selfie Point near CST and Gurudwara Crossroads in Thaltej. The twist? Every watt came straight from the sun.

    The shows blended music, interviews and tales of clean energy transforming lives, from farmers and schools to hospitals. And this wasn’t a one-off spectacle. Mirchi rolled the movement out across 30 cities, with its RJs sharing real-world stories of how solar power is lighting up India.

    At the campaign’s heart sits Suraj Bhaiya Hain Na, a film showcasing Adani’s renewable vision and underscoring that solar energy is not just possible but scalable, practical and even cultural.

  • Adani Group shines a light with ‘Story of Suraj’, third film in #HumKarkeDikhateHain series

    Adani Group shines a light with ‘Story of Suraj’, third film in #HumKarkeDikhateHain series

    MUMBAI: The Adani Group is back with another spark of inspiration. The infrastructure giant has rolled out Story of Suraj, the third instalment in its emotionally resonant #HumKarkeDikhateHain campaign, spotlighting how clean energy is transforming everyday lives across India.

    Directed by Amit Sharma of Badhaai Ho fame and produced by Chrome Pictures, the film tells the story of Rakesh, a man who returns to his hometown only to find it aglow-literally and metaphorically—thanks to uninterrupted solar power. From blooming crops and buzzing classrooms to 24/7 hospitals, the town’s transformation reflects how renewable energy fuels more than just electricity-it powers possibilities.

    Conceptualised by Ogilvy India, the film is rooted in Adani Green Energy Ltd’s (AGEL) mission to build a cleaner, greener India. AGEL, among the world’s largest renewable energy companies, operates a vast network of solar and wind farms, and has become a cornerstone of India’s energy transition.

    Adani Group head – corporate branding Ajay Kakar said “At Adani, we are not just generating electricity—we are creating pathways for progress. This film reflects the real impact of solar energy on everyday life. The transformation of one town is emblematic of the change we’re enabling across India.”

    Ogilvy India chief advisor Piyush Pandey commented, “Adani adds one more human touch to technology with its new Solar energy film. Story of Suraj shines by showing how solar energy brings life-changing opportunities to communities, helping them build a brighter future.”

    The film will be amplified across TV, digital, radio, and social platforms, ensuring the sunshine reaches every screen.

    With Story of Suraj, Adani isn’t just talking infrastructure-it’s showing how solar power is sparking human potential, one sunbeam at a time.

  • The slow eclipse of India’s media and broadcasting pioneers

    The slow eclipse of India’s media and broadcasting pioneers

    MUMBAI: Once, they blazed across the Indian media landscape with the swagger of pioneers. Entrepreneur-led behemoths like Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment, Kalanithi Maran’s Sun TV, Prannoy Roy’s NDTV, and Raghav Bahl’s Network18 weren’t just market leaders — they were institutions, holding their own even as foreign giants circled hungrily.

    Today, those stars are fading. Some have already fallen.

    Network18 and TV18 are now firmly in the grip of Reliance Industries and Disney Star. NDTV, long a bastion of editorial independence, is under the control of the Adani Group. Its founders — Roy and Radhika — have exited stage left, their names now relics of an era that once prized journalistic idealism.

    Zee, once the crown jewel of Indian broadcasting, is barely hanging on. The Chandra family — once majority owners — now clutch a meagre four-odd  per cent stake. It’s a dramatic fall from grace fuelled by Subhash Chandra’s ill-advised adventures into infrastructure. To bankroll these forays, he pledged Zee shares, opening the gates to lenders who came calling. The result: a sharp dilution of promoter ownership and a credibility crisis. The failed merger with Sony’s Indian arm, Culver Max Entertainment, only added insult to injury — scuppered reportedly due to concerns about Zee’s financial hygiene. A company once viewed as squeaky clean had its reputation muddied.

    Sun TV, the fourth of the old guard, is also showing cracks. Helmed with iron discipline by Kalanithi Maran, it long stood as a symbol of stability. But the facade is now under strain. A family feud has burst into public view, with brother Dayanidhi Maran accusing Kala of wresting control of Sun TV through backdoor share acquisitions. Legal notices have flown, regulatory filings issued, and the company insists all was above board. Still, some reputational damage has been done — and the gossip mills are churning.

