Tag: Aditya Birla Group

  • Aditya Birla Group’s Tasva unshackles Indian groom from social codes of conduct in new campaign

    Aditya Birla Group’s Tasva unshackles Indian groom from social codes of conduct in new campaign

    Mumbai: Tasva, a new men’s ethnic wear brand by Tarun Tahiliani and Aditya Birla Group has launched its latest campaign ‘Sada Mast Raho.’ The campaign, conceptualised by Taproot Dentsu, the creative agency from dentsu India, challenges the social code of conduct prescribed for the groom at his wedding. 

    When it comes to ready-to-wear wedding wear, Men’s fashion in India is limited in style, fits and quality. Besides, in India, the choice of the groom’s outfit is often a consensus between his mother, sister or bride-to-be, if not more. Often the grooms find their style and taste compromised and their expression confined when it comes to their wedding, said the statement.

    The film, directed by Shai and produced by Rudra of Jungle Production House, seeks to be a war cry against this compromise and urges grooms to be themselves, more so on the most important day of their life. It showcases a scene from a typical wedding reception, where the photographer is instructing the bride and groom to pose for the wedding album kind of photos. The creative takes a dig at the typical ways a groom must behave in a function such as posing for photos, standing upright and looking like a royal mannequin, being traditional in greeting his elders and dressing a certain way that may not suit his personality.

    The film depicts the Tasva groom, on the contrary, as being liberated from these chains of social codes and true to his character, taking the wedding by storm. He is comfortable and expressive in his outfit and his skin, so much so that he even joins the band singing, ‘Fursat Na Dekho, Mahurat Na Dekho, Sada Mast Raho.’

    “When you see the advertising in this segment, it all seems rather serious. The way a man poses after wearing traditional Indian wear, it seems like he is on to saving the world. He is standing upright and has this piercing look into the camera,” said Taproot Dentsu Gurgaon creative head Titus Upputuru, who has also contributed to writing the jingle’s lyrics.

    He added, “Also when it comes to weddings, ‘sada sukhi raho’, ‘sada suhagan raho’ (to the bride), etc. are the usual blessings that are given. We said let’s change the conversation because the young men who have marriage on their minds aren’t suddenly turning into these very serious men. It is their big day and they still want to have a good time. That’s why we wrote ‘Sada Mast Raho’. It was wonderful to partner Tarun Tahiliani. I love his sensibilities and the finesse that he has brought into the garment is pure genius,”.

    Speaking on the campaign, Tarun Tahiliani said, “The spirit of Tasva i.e ‘the best of self’ can not be expressed in jaded, forced portraits but must be expressed in the current possibilities – of movement, freedom and self-expression. The film beautifully captures this in the digital age. And our garments are also young, tailored, sculpted but designed for fit and movement – a light, cool breeze – Sada Mast Raho.”

    “Men today have very clear preferences with respect to their attire and are using self-grooming and dressing as means to express their true personalities. But when it comes to Indian wear, they are somewhat at a loss due to lack of options, unlike in western wear,” stated Taproot Dentsu Gurgaon head Abhinav Kaushik. “With Tasva, we aim to widen their range of choices and encourage that natural self-expression and exuberance even in Indian wear. This campaign is an absolutely refreshing way to break the seriousness that comes with ethnic wear.”

  • Applause Entertainment licenses 400+ titles from Amar Chitra Katha

    Applause Entertainment licenses 400+ titles from Amar Chitra Katha

    Mumbai: Aditya Birla Group-backed content studio Applause Entertainment has announced a partnership with Amar Chitra Katha, a player in the children’s publishing segment. 

    As part of the collaboration, Applause Entertainment has acquired the license to Amar Chitra Katha catalogue, of more than 400 titles, which will be developed and produced into animated content.

    “At Applause, we only strive to deliver the best in storytelling. Over the last four years, we have significantly pushed the envelope in curating and creating the most disruptive stories for Indian audiences that cut across genres and geographies,” said Applause Entertainment, chief executive officer, Sameer Nair. “Amar Chitra Katha is a household name in India with a diverse and celebrated library that deserves to be retold. Like millions of other people, I have grown up reading these iconic comics and as a child, imagined them with dynamic visuals and dramatic sound & action. This is our opportunity to realise that dream. This partnership is also a small step towards helping export Indian culture by taking a unique and deep-rooted cultural brand like Amar Chitra Katha to screens across the globe.”

