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Tag: Amitabh Bachchan

  • STEPapp to revolutionize K-12 education in India with gamification of learning

    STEPapp to revolutionize K-12 education in India with gamification of learning

    Mumbai: Mr. Amitabh Bachchan gave a clarion call of ‘Apna Kal Khud Banao’ to students as India's first-of-its-kind Gamified Learning Ed-Tech app, STEPapp was unveiled with an aim to revolutionize K-12 education in the country.

    STEPapp was unveiled in Mumbai by Mr. Praveen Tyagi (MD, PACE IIT & Medical; and Founder CEO, Eduisfun Technologies) in the presence of distinguished academicians and corporate honchos – Mrs. Manisha Verma (IAS, Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra), Mr. Sainath Durge (BMC Education Committee Member, MCGM), Mr. Brian D. Seymour (Principal, G D Somani School, Cuffe Parade), Mrs. Jyoti Gupta (Principal and Head K12 – DPS), Mr. Ramakrishnan Ramamurthi (Chief Executive, Polycab India), Mr. Ashish Katta (MD, iCollege Group), Mr. Vineet Rai (iCollege Group), Mr. Sanjeev Tyagi (IPS Officer, SSP Bijnor), Mr. Vijay Raaz (actor), Mr. Sandeep Singhal (B.Tech IIT Roorkee), Chief Business Officer of EduisFun Technologies, Corporate icon Mr. Deepak Parekh (Chairman, HDFC Group) and advertising icon Mr. Piyush Pandey (Chief Creative Officer Worldwide and Executive Chairman, India, Ogilvy Group) shared their views on video.

    STEPapp’s vision is to provide universal access to quality education to every child in the country via technology. And this app is the first STEP in their mission to create a bank of meritorious children for the country, removing the barriers of social, economic, gender, region and learning inequity. The app works on the most basic smartphone with minimal data requirement. The pricing is such that it is accessible to most people in India.

    STEPapp will launch many other apps in the future to gamify education and introduce newer ways to learn. STEPapp comes from the IITian’s PACE family, a group which has 20 years of experience in creating success stories for kids, some of whom are now change-makers at leading companies across the world. It is this experience which makes STEPapp confident about the learning methodology it is introducing to revolutionize the K-12 education in India.

    STEPapp starts with building Math and Science proficiency via two programs – STEP Scholar and STEP Learn.

    ·  STEP Learn is the learning program for grades 5-11 mapped to complete math and science syllabus of CBSE and ICSE. It breaks down tough concepts into easy to understand capsules and then tests the children on their learning – in a gamified format. Students cannot move on to next learning capsule until they answer all question correctly. And hence it ensures that the kids have conceptual clarity before they move on.

    · STEP Scholar is the scholarship program which gives an opportunity of a lifetime for students to build their own future with scholarships ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1 crore from a total pool of Rs. 50 crore.

    ·   As an introductory offer, the first 1 lakh students of each grade will receive STEP Learn (worth Rs. 5,000) gratis for their current grade.

    ·  In addition to the big scholarships, students can also win next grade’s STEP Learn free basis their performance.

    ·  Mentorship and guidance for the winners through 400+ IITians and Doctors will be continuous. Once STEPapp identifies merit, they will handhold these kids to success.

    ·  Registrations for STEP Scholar program have already begun. Students from 5th to 11th standards are eligible to register in this program.

    Mr. Praveen Tyagi, Founder & CEO, Eduisfun Technologies Pvt. Ltd., said, “STEPapp redefines Ed-Tech in India by giving children universal access and a level playing field by leveraging gamified learning, story-telling, scholarships and benefits for all stakeholders such as parents, teachers and education policy makers. Accessible to every child in the country, anytime and anywhere, STEPapp inspires students, engages parents and empowers educators, to ensure that students achieve their full potential. Our Student Talent Enhancement Program (S.T.E.P.) will help create a bank of meritorious children, who will be the assets and future of our country.” He added,”STEPapp has 4 Aces – it is Accessible, Affordable, Adaptive and Attractive for those who want to build their own future. STEPapp's Board syllabus is mapped to the curriculum of school boards such as ICSE and CBSE. Students can get conceptual clarity in a fun way and their speed and accuracy is gauged. Parents and teachers get detailed reports of the student's progress, strengths and weaknesses via sms-email on a real time basis. STEPapp will make every child reach their fullest potential and convert them into a national asset who contributes to a better country and planet.”

