Mumbai: Apsara, the flagship brand of Hindustan Pencils, has launched its new brand identity and packaging design. This transformation aims to redefine Apsara’s market presence with a fresh look that reflects the brand’s commitment to quality and innovation.
Since its inception in the 1960s, Apsara has become a well-known name in stationery, elevating the simple pencil into a symbol of excellence. Through campaigns like “Extra Marks for Good Handwriting,” Apsara has set standards for students and professionals alike. Today, Apsara continues to innovate, demonstrating the impact of a well-designed product.
Apsara has consistently updated its logo and packaging to maintain relevance. The latest rebranding modernises the typeface while preserving its recognition. This update introduces a unified visual identity across all product lines, including art materials, gifts, and stationery, bringing consistency to the brand’s overall presentation.
In this revamp, a turquoise shade has been selected as the primary brand color, unifying Apsara’s diverse product range under a single identity. For the pencil and related categories, where Apsara has a strong legacy, subtle adjustments were made to preserve familiar visual elements and the existing color palette. The art materials and gifting segments now feature a bold yellow color scheme, improving shelf visibility and making it easier for customers and retailers to recognise the products.
“Our new packaging is a testament to our dedication to delight consumers with designs that are as exceptional as our products,” stated Hindustan Pencils president Pradip Ughade. “This revamp not only enhances the customer experience but also strengthens Apsara’s market presence across a broader spectrum of products.”
The agency behind the revamp – Almond Branding founder Shashwat Das added, “This transformation solidifies Apsara’s leadership in the market. The refreshed identity resonates with both our loyal customers and new audiences, reinforcing Apsara’s influence in the stationery and art materials markets.”
Apsara continues to set industry benchmarks with its innovative approach and unwavering commitment to quality. The refreshed branding embodies the company’s vision of evolving with market trends while upholding the core values that have defined Apsara for generations.
Mumbai: Hindustan Pencils, the driving force behind the iconic Nataraj and Apsara brands announced the debut of Nataraj Hidey Pencils on Republic Day. This revolutionary addition symbolises a heartfelt tribute to the brave men and women of our armed forces.
Meticulously crafted with precision and innovative design, these pencils distinguish themselves in the market with a unique feature – a camouflage design complemented by dark writing capabilities. Across utility wear, street fashion, and beyond, camo print’s enduring history and versatility seamlessly blend ruggedness with refinement, introducing surprise and creativity to familiar spaces.
As part of the launch, Nataraj is organising a captivating handwriting competition in schools across Mumbai aimed at actively engaging the students, creating enthusiasm around the distinctive qualities of Nataraj Hidey Pencils.
“We take immense pride in introducing Nataraj Hidey Pencils, a tribute to our armed forces and a testament to our commitment to innovation and quality,” said Hindustan Pencils president Pradip Ughade. “The exceptional combination of a camouflage design along with an emphasis on dark writing transforms these pencils into more than just writing tools.”
In addition to the handwriting competition, Nataraj recently showcased the product at the Paperworld exhibition as a soft launch. This strategic approach allowed the brand to present Nataraj Hidey Pencils to a global audience, gaining valuable insights in the process.
Mumbai: Hindustan Pencils along with their brands Apsara and Nataraj, in the cutthroat stationery industry. With a remarkable 65 year legacy, the brand revels in its relentless groundbreaking innovation. Since its inception in 1958, the company has demonstrated an enduring commitment to providing quality stationery products dominating six and a half decades by enriching lives through unapologetic creativity and unassailable education.
Nataraj and Apsara brands in the stationery industry secured their status through a combination of strategic factors. Foremost is their unwavering commitment to innovation, consistently introducing groundbreaking products that set industry benchmarks. The Apsara Absolute Pencil, with its unmatched strength, and the Apsara Matt Magic Pencil, with its sleek design and vibrant shavings, exemplify this commitment.
Moreover, both brands display a keen understanding of evolving consumer needs. Apsara eco-friendly initiatives, such as the Apsara Soyfun Crayons made from soybean oil, appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. The Apsara Disney Pencil Range establishes an emotional connection with young learners and Disney enthusiasts, broadening the brand appeal. Nataraj, with products like the Nataraj Fluro Pencils and the Nataraj Gelix Gel Pen, caters to a wide audience, including students and professionals, emphasising quality and performance. The Nataraj Left Hand Sharpener reflects inclusivity, addressing the specific needs of left-handed individuals.
In essence Nataraj and Apsara brands can be attributed to their blend of innovation, consumer understanding, eco-conscious initiatives, inclusivity, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions, all of which collectively contribute to their unrivalled position in the stationery industry.