    The result is a media map being redrawn in real time. Where once these founders shaped the narrative, today they’re either sidelined, embattled, or ousted. And as corporate titans and conglomerates take over, the question is whether passion-led media can survive in an era of balance sheets, bottom lines, and boardroom power plays.

    India’s media isn’t short on ambition. But nostalgia alone won’t stop the sun from setting on yesterday’s giants.

  • Out-of-home still rules the streets as brands chase the last unskippable medium

    Out-of-home still rules the streets as brands chase the last unskippable medium

    MUMBAI: At Goafest 2025, the session ‘Ignite The Attention – The Last Unskippable Medium’ spotlighted the enduring impact of out-of-home (OOH) advertising. The panel, moderated by Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA) CEO Praveen K Vadhera brought together industry heavyweights who argued that while screens can be skipped, billboards can’t be scrolled past.

    Adani Group head of corporate branding Ajay Kakar opened the discussion by cutting through the jargon. “Stop dividing media into digital and non-digital”, he said. “What matters is strategy for the consumer, not the medium”. Kakar called on the industry to steer clients, not just serve briefs, and stressed that OOH creatives must be original—not borrowed from print. “The idea is what truly matters—it must create impact”.

    Times Innovative Media (Times OOH) CEO Shekhar Narayanaswami defined the category in plain terms: “OOH is the experience of stepping out”. He described the medium as a counter to screen fatigue, offering unavoidable visibility. He added that combining physical ads with social media can amplify brand recall.

    Adonmo MD Sandeep Bommireddi reframed digital as a horizontal shift across all media. “Integration, not isolation”, he urged. OOH, he argued, is already evolving into smarter formats through tech overlays and data targeting. “Choose media based on your audience—not out of habit”.

    Platinum Communications and Madison Retail Paradigm CEO Dipankar Sanyal emphasised that “gut instinct is no longer king”. Today’s OOH is data-rich, performance-tracked, and measurable. “We now speak in the language of impressions and outcomes”.

    Karukrit Advertising VP Promita Saha brought the consumer lens into focus. “The consumer comes before the canvas”, she said, advocating for OOH stories that adapt to cultural moments. “Melas and local events are missed opportunities when we reuse print assets. The environment deserves its own narrative”.

    Together, the panellists agreed that OOH is more than a medium—it’s a mindset. One that blends tech, culture, creativity and commerce in an unskippable format.

  • Ambuja Cements seals CCI nod for game-changing Orient Cement buyout

    Ambuja Cements seals CCI nod for game-changing Orient Cement buyout

    MUMBAI: Adani-backed Ambuja Cements Ltd, one of India’s top cement makers, has laid the groundwork by securing the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) approval for its acquisition of Orient Cement Ltd. With this regulatory nod, Ambuja is all set to mortar its dominance, brick by brick, as it paves the way for an industry power move that will set its expansion strategy in concrete.

    The deal, originally announced on 22 October 2024, involves a major takeover through a share purchase agreement. Ambuja Cements will acquire 7,76,49,413 equity shares, which make up 37.90 per cent of Orient Cement’s existing share capital. An additional purchase of 1,82,23,750 equity shares (8.90 per cent stake) will further bolster its holdings.

    But that’s not all—Ambuja is also rolling out an open offer to acquire up to 5,34,19,567 equity shares, representing 26 per cent of Orient Cement’s expanded share capital. The deal values the open offer at Rs 395.40 per share, putting serious weight behind Ambuja’s aggressive acquisition strategy.

    The green light from CCI came on 4 March 2025, with the regulator granting unconditional approval under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. With no regulatory roadblocks, the cement giant is now positioned to finalise the transaction and accelerate its growth momentum.

    Ambuja Cements continues to make bold moves in the infrastructure and building materials sector. By bringing Orient Cement into its fold, Ambuja aims to boost its market presence and production capacity, cementing (pun intended) its leadership in India’s competitive cement industry.

    This strategic acquisition reinforces Ambuja’s commitment to expansion and efficiency. With regulatory hurdles cleared, the focus now shifts to execution—expect Ambuja to lay a stronger foundation for growth in the coming months.