    STEPapp has several prominent strategic alliance partners such as YES Bank as banking partner, PACE as knowledge partner, PayTM and iCollege as strategic alliance partners. STEPapp is energised by 400+ IITians and Doctors from PACE IIT & Medical Entrance Coaching.

     Mr. Amitabh Bachchan said, “The future of our country lies in the education of our children. Praveen Tyagi's STEPapp has made learning interesting and rewarding for students. Teaching children through games is an innovative step. My best wishes are with Mr. Tyagi's team comprising 400 IITians, who have helped create an innovation like STEPapp.”

     Mr. Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC Group, said, “India has tremendous growth and one of the pre-requisites to achieve this kind of growth is education. We have to make education acceptable and enjoyable for students by transforming teaching. The entire education system has to change towards storytelling and gamified learning. One more interesting way is to induce competitiveness in the game form where students compete with each other to solve the puzzle in quick time and then the winners get prizes or recognition. I wish Eduisfun and Praveen Tyagi best of luck in their endeavour.”

     Mr. Piyush Pandey, Chief Creative Officer Worldwide and Executive Chairman, India, Ogilvy Group, said, “Along with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, I am privileged and honoured to be part of the fantastic journey of a lifetime that Mr. Praveen Tyagi has embarked upon with STEPapp. I grew up in a middle class household with 9 siblings but our father gave us three things – education, exposure and opportunity. India has a fantastic tradition of good teachers but we are unfortunate that these teachers are not sufficient to cater to the large number of students. In many parts of India, bright students have to make a hard choice between the pen and the Parivar (family). STEPapp’s Student Talent Enhancement Program is a fantastic way of gamified education – inexpensive, friendly and futuristic."

    STEPapp has been successfully implemented in 16 Eklavya Model Residential Schools run by The Tribal Development Department under the Maharashtra Government. All Andheri Municipal Corporation Schools will run the STEPapp after running a trial with the students.

  • Network18 to air Mission Paani Special show on 2nd, 3rd November

    Network18 to air Mission Paani Special show on 2nd, 3rd November

    MUMBAI: Addressing the critical cause of water conservation with nation-wide Mission Paani campaign, Network18, India’s most diversified media conglomerate, along with Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign ambassador and Reckitt Benckiser world’s leading Hygiene Home products company with its premium brand Harpic, is set to make every Indian rethink their daily lives through a special episode – urging people to adopt water efficient lifestyles. Slated to air across the network on 2nd November, Saturday, and 3rd November, Sunday. The show will witness Amitabh Bachchan in a conversation with the Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks from across the country.

    The campaign was launched with a three-fold objective of creating awareness, urging people to take actions and building impactful solutions towards the cause. The special episode will see campaign ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan take a pledge towards water conservation from his home. The show features him discussing small yet impactful changes that can be inculcated in our homes such as adoption of water efficient lifestyles by reducing shower time, fixing leakages, turning off the tap while not in use and reusing waste water. The show will also see Mr Bachchan engage in an inspiring interaction with India’s Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks at his home ‘Pratiksha’. The show will shed light on how across India, ordinary citizens have made extraordinary strides towards the cause and acknowledge their unparalleled contribution in building a water-wise India.

    Featuring eminent activists and personalities; the team of Water Warriors or Jal Rakshaks comprises of Dr Ayyappa Masagi, Managing Director at the Water Literacy Foundation in India, Dr Sekhar Raghavan, RWH pioneer, Chennai's rain man, and the Director of Rain Centre, Tavishi Singh, a school and Kasturi Rangan, MR Co-Founder and CTO of Smarter Homes Technologies Pvt Ltd (WaterON). Through their tireless work the crusaders of water have inspired others to follow their lead and raise the water literacy quotient of the country. 