Hindustan Pencils president Pradip Ughade said, “Over the past 65 years, Hindustan Pencils has been an integral part of consumers’ lives. We keep our consumers at the heart of everything we do. Our success and longevity can be attributed to our relentless focus on innovation, superior quality, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. We are immensely proud of our achievements and look forward to many more years of providing the best stationery solutions to our consumers.”
HPPL has seamlessly been able to blend innovation and design with continuous research and development through Natraj and Apsara’s product offerings further enhancing their position in industry.
For more information about Hindustan Pencils and its range of stationery products, visit www.hindustanpencils.com.
Mumbai: Hindustan Pencils, a pioneer and leader in the stationery industry and is also the proud home of renowned brands like Nataraj and Apsara. The brand is all set to infuse the festive spirits of Durga Pujo with an array of engaging activities and enticing product displays. The grand event is taking place from October 18th to 24th, 2023, at Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Kolkata, along with other prominent locations in Chennai and Bangalore.
In Kolkata, the celebrations will unfold at the Singhi Park Sarbojonin, Garihahat. Last year’s festivities witnessed a remarkable footfall of approximately 60 lakhs during the final four days, as reported by local law enforcement.
Hindustan Pencils has thoughtfully curated a thrilling lineup of activities to captivate visitors during the Durga Pujo festival.
Marvel Avengers selfie stand: Express your admiration for the most powerful superheroes on Earth by taking a selfie with the Marvel Avengers cut-out at the booth, posting it on your Facebook or Instagram profile, and tagging Apsara.
Product display: Hindustan Pencils will proudly showcase their diverse range of products, providing visitors with the opportunity to explore and acquire their favorite stationery items.
Brand love wall with Apsara Notebook: A creative display featuring an Apsara notebook page print wall will serve as a backdrop to the stall. Visitors can share their stationery-related memories or express their fondness for the brand on sticky notes, fostering a sense of community and nostalgia.
Free sampling: Each visitor will receive a complimentary Apsara Wondertip ball pen, allowing them to experience the superior quality of Hindustan Pencils’ products firsthand.
Matt-magic pencils shaving activities: A fun and exciting contest to engage children and introduce them with the magic of innovative product Matt Magic pencils. Participants will be provided with a Long Point Sharpener and a Matt Magic pencil for a fun-filled shaving contest, promoting skill and creativity. Winners will be provided with exciting prizes like Apsara Marvel Avengers power pack.
In addition to Kolkata, Hindustan Pencils is actively embracing the festivities in Chennai and Bangalore:
1. Chennai Event (October 20th to 24th): In Chennai, the organizers have arranged a drawing competition for four age groups – up to 6 years, 7-12 years, 13-18 years, and 19 years & above. Three winners from each group will be awarded Apsara Hampers. Hindustan Pencils’ product display stall will also be a highlight of this event.
Venue: South Madras Culture Association
Old No.11A / New. 43, CGE HOUSING COLONY, Beach Rd, T. K, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600041
2. Bangalore Event: Hindustan Pencils will be showcasing their extensive product range throughout the event.
Venue: Sorrba Durgotsob, Swarnamukhi Hospital Ground, Beside St. Peter School, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru 560102
The Hindustan Pencils is aiming to create a delightful and memorable experience for all visitors.
Mumbai: Hindustan Pencils Pvt Ltd (HPPL), the renowned Indian manufacturer of writing materials and stationery items, established in 1958, is taking all the essential steps to safeguard innocent people from fake job scams. In recent times, the company has observed with concern the proliferation of fraudulent job offers falsely attributed to its iconic brands Nataraj and Apsara.
These scammers are fraudulently impersonating HPPL’s legitimate representatives. They misuse HPPL’s registered office address as well as images of their personnel to cheat innocent and unsuspecting individuals into supposed work-from-home pencil packaging job opportunities through various digital media including Google, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and other online platforms. These misleading offers have led to unfortunate instances where innocent job seekers fall victim to scams, losing money and trust.
Being the pioneers in manufacturing pencils & other stationery items since the year 1958 through advanced technology, HPPL has never authorised any such employment offers of work-from-home pencil packing jobs. HPPL would like to bring to the notice of all job aspirants and the general public that recruitment in HPPL is carried out through a well-established selection process. It is clarified that no websites or agencies have been authorized by HPPL either to show vacancy positions on its site or to accept any application for recruitment on behalf of HPPL. They also refrain from requesting any payment from job seekers under any circumstances. Therefore, any job postings that require money in exchange for a work-from-home pencil packing job are false, fake & bogus.
