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Tag: Pratik Seal

  • L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India’s new film for Zee Sarthak challenges menstrual discrimination

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India’s new film for Zee Sarthak challenges menstrual discrimination

    Mumbai: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, part of Publicis Groupe India, has unveiled a thought-provoking film to celebrate the ‘Naali Bindu’ (Red Dot) initiative by Zee Sarthak, an Odia general entertainment channel.

    The initiative addresses the continued isolation faced by approximately 28 per cent of girls in India while having their periods, perpetuated by the misbelief that their shadows are impure. Using ‘Rabana Chhaya’, a dying traditional art form of shadow puppetry from Odisha, the film poignantly portrays the story of a girl subjected to this taboo and orthodox belief. Its powerful narrative aims to raise awareness and challenge menstrual discrimination.

    The use of shadow puppetry in the campaign is symbolic; it reflects the shadowy stigma surrounding menstruation and challenges the notion that something as natural as a girl’s shadow can be impure. Odisha is a unique state where menstruation is celebrated during the Raja Parba festival. This cultural backdrop provides a powerful contrast to prevailing societal beliefs. The film will be aired on both television and digital platforms.

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India’s ability to craft impactful narratives aligns perfectly with Zee Sarthak’s mission to challenge regressive norms. This campaign is a testament to the agency’s capacity to empower brands and communities, fostering deeper connections and promoting social progress.

    L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India chief creative officer Rohit Malkani said, “Our association with Zee Sarthak and Nali Bindu is something we hold very dear. Every year, the entire team including our client puts on their thinking caps a month or so before Raja Parba to create a piece of communication that endears, cuts through and most importantly undoes a social knot. This year we are super proud of a creative output that not only seeks to highlight a social prejudice but revives a traditional art form as well.”

    Zee Sarthak chief channel officer Pratik Seal added, “As a channel deeply rooted in cultural contexts, we understand the importance of addressing and challenging regressive norms. Our Naali Bindu initiative is an effort to eradicate menstrual discrimination and promote dignity and respect for young girls. By using Rabana Chhaya, we not only bring attention to a critical issue but also honour a traditional art form, thus driving impact and cultural significance.”

  • Budget ’17: Leading digital players hail sectoral boost

    Budget ’17: Leading digital players hail sectoral boost

    MUMBAI: “Digital economy helps in cleaning up the system, has transformational impact, energises private investment through low-cost credit, and benefits the common man,” asserted finance minister Arun Jaitley while announcing the Union Budget 2017 on 1 February. The budget 2017 emphasised a lot on the promotion of digital economy and strengthening the country’s cashless economy.

    Apart from launching two new schemes, Referral bonus for citizens and cashback for merchants, the government has also announced the launch of Aadhaar Pay. For the financial year 2017-18, the government targets around 2,500 crore digital transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhaar Pay, IMPS and debit cards.
    The government’s focus on growing the digital footprint in India, enhancing digital infrastructure, capping cash transactions and enabling Aadhaar Pay crucial measures were laudable. Let’s take a look at what the digital, payment solution, e-commerce platforms and payment wallets have to say about the Union Budget 2017:

    Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “Focus on digital infrastructure in the current budget is extremely encouraging. Greater reach of broadband and data services into urban and rural India will lead to an inclusive digital economy, encouraging more people to embrace digital, driving consumption and transactions across the medium. Better quality of data is also set to give an impetus to the digital entertainment industry lead by video which is certainly poised for massive growth.” 
    Payment Wallets: FreeCharge & Oxigen
    Oxigen Services CMD Pramod Saxena says: “The budget 2017-18 reflects the government’s continuous efforts to move towards less cash economy and bringing transparency in value chain through digital payments & GST. The budget has stressed upon the importance of strengthening India’s digital economy by bringing down cost of digital infrastructure. The acceleration of PoS infrastructure with 10 lakh PoS machines by March 2017 and  another 20 lakh Aadhaar-based PoS by September 2017 is a reflection of pushing digital payments at last mile by 300 per cent from the current base of 15 lakh PoS achieved so far in last 20 years. The decision to exempt duty on various POS machines will help in reducing cost of digital infrastructure implementation and benefit companies like Oxigen.” 
    FreeCharge CEO Govind Rajan shared: “FreeCharge welcomes the policy measures aimed at accelerating the adoption of a digital economy in India. The incentives for adoption of fintech equipment, expansion of digital infrastructure in under-served areas, Aadhar Pay for wider adoption by merchants and capping cash transactions at Rs 3 lakh, all together have kept the spotlight on building a less-cash India. In doing so, we will all help build a transparent and efficient future for our country”
    Payment Solution Platforms: AGS & Telr

    AGS Transact Technology group chief marketing officer Pratik Seal added, “The Union Budget 2017 has seen a host of incentives to boost India’s digital economy.  However, the budget has not been a very populous one with incentives for the startup fraternity per se. Reduction of income tax for companies with a turnover of Rs. 50 crore to 25 per cent is a welcome move, and will aid many emerging companies. The three-year tax holiday in the first seven years (extended from five years) since inception of startups is a measure which will provide some relief to them. 