    Spanning 20 languages, the Amar Chitra Katha library boasts titles across epics and mythology, history, fables and humour, brave hearts, visionaries, and ACK Junior. The children’s publisher was founded in 1967 by Anant Pai and sells more than 1.5 million copies every year. Amar Chitra Katha has forayed into digital with their app as well as a presence on Alexa, YouTube, and other digital platforms.

    “At Amar Chitra Katha, we have been custodians of India’s stories for over 54 years, and we are thrilled to partner with Applause Entertainment to take our rich storytelling heritage to Indian and global audiences through animation,” said Amar Chitra Katha, president and chief executive officer, Preeti Vyas. “As the nation’s favourite storyteller, our mission has always been to provide Indian children a route to their roots and inspire in them a great sense of pride about India and being Indian. While we continue to keep our founder, Mr Anant Pai’s dream alive by telling new stories and creating fresh content in print and digital formats, we are also keen on presenting our iconic stories in an animated avatar. For this, we could not have hoped for a better partner than Applause. We are confident that Sameer Nair and his team, with their passion and superlative track record, will do an amazing job adapting our stories to animation and providing the new and future generations of Indians a crucial link to our past.”

  • Brands salute the indomitable spirit of frontline workers on May Day

    Brands salute the indomitable spirit of frontline workers on May Day

    MUMBAI: As we celebrate one more May Day, also called the International Day of Workers or International Labour Day, dedicated to workers and labourers across the world (from behind closed doors in the safety of our homes), it becomes even more important to recognise the invisible labour of those countless workers who keep our lives going, uninterrupted. Who have put their lives at risk, tirelessly fighting an unseen deadly enemy to just do their everyday job- letting the rest of us have the luxury of choosing not to step out.  

    With this thought in mind, brands have come forward to shine a light on the working community, who have contributed to our well-being by sharing digital campaigns on this day dedicated to them. Here are some of the creatives/campaigns for Labour Day which caught our eye:

    Tata Motors shared a message of hope and solidarity on its Instagram handle, saying “This #LabourDay, we salute those on the frontlines of the battle against #COVID19. Here’s hoping for a safer and healthier future ahead.”

    It also reminded us all that “in these unfortunate times we are fortunate to have them”.

    Croma Retail shared a film that talks about taking out a moment to pause and to “wholeheartedly thank all the service staff who helped make our days brighter everyday”, while urging us to do the same. It shared, “Their work never stopped, even when the world did. Let’s take a moment to honour and celebrate the unsung heroes who have our utmost respect and gratitude, here’s to you!”

     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     

     
     

     
     
     

     
     

    A post shared by Croma Retail (@croma.retail)

    The Aditya Birla Group’s UltraTech Cement gave a shoutout to the labourers who work day in and out, even in these Covid times to create our dream homes.

    Bajaj Allianz paid tribute to the frontline workers on social media. “Working endlessly to fight the global pandemic and keep us safe in the bounds of our home. This #WorldLabourDay, let’s contribute to their efforts by following all the rules and norms effectively. #CaringlyYours “ With the words, “Be it an emergency or a pandemic  they never stop caring  for us,” the insurance company posted.

    JSW paints shared a post to thank those who work round-the-clock for us in an Instagram story, “Seize the day from the safety of our homes and thank our heroes for all their efforts”

    Kotak Life shared an acknowledgement for the frontline workers, whose hard labour in the pursuit of their livelihood makes our lives smoother. “Here’s to the ones who strive hard for the development of our nation while risking their lives.”

    Automotive and inverter battery manufacturer Tata Green shared the following post on its Instagram, saying, “TATA Green appreciates the hard work, dedication and contribution of all the workers across our nation this #InternationalLabourDay,” with the message ‘Let’s honour the hands that have built our nation’.