Furthermore, all Nataraj and Apsara pencils are manufactured and packaged with state-of-the-art automated machinery in robust manufacturing units across India.
The company is committed to maintaining transparency and protecting the interests of its consumers and the public at large.
In response to these alarming developments, Hindustan Pencils has undertaken the following vital initiatives:
Legal Action: Hindustan Pencils has taken a strong stance against these scammers and filed a First Information Report (FIR) to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for propagating these fraudulent job offers.
Awareness Video: Dubbed & uploaded videos in 10 key Indian languages Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Maghai The company has circulated awareness videos through social media channels to educate the public about these fraudulent job scams. The video underscores the importance of verifying job offers through official channels to avoid falling prey to scams.
To date, HPPL is vigilant in tracking fake advertisements on Facebook and has successfully taken down 991 pages carrying fake pencils packing job work from home. They have also successfully taken down 11 pages carrying fake pencils packing job work from home on the IndiaMART portal.
Communication Outreach: Alongside law enforcement authorities, Hindustan Pencils is engaging with consumers across India through emails, telephone calls, 24 x 7 automated response on board line & consumer care number response through manually operated customer care executive to highlight the menace of the fraudulent packaging job scam to help protect public interests.
HPPL is also keeping a close eye on various advertisements published in print media under the classified column and communicating directly with publications disclaiming any such job offers and has also published cautionary notices in the newspaper where such fake job offer advertisements were published.
Over a span of time, even scammers have adapted and refined their methods of operation. Advertisements are now being disseminated without explicit mention of any particular brand name. On a regular basis, HPPL receives a multitude of inquiries, verification requests, and complaints via phone calls from individuals spanning the entire country. These calls come in through various contact points such as board numbers, consumer care lines, and toll-free numbers. HPPL representatives diligently caution each caller, emphasizing the importance of refraining from transferring any funds to these fraudulent entities under any circumstances. Callers are further advised to promptly report the incident to their local cybercrime authorities if they have, unfortunately, fallen victim to the scam and already made monetary transactions.
Hindustan Pencils president Pradip Ughade stated, “We take immense pride in our legacy of providing quality stationery products to our customers. It is disheartening to see the Nataraj and Apsara brand names being misused by scammers to exploit innocent job seekers. We are determined to put an end to these fraudulent activities and ensure that the public is well-informed and protected.”
Hindustan Pencils urges all individuals to exercise caution and diligence while seeking job opportunities online. The company advises job seekers to verify offers directly through the official website and authorized channels to avoid falling victim to scams.
MUMBAI: Barfi! has earned the distinction of being the first Indian movie to get a mainstream release in the Turkey market, in close to 40 screens on 10 May in the country.
Directed by Anurag Basu, the film has award winning performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D‘Cruz and music composed by Pritam.
"Turkey is a place where my grandfather has a great following even today. To see my film getting a wide theatrical release in the same country is a huge compliment. I am very excited about this," said Ranbir Kapoor – lead actor and winner of Best Actor award at Filmfare, Screen, Zee Cine, Apsara Producer‘s Guild awards for his role in Barfi!
"I am extremely happy that a story I have lived with over so many years, has in the last few months, received global recognition and now is geared towards greater opportunities including mainstream releases in non-traditional markets," says Anurag Basu, who has won several accolades at all major awards in the country for his direction of Barfi!.
"At UTV, great stories are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that a memorable story finds resonance wherever it travels and Barfi! is one such story, which has appealed to a global audience much like its success in India, North America, UK, Middle East. After its screening at the prestigious Busan and Marrakech film festival last year, the film continues to receive accolades from all quarters including the Grand Jury Award at the prestigious Okinawa Film Festival in Japan. Barfi! is the widest release for any Hindi film in Turkey and we are thrilled at the prospect of around 40 theatres showcasing Barfi! This is as wide a release as Hindi movies get in one of our largest markets like Middle East", said Disney UTV international distribution, syndication and Disney media distribution executive director Amrita Pandey.
Turkey‘s film exhibitors Cinemajestic Firat Dilbaz said, "The trailer was truly wonderful and the film an even more beautiful experience for us. For many years Turkish audiences have not watched Indian movies in theatres and we are excited to have a critical and commercial success such as Barfi! as the first on this scale. We are currently trailering the film in over 200 screens and the response from the audiences has been extremely encouraging. The story is truly heart-warming and we believe it will touch a chord with our audience irrespective of language and the location where it was created."
The film witnessed immense success at the box office as well as critical acclaim in the form of top honours at all key awards in India this year and is expected to echo the same success in newer markets. The film was India‘s official entry to the Academy Awards 2012.