    Driving home the message of using the precious resource judiciously, Dr. Ayyappa Masagi has been instrumental in transforming the water-management systems in thirteen states across India. Known as Chennai’s “Rain Man”, Dr Sekhar Raghavan has been an avid activist of rainwater harvesting in Chennai for over two decades. Youngest of the lot, 16 year old Tavishi Singh, a student of Pathways School, Gurugram, she saw many homeless and abandoned people living in unhealthy conditions. She felt the need to provide them with basic amenities such as clean drinking water. She took her project to an online crowdfunding platform to raise funds along with the door-to-door campaign & was able collect Rs 1.78 lakh to build rainwater harvesting system for the old and destitute. Kasturi Rangan’s start-up seeks to reduce water wastage and bills, one house at a time.

    Talking about the dire need to conserve water, Amitabh Bachchan, said, “Our country is struggling with depleting groundwater tables, droughts and poor quality of drinking water. So many of our cities are threatened with impending water scarcity. I have decided to implement small but impactful steps towards water conservation within my daily life in my home. I would like to urge each one of you to start the water revolution from our homes by adopting a water-efficient and sustainable lifestyle.”

    Amitabh Bachchan officially launched the campaign in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon. Minister of Road transport and highways on 27th August 2019. The launch featured video interactions with Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Hon. Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Rally for Rivers, who connected via a Live Link to express their support to this cause.

    The campaign was launched internationally launch on the 29th of August by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Stockholm World Water Summit. The campaign has seen months of programming across 21 channels in 18 languages focusing on the national issue of water conservation. As it grows in momentum, the #MissionPaani campaign will reach out to different stakeholders across the country. To stay updated about the campaign and contribute your ideas and suggestions, follow #MissionPaani.

    Tune in to and News18 India to watch the show on Saturday, 2nd November at 12:30pm and on CNN News18 to watch the show on Saturday, 2nd November at 4.30pm. Show timings are listed below:

     

    Channel

    Date

    Time

    		  

    CNN News18

    2-Nov

    4:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    4:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News 18 India

    2-Nov

    12:30pm

    		  
     

     

    		  

    CNBC TV18

    2-Nov

    4:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    6pm

    		  

     

    		  

    CNBC Awaaz

    2-Nov

    6:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    6:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Punjab / Haryana / Himachal

    2-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    5:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand

    2-Nov

    1:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    1:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Bihar Jharkhand

    2-Nov

    6:30am

    		  

    3-Nov

    4:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Rajasthan

    2-Nov

    5:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    4:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh

    2-Nov

    5:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Urdu

    2-Nov

    12:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    5:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Kerala

    2-Nov

    9:30am

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Bangla

    2-Nov

    9:30am

    		  

    3-Nov

    9:30am

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Assam

    2-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Gujarati
     

    2-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Odia

    2-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Tamil Nadu

    2-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    3:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Lokmat

    2-Nov

    12:30pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    2:30pm

    		  

     

    		  

    News18 Kannada

    2-Nov

    11pm

    		  

    3-Nov

    11pm
  • Bikaji introduces Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

    Bikaji introduces Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Bikaji Foods International Ltd has signed megastar Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. The brand-new campaign, ‘Amitji Loves Bikaji’, focuses on making the brand the preferred snacking choice for today’s generation. Mr. Bachchan will feature as the face of the brand in a multimedia campaign which will go live from the first week of October 2019.

    While conceptualising the campaign the key task was to direct youth into re-subscribing to ethnic snacking and in the process make Bikaji the cool ethnic snack brand. The aim is to widen Bikaji’s appeal among millennials and customers who prefer modern snacks over ethnic ones. Bikaji wants millennials to rediscover and celebrate their culture through everyday snacking. Growing rapidly in India and globally under the leadership of CEO and Director Deepak Agarwal, Bikaji Foods International Ltd is also looking to expand into ready-to-eat and frozen foods.