  • Flipkart acquires 7.8% stake in Aditya Birla Fashion

    Flipkart acquires 7.8% stake in Aditya Birla Fashion

    New Delhi: Flipkart Group has acquired a 7.8 per cent stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) for Rs 1500 crore. ABFRL has approved the raising of Rs. 1500 crore by way of preferential issue to Flipkart Group. The equity capital will be raised at Rs 205 per share. The promoter and promoter group companies of ABFRL will hold about 55.13 per cent upon completion of the issuance.  

    This deal will strengthen the range of brands offered on Flipkart's e-commerce platforms, including Myntra, and further accelerate its prominence in the fashion segment. Flipkart’s technology prowess will enhance ABFRL’s omni-channel capabilities, enriching customer experiences while continuing to provide access to premium loyalty programs and affordability constructs.

    Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy said, “At the Flipkart Group, we are focused on building new partnerships that will help us meet the demands of the discerning Indian consumer who  seek quality and value. Through this transaction with ABFRL, we will work towards making available  a wide range of products for fashion-conscious consumers across different retail formats across the  country. We look forward to working with ABFRL and its well established and comprehensive  fashion and retail infrastructure as we address the promising opportunity of the apparel industry in India.” 

    Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said, “This partnership is an emphatic endorsement of the growth potential of India. It also reflects our strong conviction in the future of  the apparel industry in India, which is poised to touch $100bn in the next 5 years. Fashion retail in India is set for robust long-term growth due to strong fundamentals of a large and growing middle  class, favourable demographics, rising disposable incomes and aspiration for brands. Rapid growth of technology infrastructure will further accelerate this process. Over the years, we have shaped ABFRL into a strong platform to capture future growth opportunities in India. This partnership is a  critical component of that strategy.” 

    ABFRL plans to use this capital to strengthen its balance sheet and accelerate its growth trajectory.  The company plans to aggressively scale-up its existing businesses where it holds strong, market leading positions while increasing presence in emerging high-growth categories such as innerwear, athleisure, casualwear and ethnic wear, establishing these as the new engines of growth for the  company. 

    Furthermore, ABFRL will aggressively accelerate execution of its large-scale digital transformation  strategy that will deepen the consumer connect of its brands, expand reach of its diverse brand  portfolio, build strong omni-channel functionalities and augment its backend capabilities;  positioning it amongst the most comprehensive Omni-channel fashion players in the country.  

    On completion of this transaction, ABFRL would have successfully executed a capital raise of Rs. 2500 crore since 1 April 2020, despite the challenging macroeconomic conditions since the onset of Covid2019. 

  • TV Today’s rating upgraded as parent company becomes debt-free

    TV Today’s rating upgraded as parent company becomes debt-free

    MUMBAI: Credit rating agency CRISIL has upgraded the TV Today Network’s, a subsidiary of Living Media India Limited, long-term bank ratings as the parent company becomes debt-free.

    Aroon Purie founded Living Media India Limited (LMIL) had reported a net loss of Rs 6 crore for fiscal 2019, repaid its debt after getting an interim dividend from its arm TV Today Network (TVTN).

    According to a press release on BSE, the TV Today Network said: “The rating agency has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of the company to CRISIL AA/Stable from CRISIL AA-/ Stable.”

    LMIL had a debt of Rs 64 crore as of 31 March 2019 and received an interim dividend of Rs 68 crore in November 2019, which helped the company to become debt-free as of 24 December 2019.

    Meanwhile, TVTN has also mentioned in its statement that the rating agency has retained the short-term rating of the company at CRISIL A1+.

    According to CRISIL, the regular dividend income from TVTN may offset the weak operating performance of the publishing business. It believes LMIL will continue to benefit over the medium term from healthy financial flexibility being the holding company of TVTN

    LMIL, a publication house, was founded in 1975. It earns revenue from its own publications (India Today and Business Today). It owns India’s largest magazine distribution network. The Aditya Birla Group acquired a stake in LMIL in July 2012 and currently owns 41.5%.

    The India Today group, also founded in 1975, has diverse business interests, including magazines, TV channels such as Aaj Tak, India Today Television, Tez, and Dilli Aaj Tak, it also has a newspaper on its name called Mail Today, a classical music label (Music Today), and book publishing and printing.