  • Adani Ports’ new film highlights its role in enabling business growth

    Adani Ports’ new film highlights its role in enabling business growth

    MUMBAI: The Adani Group has launched its latest film, Journey of Dreams, as part of its ongoing Hum Karke Dikhate Hain series, highlighting the transformative impact of Adani Ports on businesses and communities across India.

    The narrative-driven film celebrates India’s spirit of determination, illustrating how Adani Ports enables businesses-both large and small-to thrive through seamless connectivity and world-class infrastructure. As India’s largest integrated ports and logistics company, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ) plays a crucial role in economic growth by facilitating global trade and empowering entrepreneurs.

    The film opens with a touching scene where a young girl watches a ship sail into the horizon and asks her father, “Do ships carry big things, Papa?” To which he replies, “They carry big dreams too.” This sets the stage for an inspiring journey showcasing the global reach enabled by Adani Ports.

    The story follows a father’s aspirations as his handcrafted Namda toys—a traditional wool-felting craft from Gujarat’s Kutch region—find international markets thanks to the logistical support of Adani Ports. His journey reflects the countless small business owners across India who benefit from the company’s extensive infrastructure and global market access.

    Adani Group head of corporate branding, Ajay Kakar stated, “At Adani Ports, we do more than move goods—we create pathways for dreams. Our world-class facilities and connectivity help businesses flourish, improving millions of lives. This film beautifully showcases how our ports serve as catalysts for aspirations, turning dreams into reality.”

    The film, created by Ogilvy India, aligns with Adani’s vision of business with a human touch. Ogilvy India chief advisor, Piyush Pandey stated, “Big businesses and projects hold true significance when they positively impact communities. This campaign captures Adani Ports’ commitment to fostering growth at every level.”

    Part of the AdaniHKKDH series, Journey of Dreams will be broadcast across multiple platforms, reinforcing Adani Ports’ role in shaping India’s economic future.
     

  • India Affiliate Summit edition 10 concludes on a high note

    India Affiliate Summit edition 10 concludes on a high note

    Mumbai: The tenth edition of the India Affiliate Summit (IAS), organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) was concluded on 8 November. The two-day summit brought together leading marketers, industry experts, and innovators, creating a dynamic forum to explore the latest trends and strategies in performance marketing. The conference featured an expansive expo floor, engaging agenda of keynotes, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, providing invaluable insights into the future of the industry.

    The summit commenced with an insightful keynote session by vCommission CEO Parul Bhargava, on ‘Future Trends: Shifting Paradigms of Affiliate Partnerships’. She highlighted the transformative shifts underway in affiliate marketing and the need for brands to adapt to these evolving dynamics. She stated, “Our industry is at a pivotal juncture where embracing change is not only essential but urgent. On the advertiser side, the pillars of transparency, compliance, clean media, and long-term engagement have become fundamental. For affiliates, the focus lies in achieving stability and campaign sustainability.”

    A highlight of the event was the panel discussion on ‘Winning Touchpoints: Less Clicks, More Sales’, featuring insights from Adani Group joint president and chief digital officer Nitin Sethi. Sethi emphasised the importance of precision, personalization through analytics, micro-conversations, mobile voice search, and A/B testing frameworks in today’s competitive market. “In today’s landscape, out of every 100 consumers, about 90 tend to bounce back on the first page. At each stage of the funnel, drop-off rates close to 70-80 percent are common. Even with significant investment to bring in 1,000 customers, conversion rates average only 10-15 percent, which is the industry’s best,” he said.

    NP Digital founder Neil Patel, in a fireside chat on AI, opined, “When you think about your KPIs and business goals, start by asking how AI can help you achieve them. Many marketers run ads, but when AI is used alongside human creativity, it creates a powerful combination. AI can analyze data in real time, helping optimize content and ad strategies on the go. Personally, AI has been instrumental in scaling my content. The next big trend I see coming to social media is live selling it’s already huge in China but hasn’t yet taken off globally. I believe it’s going to generate significant revenue in the near future.”