    Furthermore, he added, the surcharge of 10 per cent levied on individuals earning between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore may impact startups in the process of scaling-up, to attract senior talent on  their usual cash and ESOP/stocks packages, as the taxation gap over and under the Rs. 1 crore mark is now practically non-existent. The instant gratification “of being in the Rs 1-cr plus CTC and still be in the sub Rs-1 crore tax bracket” part is effectively eliminated. One would rather demand a fatter, all-cash pay-cheque now. Unfortunately, no policies have been announced providing relief for the aspiring Indians in the Rs 10-30 lakh bracket while heavier taxation for Rs 50-100 lakh is also a serious “aspiration dampener!”

    Telr founder and CEO Sirish Kumar said, “The budget looks well-rounded and in favour of digital economy, something we had anticipated following the demonetisation drive. There are policies to take internet to rural masses, including Bharat Net and ensure security of same via BHIM app and setting up CERT. Furthermore, limiting cash transactions to three lakh is going to work in favour of payment solution-providers, having the provision to handle payments of bigger ticket sizes. The increased emphasis on AadhaarPay, tax exemptions on Iris scanners, MicroATMs and POS machines, in addition to iris scanners, is further going to democratise digital economy in India. Taxes have been lowered for more than 67 per cent of MSME. This will make these businesses more viable.”

    E-commerce Platforms: Craftsvilla & Snapdeal

    Craftsvilla co-founder Manoj Gupta added, “There is nothing big bang in this Union Budget. There is very little for startups and ecommerce. Abolition of FIPB would hopefully make FDI easier. I was looking forward for the Government to take more proactive actions on areas like handloom and tourism that has huge potential for India. I would have also loved it if they announced developing handloom parks or heritage parks across the country with better facilities.”
    Snapdeal Kunal Bahl co-founder & CEO Kunal Bahl said, “We commend the focus on growing the digital footprint in the country — enhancing digital infrastructure, capping cash transactions, reducing cash donations, using Adhaar Pay to enable more digital payments are significant measures. Initiatives make an impact when there is continued attention and the new announcements build on the demonetisation efforts. We also welcome the emphasis on skill development and technical education – this will enable India to successfully harness the demographic dividend. The attention to affordable housing, greater employment in rural areas are the right interventions to build a more equitable society.”

  • Budget ’17: Leading digital players hail sectoral boost

    Budget ’17: Leading digital players hail sectoral boost

    MUMBAI: “Digital economy helps in cleaning up the system, has transformational impact, energises private investment through low-cost credit, and benefits the common man,” asserted finance minister Arun Jaitley while announcing the Union Budget 2017 on 1 February. The budget 2017 emphasised a lot on the promotion of digital economy and strengthening the country’s cashless economy.

    Apart from launching two new schemes, Referral bonus for citizens and cashback for merchants, the government has also announced the launch of Aadhaar Pay. For the financial year 2017-18, the government targets around 2,500 crore digital transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhaar Pay, IMPS and debit cards.
    The government’s focus on growing the digital footprint in India, enhancing digital infrastructure, capping cash transactions and enabling Aadhaar Pay crucial measures were laudable. Let’s take a look at what the digital, payment solution, e-commerce platforms and payment wallets have to say about the Union Budget 2017:

    Hungama.com CEO Siddhartha Roy said, “Focus on digital infrastructure in the current budget is extremely encouraging. Greater reach of broadband and data services into urban and rural India will lead to an inclusive digital economy, encouraging more people to embrace digital, driving consumption and transactions across the medium. Better quality of data is also set to give an impetus to the digital entertainment industry lead by video which is certainly poised for massive growth.” 
    Payment Wallets: FreeCharge & Oxigen
    Oxigen Services CMD Pramod Saxena says: “The budget 2017-18 reflects the government’s continuous efforts to move towards less cash economy and bringing transparency in value chain through digital payments & GST. The budget has stressed upon the importance of strengthening India’s digital economy by bringing down cost of digital infrastructure. The acceleration of PoS infrastructure with 10 lakh PoS machines by March 2017 and  another 20 lakh Aadhaar-based PoS by September 2017 is a reflection of pushing digital payments at last mile by 300 per cent from the current base of 15 lakh PoS achieved so far in last 20 years. The decision to exempt duty on various POS machines will help in reducing cost of digital infrastructure implementation and benefit companies like Oxigen.” 
    FreeCharge CEO Govind Rajan shared: “FreeCharge welcomes the policy measures aimed at accelerating the adoption of a digital economy in India. The incentives for adoption of fintech equipment, expansion of digital infrastructure in under-served areas, Aadhar Pay for wider adoption by merchants and capping cash transactions at Rs 3 lakh, all together have kept the spotlight on building a less-cash India. In doing so, we will all help build a transparent and efficient future for our country”
    Payment Solution Platforms: AGS & Telr