    Agarwal said: “We are delighted to welcome the entertainment industry’s most revered personality, Amitabh Bachchan aka Amitji as we fondly call him. He has a massive fan following across geographies and has an identity beyond the films, ads that he does. His mass appeal and larger-than-life image will help expand Bikaji’s boundaries. Bikaji is a favourite among Indian snack lovers and we hope to enhance the brand appeal to young people across geographies and boost distributors’ confidence.”

    Sagar Parikh, Managing Partner, 3 Brothers & Fils, communication partners, which executed the campaign and has been associated with the brand for more than three decades, said: ‘‘The campaign encourages the youth to enjoy ethnic snacking. Amitji is loved by the masses and the classes, so he’s the best choice to deliver the message in a fun and entertaining way.”

    The TVC shows Amitabh Bachchan enjoying Bikaji’s ethnic Indian snacks wherever he goes. His love for Indian snacks is underscored not just while travelling but also how he commits to sharing his Bikaji snack while, relishing every bit of it alone. He enjoys cricket or tea only with Bikaji and ends up being like a teenager when it comes to excuses to not share his Bikaji. The ‘Amitji Loves Bikaji’ campaign will help the brand expand its distribution network and encourage new channel partners to come on board and connect with the brand.

  • Welspun launches campaign – Badal Dalo; ropes in Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

    Welspun launches campaign – Badal Dalo; ropes in Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Welspun India Ltd’s leading domestic brand, Welspun, has announced the launch of its new campaign ‘Badal Dalo’, which aims to change existing, deep-seated perceptions about the home linen and flooring categories. Leading this campaign is the Bollywood legend, Amitabh Bachchan, who is roped in as the brand ambassador for Welspun.

    The ‘Badal Dalo’ campaign highlights Welspun’s home linen products that aim to challenge the status quo, and offer easy and convenient solutions at affordable prices. Despite facing problems like colour bleeding of bed linen, roughness of towels post wash, tedious washing process, etc., consumers are habituated to buying the same products and are often faced with the challenge of having access to a reliable solution at a great value. Taking cognizance of the need to engage with consumers to change their entrenched behavioural patterns, Welspun has launched this campaign, whereby it urges people to evolve their views and purchase habits.

    Conceptualised by Leo Burnett, the campaign kick-starts with two TVCs starring Amitabh Bachchan. In the first TVC, he plays a dual role. It displays the first character stepping out of a shower in a thin bathrobe and holding an ordinary towel, still drenched. The second, more geeky character switches on multiple fans to completely dry him up while simultaneously saying that one simply needs to change their towel to Welspun which is 100 per cent cotton, supersoft and long-lasting with a ‘Jaldi Sukhe, Jaldi Sukhaye’ promise. The second TVC for Welspun’s innovative product, the reversible bedsheet is slated to go live in the last week of September.

    Commenting on the campaign Welspun India Ltd joint managing director and CEO Dipali Goenka said, “Welspun, with its proclivity to innovate, aims to revolutionize the home textiles and floorings industry with its unique products. Through our ‘Badal Dalo’ campaign, we are trying to break various pre-conceived notions and myths that plague the categories, and drive behavioural change.”

    “We are delighted to bring Amitabh Bachchan on board as the brand ambassador. As we plan to create deep inroads within the Indian markets, we are confident that our association with the Bollywood stalwart, with his credibility and vast consumer reach and connect, will help drive greater brand resonance thereby fortifying the brand’s foothold in the industry.”

    Speaking on the campaign, Leo Burnett South Asia managing director india and chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das said, “The ‘Badal Dalo’ campaign is based on the insight that currently in the value driven home textile market there is a huge gap between pricing and quality. With their latest offering, Welspun plans to make quality home textile affordable and available to the mass market. When it comes to trust and credibility, few personalities have as much clout as Amitabh Bachchan making him the perfect fit for our campaign and helping us connect with a wider audience.”