  • Liva launches its new campaign #LiveYourFlow

    Liva launches its new campaign #LiveYourFlow

    Liva, the ingredient brand from the house of Aditya Birla Group, launched its latest campaign #LiveYourFlow which features Bollywood Superstar Kangana Ranaut. This is the first-time that the brand has taken a unique route of releasing the campaign first on digital platforms including social media.

    “It was a strategic decision to the digital-first route,” said Srishti Sawhney, President and Global Brand Head, Grasim Industries, Pulp & Fibre Business. “Liva, being a new age natural fabric brand has always taken initiatives to connect with the end consumer in innovative and creative ways. There is a huge attitudinal and behavioral shift in consumption towards digital media. Therefore we too have evolved our marketing strategy to reach out to the customer more effectively,” she added.

    With the digital space booming, Liva is one of the few brands which are leveraging this platform by employing a different dissemination strategy for the ad film; where it is released digitally first and other mediums will then follow.

    The ad film shows a graceful Kangana adorning the fluid Liva fabric which lets her breathe, glide, and flow. The background music and the perfectly synchronized ballet dancers very aptly communicate the essence of the product, i.e. ‘natural fluid fashion’.  It goes on to introduce the campaign title, #LiveYourFlow by choosing the Liva tag across leading brands.

    The digital film is designed to showcase not just the USP of the product, which is natural fluid fashion, but also the emotion it imbibes in the consumer who is wearing the garment. #LiveYourFlow, the campaign title gets across the feeling of being unrestrained and free to do one’s own thing. It connotes a positive and energized state of mind where one is open to possibilities. Liva celebrates the unrestrained and unhindered spirit of the consumers by providing them with a breathable, fluid fabric. 

  • SonyLIV, Applause Entertainment announce first Tamil original ‘Iru Dhuruvam’

    SonyLIV, Applause Entertainment announce first Tamil original ‘Iru Dhuruvam’

    MUMBAI : Startled at the sudden disappearance of his wife Geetha, Viktor an astute cop gets cracking on the case. But as he probes deeper, a series of gruesome murders put the entire city in panic leaving him in a predicament. What will he do next? SonyLIV, India’s first premium video on demand (VOD) platform along with Applause Entertainment, a venture of the Aditya Birla Group announced the launch of their first Tamil original ‘Iru Dhuruvam’ premiering on SonyLIV.

    Produced for Applause Entertainment by Pramod Cheruvalath’s Sign of Life Productions, the show which means ‘bipolar’ is directed and written by M Kumaran. The show begins with a series of horrific murders that put the city in a state of shock and chaos overnight. It turns out to be the work of a serial killer who quotes couplets from the “Thirukkural” (a classic Tamil text) as clues, leaving everyone at sixes and sevens. Inspector David Viktor, a hawk-eyed cop is assigned to hunt down the killer. But what happens when the hunter himself becomes a prey? As Viktor gets embroiled deeper into this strange turn of events, little does he know what lies ahead for him. While investigating the brutal murders, he himself is under the scanner for his wife’s mysterious disappearance. Is there a connection between these two events? Will this investigation lead him to his wife? The gripping series will see inspector Viktor encountering all details that will put him at crossroads of his professional and personal life.

    Running over 9 episodes, Iru Dhuruvam features actors Nandha Durairaj – one of the first popular Tamil actors venturing into the OTT space post a hiatus, Abhirami Iyer – former Miss Tamil Nadu who is a popular face in the Tamil web space, the young YouTube sensation Abdool and popular theatre and film artist Sebastin, Anisha in lead roles of this nail-biting web series, that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat and hooked on till the end.

    Iru Dhuruvam is SonyLIV’s second content offering for its Tamil audience. Post its foray in the market in May 2019, the platform recently launched the Tamil version of its marquee show Crime Patrol with actor Ganesh Venkatraman that has got the audience talking. With tailormade stories like Iru Dhuruvam, Crime Patrol, My Marappu, Cookies and the upcoming Tamil original Aivar amongst others SonyLIV plans to pique the interest of its Tamil audience by engaging them with localised content rooted in Tamil traditions and sensibilities. Additionally, some of the most popular shows from SonyLIV include TVF originals such as Pitchers, Permanent Roommates, Tripling, along with over 40 iconic shows from Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) content library like CID, Patiala Babes, Ladies Special, Aladdin, Beyhadh amongst others are available in Tamil to the audience for a customized entertainment experience.