    AGS Transact Technology group chief marketing officer Pratik Seal added, “The Union Budget 2017 has seen a host of incentives to boost India’s digital economy.  However, the budget has not been a very populous one with incentives for the startup fraternity per se. Reduction of income tax for companies with a turnover of Rs. 50 crore to 25 per cent is a welcome move, and will aid many emerging companies. The three-year tax holiday in the first seven years (extended from five years) since inception of startups is a measure which will provide some relief to them. 

    Furthermore, he added, the surcharge of 10 per cent levied on individuals earning between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore may impact startups in the process of scaling-up, to attract senior talent on  their usual cash and ESOP/stocks packages, as the taxation gap over and under the Rs. 1 crore mark is now practically non-existent. The instant gratification “of being in the Rs 1-cr plus CTC and still be in the sub Rs-1 crore tax bracket” part is effectively eliminated. One would rather demand a fatter, all-cash pay-cheque now. Unfortunately, no policies have been announced providing relief for the aspiring Indians in the Rs 10-30 lakh bracket while heavier taxation for Rs 50-100 lakh is also a serious “aspiration dampener!”

    Telr founder and CEO Sirish Kumar said, “The budget looks well-rounded and in favour of digital economy, something we had anticipated following the demonetisation drive. There are policies to take internet to rural masses, including Bharat Net and ensure security of same via BHIM app and setting up CERT. Furthermore, limiting cash transactions to three lakh is going to work in favour of payment solution-providers, having the provision to handle payments of bigger ticket sizes. The increased emphasis on AadhaarPay, tax exemptions on Iris scanners, MicroATMs and POS machines, in addition to iris scanners, is further going to democratise digital economy in India. Taxes have been lowered for more than 67 per cent of MSME. This will make these businesses more viable.”

    E-commerce Platforms: Craftsvilla & Snapdeal

    Craftsvilla co-founder Manoj Gupta added, “There is nothing big bang in this Union Budget. There is very little for startups and ecommerce. Abolition of FIPB would hopefully make FDI easier. I was looking forward for the Government to take more proactive actions on areas like handloom and tourism that has huge potential for India. I would have also loved it if they announced developing handloom parks or heritage parks across the country with better facilities.”
    Snapdeal Kunal Bahl co-founder & CEO Kunal Bahl said, “We commend the focus on growing the digital footprint in the country — enhancing digital infrastructure, capping cash transactions, reducing cash donations, using Adhaar Pay to enable more digital payments are significant measures. Initiatives make an impact when there is continued attention and the new announcements build on the demonetisation efforts. We also welcome the emphasis on skill development and technical education – this will enable India to successfully harness the demographic dividend. The attention to affordable housing, greater employment in rural areas are the right interventions to build a more equitable society.”

  • Housing.com sweeps five awards for ‘Look Up’ campaign

    Housing.com sweeps five awards for ‘Look Up’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Housing.com bagged five awards at the National Award for Marketing Excellence hosted by CMO Asia. It won in five key categories including ‘Brand Excellence in e-commerce and Internet Business Sector,’ ‘Emerging Brand Award’ and ‘Best New Brand, Product and Service Launch.’

     

    Recognizing the success for Housing.com’s marketing campaign ‘Look Up,’ the company was also awarded ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ and ‘Best Use of Social Media.’

     

    National Award for Marketing Excellence recognises organisations and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success for innovative and effective marketing practices. The platform awards marketers who have pushed their brands to measured success through sound and innovative marketing strategies.

     

    Housing.com chief marketing officer Pratik Seal said, “We are thrilled with the accolades and recognition Housing.com’s ambitious ‘Look Up’ campaign has received. The team zealously worked hard to not only push limits in terms of ideation but also executing this mammoth campaign. CMO Asia Awards is known to recognize excellence in marketing; it is a matter of great pride that our first brand campaign has been well received by the marketing fraternity.”