    The campaign will be running across television, print, digital platforms and OOH to connect with customers across the country. After achieving success globally, the home textile leader is now focusing on the domestic market by making quality products equipped with the latest technological advancements, beginning with the Quik Dry Towels and Reversible bed sheets. With these innovative products, the textile major will fight the myths and habits that cloud the two categories and bring the utmost value to all the customers.

  • Flipkart celebrates The Big Billion Days with the biggest celebrities in the country, mirroring consumer excitement

    Flipkart celebrates The Big Billion Days with the biggest celebrities in the country, mirroring consumer excitement

    Bangalore: Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, has unveiled its star-studded advertising campaign ahead of the much-awaited Big Billion Days. Said to be the biggest event till date, Flipkart has collaborated with celebrities and influencers across the spectrum to reach out to and engage with a diverse set of consumers. Donning the hats of a policeman, journalist, politician and the likes, India’s most-loved celebrities Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Dulquer Salman, Mahesh Babu and Puneeth Rajkumar will be seen in engaging avatars that consumers can completely relate to.

    In a series of ads across television, radio and digital platforms, some of  India’s most-loved celebrities will bring alive the central theme of India preparing for The Big Billion Days. Across platforms, the campaign, conceived by Lowe Lintas, will reach out to over 300 million consumers in over 100 cities through 100+ television commercials, 3 million digital assets and strategic collaborations with various digital platforms. To take the celebrity engagements a notch higher, Flipkart has also collaborated with hip hop icon Badshah, to create an exclusive anthem, which will be available to listeners across leading music channels and platforms.

    Speaking about this unique campaign, Vikas Gupta, Vice President and Head of Marketing at Flipkart, said, “As a homegrown company, we understand the pulse of India’s diverse consumers and aim to engage with them at every touch point, thereby building an ecosystem. With an integrated and inclusive approach to our latest campaign, we are collaborating with a special set of celebrities and influencers, who we believe will drive more people to our platform and enable them to experience The Big Billion Days. Each celebrity will be seen in a unique avatar which we believe will connect well with our consumers across the country, as we bring Bharat and India closer this festive season.”

    Sagar Kapoor, Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas said, “For this year's shopping carnival, Big Billion Days, we used celebrities in a different manner. They are all protagonists in their respective stories who are so excited about the sale that they are all preparing for it well in advance. It's a humorous take where they are mirroring the excitement of the consumer that this online shopping event creates in the country."

    To support its goal of driving and sustaining more users this festive season, Flipkart has recently introduced a simplified Hindi user interface, a unique rewards system, credit-backed payments system and also offers the widest selection of brands and products across categories. Since its inception in 2014, Big Billion Days has revolutionized the way Indians shop.

    Links to the ads: film 1, film 2 and film 3,

        Creative agency: Lowe Lintas
        Agency team: Hari Krishnan, Anand Narayan
        Creative team: Sagar Kapoor, Kapil Mishra, Jigisha Dalal, Arpan Bhattacharyya, Swapna Patkar
        Account management: Bhupender Agarwal, Arunabho Sen, Udisha P Singh, Sakhi Ray, Shiksha Sinha
        Planning: Ravi Ramanujan
        DoP: Anil Mehta
        Production House: Ramesh Deo Production
        Director: Abhinay Deo

  • Network18, Amitabh Bachchan and Reckitt Benckiser join hands for #MissionPaani to lead a nationwide water conservation campaign

    Network18, Amitabh Bachchan and Reckitt Benckiser join hands for #MissionPaani to lead a nationwide water conservation campaign

    New Delhi: One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is the day when the taps run dry. While many grapple with the basic need for cooking, washing, drinking and even farming, there are many more facing the calamities of climate, as floods and lashing storms ravage home & landscapes. Managing this water crisis is today an alarmingly high global concern. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal during his Independence Day address to come together for the critical cause of water conservation with ‘JalAndolan’, Network18, India’s most diversified media conglomerate, along with Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign ambassador and Reckitt Benckiser world’s leading Hygiene Home products company with its premium brand Harpic, today announced a partnership for #MissionPaani, which will be a nation-wide campaign.