    Uday Sodhi Business Head Digital Sony Pictures Networks India said, “This partnership with Applause Entertainment blends our in-depth consumer understanding with their finesse in storytelling. With ‘Iru Dhuruvam’, we plan to scale up our Tamil offerings and be the go to OTT destination for the local audience. In a cluttered market like India, such collaborations are a leap towards an evolved ecosystem and will strengthen our promise of delivering cutting edge stories in the digital space. We look forward to a long term and fruitful association with Applause Entertainment as we collaborate to diversify our content offerings for the region.”

    Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment said, “India is a mass of niches and at Applause we want to build a diverse content repertoire to appeal to every audience palate. The launch of ‘Iru Dhuruvam’ is a step towards that direction. It marks our foray into regional content and is the first Tamil original partnership for Applause Entertainment and SonyLIV. We are excited to associate with SonyLIV and commence our journey of localized content through this show.”

  • Vodafone Idea CEO Balesh Sharma resigns, Ravinder Takkar to take over

    Vodafone Idea CEO Balesh Sharma resigns, Ravinder Takkar to take over

     The Board of Vodafone Idea Limited today announced that it has accepted Balesh Sharma’s request for personal reasons to step down as CEO of Vodafone Idea. Balesh will be taking up a new role with Vodafone Group, which will be announced in due course. Ravinder Takkar, currently Vodafone Group’s representative in India, will be appointed as his successor with immediate effect.

    Balesh has been the CEO of Vodafone Idea since the completion of the merger, and prior to that was Chief Operating Officer of Vodafone India. He has overseen the successful integration of Vodafone Idea – resulting in the estimated timescale to complete the integration falling from four to just two years. Balesh has driven the strategy of the combined business since its formation and he has also spearheaded the largest-ever equity raise in India.

    Ravinder Takkar, an experienced global executive, is currently a Board member of Vodafone Idea and Indus Towers, where he is responsible for all Vodafone Group interests in India, a role which he took on in 2017. Prior to his current role, Ravinder was the CEO of Vodafone Romania for three years and CEO of Vodafone Partner Markets in London. He has been with Vodafone Group since 1994 and brings a wealth of experience in telecom industry having worked in several leadership positions across Vodafone’s operating companies over the last 25 years.

    Ravinder has been involved in the Indian telecom industry since 2007 when Vodafone Group entered the Indian market. He has held a number of senior roles in Strategy and Business Development and he was CEO of the Enterprise business.

    Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Idea Limited, said, “I would like to thank Balesh for his leadership and the successful integration of the two businesses. Under Balesh's stewardship, Vodafone Idea has realised a significant proportion of the synergies in a much shorter timescale than originally estimated. I wish him every success in his next role. I am pleased to welcome Ravinder Takkar as our new MD & CEO. Ravinder is well versed with the Vodafone Idea business context and I am confident that he will successfully steer the company through the next phase of development and help unlock its full potential.”

  • Liva installs ‘Dancing Fabric’ at Mumbai mall

    Liva installs ‘Dancing Fabric’ at Mumbai mall

    MUMBAI: People in Mumbai witnessed India’s first ‘Dancing Fabric’ at Oberoi Mall in Goregaon recently. The installation by Liva, a fashion fabric brand of the Aditya Birla Group, showcased a 27-feet long fabric flowing midair, which copied the hand movements of the viewers via motion sensor technology.

    With this innovative installation, Liva aimed to showcase the fabric attributes of lightness, flow, and breathability. The on-ground engagement connected with the youth who were seen interacting and moving along with the fabric.

    Birla Cellulose head – branding and communication Shardah Uniyal expressed, “Liva is positioned as a fashion fabric brand. The brand on an ongoing basis experiments and innovates whether on fabrics or garments or its marketing initiatives to stay fresh and relevant to the young and fashionable women it targets.This mall installation is yet another endeavour in the direction of generating consumer interest. This innovation aims at creating brand awareness, engagement for the women and relevance in a fun-filled context.”