  • Housing unveils its new symbol of Optimism

    Housing unveils its new symbol of Optimism

    MUMBAI:  Housing.com, an online real estate platform today unveiled its new and refreshing brand identity with a new logo along with a revamped website and technologically superior mobile application.  It will enhance consumer experience and will set a new benchmark for the online real estate market.

     

    Summed up in two words ‘Look Up’, Housing’s new futuristic logo looks like an upward arrow, with sharp outer edges that direct towards the future, while the softer edges symbolize a nurturing shelter. The ‘Look Up’ symbol is elegantly embedded into the letter ‘H’ of the Housing logotype. These shared characteristics successfully unite to form the brandmark.

                   

    In its new avatar, Housing’s new vibrant colour palette in the new logo and wordmark is based on four key brand colours that make life look brighter and embody the spirit of optimism. Christened as Housing Pink, Yellow, Purple and Green, the new brand colours play a key role in the new identity, personifying Housing as optimistic, game-changing and uncompromising.

     

    To launch Housing’s new brand identity, the company partnered with Moving Brands, a global creative company – considered to be among the best independent creative outfits working with the world’s best brands. Over the last 12 months, their London studio worked tirelessly with the Housing team to ideate and develop the new brand identity that reflects Housing’s global vision.

     

    Commenting on the new brand identity, Housing CEO and co-founder Rahul Yadav said that its aim and belief is to innovate and use technology to make things simpler, quicker and clearer.

     

    “We don’t stop at success, we strive to improve, explore and ask ourselves ‘what next?’ so we can set new benchmarks, change the game and make every customer experience 10X. In short, we Out See, Out Think and Out Do for our customers so that they can look up to us and to a better life. Our new identity is a reflection of this belief system. Life is better when you Look Up.”

     

    According to Housing CMO Pratik Seal the company wants to make its consumer’s journey a memorable, enjoyable and an unforgettable experience. “When a consumer decides to buy, sell, rent or invest; facts, figures, product and logic play an important part. But the real story is an emotional one. Finding a home not just impact consumer’s life but also lives of those around him; this isn’t boring stuff, this is the stuff of life. ‘Look up’ is the essence of our optimistic Vision.”

     

    Housing came at a time when consumer was dealing with too many challenges while buying or renting a house. It was with the objective of helping consumers overcome these hurdles, that Housing created a revolutionary map-based platform with 100 per cent verified listings and real photos. The company’s vision is to help the world to live with ambition and aspiration for a better life by changing everything to do with real estate.

  • Star Utsav to don a new look

    Star Utsav to don a new look

    MUMBAI: After more than a decade of its existence, Star Plus’ sibling channel, Star Utsav, is set for a revamp.

    Launched in mid 2004, the free-to-air channel, showcases reruns of the old and popular shows which first aired on Star Plus.

    Now to engage with the audiences a lot more, the channel will bear a new logo and packaging. Sources within the channel confirmed the news to indiantelevision.com and said, “The new look of the channel will go live on 12 January (Monday) at 7 pm and will be a treat to watch.”

    The channel is currently testing its new logo between 2 am – 3 am. The new identity will be parallel to Star’s other channels. The new logo will break out of the box with Star Utsav being written below the brighter and new Star logo.

    Another source close to the development revealed that a lot of research was done before finalising the new logo. “The channel went to smaller cities and towns to get an understanding on what the core TG wanted,” said the source.

    Sources further reveal that the revamp was in the pipeline for almost a year. “It has been in the planning stage since the channel got former Life OK marketing head Pratik Seal as its business head. But Seal’s stint did not last long with the channel as he decided to move on…” highlighted a source.  Seal was replaced by former Star India VP Jyotsna Viriyala as reported first by Indiantelevision.com.

    It can be recalled that in 2004, Star Plus was a paid channel and a number of cable operators did not run pay channels in smaller cities. Thus, with an aim to reach out to its desired TG in smaller cities and towns where audiences were not exposed to Star Plus, the network had launched Utsav.

    In the week 1 of TAM TV ratings, it delivered 90 million GVTs.

     

  • Pratik Seal quits Star India, joins Housing.com

    Pratik Seal quits Star India, joins Housing.com

    MUMBAI: It was in December 2013 when Star India management got on board a business head to bring alive its ‘dead’ general entertainment channel (GEC), Star Utsav.

    The channel launched in 2004, saw for the first time, a business head in Pratik Seal (former Life OK marketing head) in December 2013. However, the stint didn’t last for long as Seal decided to move on and join an e-commerce start-up, Housing.com, as chief marketing officer (CMO).

    When contacted, Seal confirmed the news to indiantelevision.com. “It’s been two months since I joined the new company.”