    At a media conference held in Mumbai today, Amitabh Bachchan officially launched the campaign in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon. Minister of Road transport and highways. The launch also featured video interactions with Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister, Maharashtra, ShriYogi Adityanath, Hon. Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Sadh guru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder, Rally for Rivers, who connected Via a Live Link to express their support to this cause.
     
    With a three-fold objective, #MissionPaani will focus on:

    A.    KNOW – Raise Awareness, making it a mass movement- JAN ANDOLAN
    B.    ACT – Take the Jal Pratigya (pledge to conserve water)
    C.    IMPACT – Highlight Innovative Pilot Projects with Measurable Change

    Speaking about the campaign, legendary actor and Campaign Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan said, "While some of us have been fortunate enough to have water to fulfil all of our needs, there are close to 600 million people in our country who face water scarcity every day. Keeping that in mind, I believe that it is our duty and responsibility to preserve water for these people as well as our future generations. It is the small changes that will lead to a national transformation, which can also lead to impactful results. With this campaign, each of us should pledge our support the cause of water conservation in the country.”

    Expressing his views on this initiative, Mr. Narasimhan Eswar, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, RB Hygiene & Home, South Asia at RB, said, “In the last few years, we have focused on creating successful sanitation programs following the GOI’s initiative on Swachh Bharat aimed at ensuring access to clean and hygienic sanitation to all. Now, with both water and sanitation being topmost priorities, we are delighted to partner with Network18 on the Mission to Save water. It is crucial to take responsibility and take a step in the right direction towards water conservation. We are humbled to play our part in this major program to not only heighten awareness around the issue but also enable lasting behavior change focused on saving water so we all make every drop count.”

    Speaking about Mission Paani, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways as well as Medium/Small Enterprises said, “The government has undertaken various measures to conserve water. The first step towards that is raising awareness among the people of the nation about intelligently putting to use available water and devise action-based solutions that can further aid us in water conservation. Among the initiatives, we can start by treating drainage water before releasing it into the ocean thereby lowering the hazardous consequences of damaging the environment. This campaign is an excellent platform to start impending conservation on the importance of harvesting and conserving water."

    Adding to the views regarding Mission Paani, ShriDevendraFadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said, “I would like to extend my gratitude to Network18 for undertaking the initiative of raising awareness regarding the cause of water conservation. PM Narendra Modi has prioritized water crisis and has urged each of us to be careful and judicious with water usage. I believe with the onset of climate change, it is imperative to take actions that will lead to building a positive impact towards the cause. It is an alarming situation for the entire nation which is why Maharashtra has implemented large scale water conservation solutions. By exploring scientific approach, at present, 19,000 villages follow strict water budgeting and have invented water conservation structures that can also be replicated in other parts of the state. As a result, even during drought and extreme conditions we have some relief. Through the campaign, I would urge everyone to become a water warrior and conserve water for us as well as for our future generations."

    Speaking about the campaign and the undertakings of the UP Government towards the cause, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said, “As a nation, we should be thankful to PM Narendra Modi for urging people towards a noble cause like ‘Water Conservation’. It is extremely important for us, to come together as a nation to work towards a sustainable future. We should encourage homes and individuals to adopt rainwater harvesting and making small changes in their daily lives to see the change. In our home state Uttar Pradesh, we have implemented numerous changes both at the governmental as well as the individual level, encouraging our state’s population to take up rainwater harvesting, tree plantation drives and judicious use of water. We have also initiated a drive to revive 10 rivers in our state and hope that we see fruitful results soon. Since the water scarcity in UP in 2017, till today, our state has seen a massive transformation in the availability of water for its populace.”