    India Today CMO Vivek Malhotra while moderating the panel discussion on ‘The Modern Data Stack: Revolutionising Customer Insights and Marketing Agility’, remarked, “In the past 12 months alone, we have collectively gathered more customer consent than in many previous years combined. I believe the key to unlocking future opportunities lies within this consent, empowering us to build more personalized and impactful customer experiences.”

    Indian Express Digital CEO Sanjay Sindhwani commented, “In the media industry, if we look back five years, data largely rested with intermediaries, and we didn’t focus on it as much. Over the last five years, however, we’ve witnessed a tremendous shift. Media now has massive reach and relevance to advertisers, who increasingly seek more definitive, targeted insights. As subscriptions grow, the intersection of technology and marketing becomes even more critical in shaping this data-driven landscape.”

    HDFC Bank SVP Deepak Oram said, “The modern data stack today essentially unifies a brand’s data, encompassing behavioural insights and predictive information. What many tend to overlook, however, is the importance of third-party data and the concept of data reflexes. While it’s relatively easy to hire data engineers in the industry, what’s truly lacking are data reflexes, the ability to quickly and effectively respond to data insights for real-time decision-making.”

    In a panel discussion on ‘Bridging Online and Offline: The Impact of Programmatic Advertising on Consumer Behaviour’, Uniqlo India head of marketing Nidhi Rastogi said, ‘We strategically leverage data from our e-commerce platform to gain insights on order origins, guiding our decisions on store locations and optimizing our product assortment for each market. This data-driven approach is integral to our expansion and product mix strategies. Additionally, programmatic advertising has been highly effective in precisely reaching our target audiences.

    More than 50 stalwarts from the digital marketing ecosystem addressed over 15 engrossing sessions over two days. Over 6500 industry professionals and around 50 exhibitors participated in the summit. Some of the major partners supporting IAS 2024 are vCommission, Valueleaf, Flickstree, Optiminastic, and Seventynine Digital.

  • Ambuja Cements, ACC to power eighth edition of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon

    Ambuja Cements, ACC to power eighth edition of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon

    Mumbai: Adani Sportsline has announced that the highly anticipated eighth edition of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is going to be powered by Ambuja Cements and ACC, the cement and building material companies of the Adani portfolio. This partnership highlights a fusion of strength, reliability, legacy, and trust aligning seamlessly with the values and spirit of the marathon.

    The Adani Ahmedabad Marathon, to take place on 24 November 2024, aims to inspire thousands of participants to push their limits and achieve personal milestones. With Ambuja Cements and ACC joining as principal sponsors, the event will ensure an unparalleled experience, reinforcing the marathon’s stature as one of India’s premier athletic runs.

    This year’s marathon will begin and end at the picturesque Sabarmati Riverfront and the Bib Expo for the participants will be held at the Sabarmati Riverfront Sports Park, which boasts of state-of-the-art sporting facilities. Participants can choose from four categories: the full marathon (42.195 km), the half marathon (21.097 km), the 10 km run, and the 5 km run.

    The Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. In 2023, the marathon introduced a new course, and this will be the second time it takes place on this scenic route. The track, which spans the city, includes iconic locations such as the Atal Bridge, Gandhi Ashram, and Ellis Bridge. The seventh edition of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon saw over 22,000 participants. The marathon kicked off the journey in 2017 in Shantigram, and is currently going strong in its eighth edition.

    The partnership between Adani Sportsline, Ambuja Cements, and ACC goes beyond this sponsorship; it represents a celebration of mutual values and a dedication to promoting health and community. By joining forces with two of India’s most esteemed cement brands, the marathon highlights the significance of a strong foundation — both in construction and in personal development.

    Adani Group CEO – cement business, Ajay Kapur said, “We are pleased to announce our association with the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon. This collaboration reflects our shared values of resilience, sustainability, and community empowerment. Just as our innovative construction solutions aim to build a stronger, more sustainable India, the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon inspires individuals to push their limits and cultivate a healthier, more united nation. Sports play a pivotal role in nation-building by promoting teamwork, dedication, and a spirit of perseverance. Together, we are going beyond constructing buildings and contributing to the foundation of a robust and vibrant society.”