    Replacing him is former Star India vice president Jyotsna Viriyala, who has been elevated to the business head of the channel. She has over 15 years of work experience spanning advertising, marketing and broadcast in the areas of media planning and buying, research, marketing, business strategy, operations and general management.

    When asked about his decision of joining an e-commerce space, Seal answered, “I hail from a marketing background. Be it Micromax where I helped set up the brand or jumping into Life OK which was again a start-up channel and now an e-commerce start-up. I like to build brands right from the scratch.”

    His agenda for Housing.com is to be the number one in the e-commerce and m-commerce space in the next year and a half and then expand it further to take it to the next level.

    Armed with 14 years of experience, he started his career in 1998 as an account executive with Basic4 Advertising. After spending two years with the company, he moved to Ties2Family.com as assistant manager, marketing and then to FCB Ulka as senior account executive.

    After spending about two years with the agency, Seal joined Lowe as senior brand services manager and within three years, went on to become senior brand services director.

    Viriyala, a student from Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), has worked in companies like Mindshare Fulcrum, JWT and Traveljini.com for the span of six years. She then moved to Star News as associate vice-president for the duration of two years. Her last stint before joining Star Utsav was as vice-president of Star India.

  • Life OK reshuffles its management team

    Life OK reshuffles its management team

    MUMBAI: Star Network’s second general entertainment channel, Life OK has been in news since it jumped to the number three spot in the TAM TV Ratings chart. The channel is looking at only growing bigger from here. And in an effort to achieve this, Life OK has made some managerial changes. 

     

    After Pratik Seal, who was working as Life OK’s marketing head, took over as Star Utsav business head, the vacant seat has now been taken by Sushma Rajesh.

     

    Rajesh, who has been working with the channel as head of programming for a year now, will now take charge as the VP marketing. Prior to this, she was working on channel strategy at Star India.

     

    Replacing Rajesh is Yuvraj Bhattacharya who was earlier the creative director with the channel and will now be heading the programming team.

     

    The channel launched in 2011, is known for its differentiated content and is gearing up to strengthen its fiction programming in the coming months.

     

  • Star Utsav gets a new business head in Pratik Seal

    Star Utsav gets a new business head in Pratik Seal

    MUMBAI: There’s some change at the top in the Star group of channels. Star Utsav, a sister channel of Star Plus, has got a new business head. Pratik Seal, who was working as Star Network’s second general entertainment channel (GEC), Life OK’s marketing head, will now take up the role of Star Utsav’s business head.

    Seal, who has already started working in the new role since last week, is reporting to Star Plus general manager Gaurav Banerjee. An official announcement about this would be made soon.

    Prior to joining Star Network, Seal was heading the marketing functions at Micromax. He has a total experience of 15 years.

    Seal, who started his career in 1998, has experience in brand management, strategic planning, advertising and communication, key account management, product development insights, media planning, event management and public relations.

     

    Seal started as an account executive with Basic4 Advertising. After spending two years with the company, he moved to Ties2Family.com as an assistant manager, marketing and then worked as senior account executive with FCB Ulka.

    After spending about two years with FCB Ulka, Seal joined Lowe Lintas as a senior brand services manager. Within three years, he was promoted to the position of senior brand services director. He later joined Vodafone as senior manager, marketing in April 2006. In December 2007, he joined as the senior manager – marketing in Samsung and then in Micromax as marketing head in April, 2010.

  • Star Utsav gets a new business head in Pratik Seal

    Star Utsav gets a new business head in Pratik Seal

    MUMBAI: There’s some change at the top in the Star group of channels. Star Utsav, a sister channel of Star Plus, has got a new business head. Pratik Seal, who was working as Star Network’s second general entertainment channel (GEC), Life OK’s marketing head, will now take up the role of Star Utsav’s business head.

     

    Seal, who has already started working in the new role since last week, is reporting to Star Plus general manager Gaurav Banerjee. An official announcement about this would be made soon.

     

    Prior to joining Star Network, Seal was heading the marketing functions at Micromax. He has a total experience of 15 years.

     

    Seal, who started his career in 1998, has experience in brand management, strategic planning, advertising and communication, key account management, product development insights, media planning, event management and public relations.

     

    Seal started as an account executive with Basic4 Advertising. After spending two years with the company, he moved to Ties2Family.com as an assistant manager, marketing and then worked as senior account executive with FCB Ulka.

     

    After spending about two years with FCB Ulka, Seal joined Lowe Lintas as a senior brand services manager. Within three years, he was promoted to the position of senior brand services director. He later joined Vodafone as senior manager, marketing in April 2006. In December 2007, he joined as the senior manager – marketing in Samsung and then in Micromax as marketing head in April, 2010.