    Sharing his thoughts about the campaign and the cause, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti said, "I am so thankful and glad that a media giant company such as Network18 has undertaken this initiative to assist in PM Narendra Modi in our nation's mission to conserve water. As we are heading towards a water crisis, it is of paramount importance to come together and preserve water for the coming generations. It should be the responsibility of each one of us to ensure that we conserve water through inculcating small changes in our daily lives. By re-use and re-cycle we can start a people movement that will ensure a bright future for all of us."

    SukhleenAneja, CMO, Marketing Director, RB Hygiene & Home, South Asia at RB, said,“For over 100 years, Harpic has been committed to providing access to clean and hygienic sanitation solutions across the world. We are extremely proud and delighted to partner with NW 18 on co-creating ‘Mission Paani’ – A solution-oriented partnership to spread awareness, action and widespread impact towards conservation of water and improvement of sanitation in India. Standing with purposeful marketing and creating business with purpose is a matter of pride for all of us at RB and we are hoping to make a small start by raising awareness about the growing need and importance of water conservation to save our future.

    Priyanka Kaul, President, Marketing & CEO, Forbes India at Network18 Group said, “We believe that as a country, India needs to fundamentally change the way we use and conserve water. With PM Modi’s appeal, we hope water conservation will become a people’s movement. ‘Harpic News 18 Mission Paani’ is our initiative to help build this Jal Andolan.  We are very grateful to Mr Amitabh Bachchan for partnering with us and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon. Minister of Jal Shakti for lending his support to the campaign.”

    SaidAnamika Mehta, COO of IPG Media-brands,India said, “RB India over the past 5 years has been leading the charge in weaving its brands with the country’s agenda to positively impact the lives of millions around. Extremely proud and excited about co-creating Mission Paani in partnership with Reckitt Benckiser and Network 18. A small step in driving awareness and consciousness about Water Conservation will result in giant strides for India overtime.“

    The campaign launch in India will be followed by an international launch on the 29th of August by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Stockholm World WaterSummit. The campaign will see months of programming across 21 channels in 18 languages focusing on the national issue of water conservation. As it grows in momentum, the #MissionPaani campaign will reach out to different stakeholders across the country.

    To stay updated about the campaign and contribute your ideas and suggestions, follow #MissionPaani.

  • SPN India adds Happy India HD pack to its bouquet

    SPN India adds Happy India HD pack to its bouquet

    MUMBAI: Three months into the new TRAI tariff order regime and Sony Pictures Network has a plan to woo consumers. The broadcaster in its RIO mentioned a new ’Happy India HD’ pack.

    The pack costs Rs 70, which includes channels such as SET HD, Sab HD, Pal, Max HD, Max 2, Sony Wah, Mix, Sony Yay, Sony Aath, Sony Marathi, Sony BBC Earth HD and Ten 3 HD.

    Apart from that, the broadcaster also has Happy India South, Platinum HD, Bangla Platinum HD bouquet and among others and these packs are rated for Rs 25, Rs 93, Rs 90, Rs 90 and Rs 90 respectively.

    SPN had also launched the campaign, #RishtaPakkaSamjho that featured the Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. The intent of this campaign, which was rolled out in phases, was to empower consumers with knowledge about various pricing options to choose from so that they can make an informed choice about which Sony channels they want to watch.

    SPN chief revenue officer distribution and head — sports Rajesh Kaul said, "The 45-seconder TV spot talks to the Sony Network viewers, urging them to choose from SPN's 'Happy India' pack, wherein the channel bouquets are simply packaged to allow the consumer to choose the best channel combinations (across genres) at the lowest possible price points. Our content has always brought joy to people and so will our 'Happy India' pack."

  • Dr. Fixit urges people ‘Don’t be an Octopus’

    Dr. Fixit urges people ‘Don’t be an Octopus’

    MUMBAI: Dr. Fixit, from the house of Pidilite, has unveiled its new TVC campaign featuring Amitabh Bachchan, along with an interesting set of aquatic creatures. The TVC, created by Ogilvy, urges homeowners to avoid taking a shortcut, while constructing their new home and engage in “total waterproofing” with Dr. Fixit, to avoid future cost and damage to their homes. The TVC shall be aired during IPL season, also on key GEC, news channels and digital platforms.

    Pidilite Industries chief marketing officer Vivek Sharma said, “Dr. Fixit is the market leader in the water-proofing segment and it continues to play the role of building the category for waterproofing. People constructing new homes may have the right intention of waterproofing but often make the mistake of leaving it to others or ignoring it or cutting corners. This campaign featuring humourous interplay between Mr Bachchan and aquatic creatures aims to nudge people in the right direction of seeking total waterproofing from Dr. Fixit. Humour works best in changing people’s attitude and even better with Mr Bachchan.”

    Commenting on the campaign, Ogilvy chief creative officer worldwide and executive chairman India Piyush Pandey said, “Humans normally don’t change their behaviour when given lots of information but do so with an insightful and emotional nudge. In this series of interesting TVCs, Ogilvy and Corcoise team have done a fantastic job in providing the nudge through unique aquatic characters and humour.  Mr Bachchan is at his best, as always.  It definitely makes a person sit up, take notice and reconsider their thinking on water-proofing.”

  • Kalyan Jewellers CMD honoured at 44th IAA World Congress

    Kalyan Jewellers CMD honoured at 44th IAA World Congress

    MUMBAI:  Kalyan Jewellers founder chairman and managing director TS Kalyanaraman has been honoured with a special award at the 44th IAA World Congress being held in Kochi. The award bestowed by the International Advertising Association recognises the contribution of Kalyanaraman in building Kalyan Jewellers as a global endearing brand and taking it from a regional brand in Kerala to a national and international brand.

    Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan who is also the national brand ambassador for Kalyan Jewellers graced the occasion to bestow the award to Kalyanaraman.

    Receiving the award, Kalyanaraman said, “It is an honour to receive this award recognising Kalyan Jewellers excellence in marketing communication. I would like to dedicate the award to our customers without whose support we could not have reached the stage we are at today! As we grew from a single store in Kerala to other states in India as well as abroad, the evolution from a local to a global brand was on a foundation of the core value of trust, and it is this trust that has resonated with our customers. While maintaining a consistent messaging, the brand communication has always focused on the customer in each region, with tastes and choices specific to the local culture. I believe it is this approach that has led us to succeed in markets as varied as the country we live in, as well as in markets abroad.”

    The award recognises the brand’s hyperlocal approach to advertising that is crafted specifically for the customer in each region. With brand ambassadors belonging to the states, taking the brand closer to the audiences and connecting in each region has been particularly successful. Regional celebrities like Nagarjuna, Prabhu, Shivraj Kumar and Manju Warrier, each with their unique fan following, enables the brand to build a strong bond with existing and potential customers. Of course, Amitabh Bachchan as the national brand ambassador is a strong push for the brand in the minds of the customers across the country. 

  • Govt launches ‘Darwaza Band-Part 2’ campaign to promote ODF sustainability

    Govt launches ‘Darwaza Band-Part 2’ campaign to promote ODF sustainability

    MUMBAI: The Swachh Bharat Mission  Grameen launched the 'Darwaza Band -Part 2' campaign focusing on sustaining the open defecation free status of villages across the country. Produced by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the campaign has been supported by the World Bank.

    The launch event took place in Mumbai and was attended by brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, Maharashtra minister for water supply and sanitation Babanrao Lonikar, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer and other dignitaries and representatives of the Mission's development partners.

    At the launch, World Bank manager—operations, New Delhi office Hisham Abdo Kahin spoke about World Bank’s longstanding association with the Swachh Bharat Mission. He said that India’s commitment and progress on improving sanitation were unprecedented in the world and that India had achieved in five years what many of the much smaller countries took over 40 years to achieve.

    The ads will be aired across various television channels over the next few weeks in various regional languages. There will also be radio jingles, outdoor publicity and digital campaigns aired under the campaign.