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Tag: Rahul Dravid

  • Farmley: When Dravid met Deewar, pop culture met nostalgia

    Farmley: When Dravid met Deewar, pop culture met nostalgia

    Mumbai: Cinema and cricket, the two lifebloods of our country, are often seen as separate realms when it comes to advertisements. Movie stars typically embody their film characters and styles, while cricketers exude their on-field charisma on-screen.

    The new Farmley ad films featuring Rahul Dravid have beautifully merged these two worlds – Cricket and Cinema. Famously known as ‘The Wall’ in the cricketing world, Dravid steps into the shoes of an iconic character from the movie ‘Deewar.’ The connection between ‘The Wall’ and ‘Deewar’ has been conveyed through humorous spoofs and Dravid’s charm in these two films, launched by Farmley and Talented.Agency, in collaboration with production house Momo Media.

    Although the films garnered attention and established a link with an iconic character, it’s Dravid’s appearance in boot-cut trousers, a deep blue shirt, and sleek black hair against a rustic backdrop that made these films all the more entertaining.

    The film even adds a humorous twist and pays homage to a popular dialogue we all remember: “Mere paas maa hai” from the movie Deewar.

    “We knew we had to achieve two things – create a quintessential Rahul Dravid ad and make it unbelievably hilarious.’The Wall’ had been on our minds for a while, but it was the craftsmanship, acting, and dialogues that made all the difference,” says Talented founding partner Prashant Gopalakrishnan. Farmley head of marketing Aman Gupta shares, “We didn’t want to use Rahul as a prop in the end slate like most celebrity-led films. We really wanted to bring his acting, his personality, and wit to the screens.”

    Over the years, we’ve seen ads attempting to stand out by infusing a personal touch into celebrity endorsements. However, by featuring Dravid, Farmley and Talented go beyond using just one celebrity and instead harness the power of a celebrity and an iconic character, bringing twice the amount of recall to the films.

    “We wanted to show that Rahul can embody a character that was exactly opposite to his own personality, and can still give a terrific performance,” said Gopalakrishnan.

    We have seen Dravid become ad land’s favourite from time to time, but we haven’t seen such contrast in his character and the role he has played in these newest films. As the cricket fever takes its pace with the Asia Cup and the World Cup, we will have an influx of ads that will be centric to cricket and popular culture, but breaking the clutter is easier said than done.

    But when you harp on the films that millennials grew up with featuring one of the most loved sports persons of their time, you’re sure to get a hit of nostalgia and humour in between the match breaks.

    ‘The Wall’ becoming ‘Deewar’ will be a treat to see when it hits the screen during this Asia Cup and World Cup.

  • BPCL announces onboards Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    BPCL announces onboards Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Bharat Petroleum, the second largest Indian Oil marketing company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, has unveiled, cricketing legend and current head coach of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid as its new brand ambassador.

    This incredible partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity, and excellence. Dravid’s remarkable sportsmanship, role model status, integrity, dependability and trustworthiness perfectly reflect the values we stand for and make him the perfect fit for brand BPCL.

    Dravid will endorse BPCL’s iconic Pure for Sure initiative and range of MAK lubricants.

    Welcoming Dravid, BPCL C&MD G. Krishnakumar said, ‘We are delighted to welcome Rahul Dravid to BPCL family. As one of the greatest cricketers of our time, he stood out not only for his exemplary batting skills but also his strong integrity and dependability. An icon who took Indian cricket to new heights, Rahul truly epitomizes our values of trust, integrity, ethics, service and consistency. His association with BPCL will only serve to emphasise our promise of quality and dependability to consumers across the country.’

    Speaking on this legendary partnership, Dravid said, “I am honoured to be associated with BPCL, which is one of India’s most iconic companies with a rich legacy of innovation and integrity. Today, brands like Pure For Sure and MAK Lubricants are a byword for trust and dependability and an integral part of every Indian’s life. I can’t think of a better brand to be associated with and look forward to working with the company as they embark on a new chapter in their journey of growth and success.”

    With a heritage steeped in upholding integrity and dependability, BPCL has consistently distinguished itself as an industry leader. Amidst the dynamic landscape of competition, the company’s steadfast commitment to these values has consistently set it apart. The introduction of Dravid as the face of BPCL reaffirms this commitment, reflecting a shared ethos of maintaining the highest standards of integrity and reliability.

  • Former cricketer Rahul Dravid to lead Abbott’s #MusclesMatter campaign

    Former cricketer Rahul Dravid to lead Abbott’s #MusclesMatter campaign

    MUMBAI: It’s no secret that we all age. But, with aging can come muscle loss, which can directly impact mobility, strength, energy and immune health. Starting at age 40, adults can lose up to 8 per cent of their muscle mass per decade, and this rate can double after the age of 70. To help adults stay strong and active, global healthcare company Abbott, announced the launch of Ensure with HMB – a new formulation to support Indians as they age.

    To raise awareness of age-related muscle loss and urge people to act early to strengthen their muscles, Abbott has partnered with Rahul Dravid, former Indian cricketer and captain of the Indian national team, for the #MusclesMatter campaign. The campaign, which includes a muscle age test and information, will roll-out across digital media platforms and target community engagement.

    ”Staying healthy and fit has been an important aspect of my life and I have always advocated for a wellness-first lifestyle. Many don’t understand the changes their body goes through with age or what their body needs when it comes to nutrition and exercise. Being a health-forward individual, I am happy to be part of the new Ensure #MusclesMatter campaign to showcase the benefits of complete, balanced nutrition for both muscle and bone health,” said Dravid.

    Four out of 10 Indians suffer from poor muscle health which can adversely affect health in multiple ways. Muscle loss can cause reduced energy levels and mobility, increased risk of falls or fractures, long-tail symptoms of infection and even slower recovery from illness or surgery. Proper nutrition and exercise can help reverse or prevent age-related muscle loss.

    The new Ensure is a science-based nutritional supplement formulated with 32 vital nutrients like high-quality protein, calcium and vitamin D to help improve muscle and bone strength. It now contains a special and exclusive ingredient – HMB or β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate – that helps counteract muscle loss and restore strength and energy.

    ”HMB or β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate acts as a gateway to help keep muscles in balance by slowing muscle breakdown and building muscle mass. HMB is naturally produced when the body breaks down leucine, an essential amino acid, and can be found in small amounts in foods like avocado, grapefruit, cauliflower etc. However, it is difficult to get enough HMB through food to support declining muscle health, which is why it is often suggested to consume nutrition supplements. Good nutrition and physical activity can help maintain muscle and bone health, which is important to support overall health,” said endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi.

    Why does muscle matter? Skeletal muscle accounts for about 40 per cent of total body weight and contains at least 50 per cent of all body proteins. Muscles are vital tissues for the functioning of the body and can often tell us how we are going to age, stay active and independent. In addition, to being important for everyday tasks like picking up things, opening a jar or getting up from a chair, healthy muscles are essential for organ function, skin health, immunity, and metabolism. Therefore, maintaining muscle mass with proper nutrition and exercise as we age is essential to prolonging a happier and healthier life.

    ”Aging is inevitable, but muscle loss and weakness doesn’t have to be. Muscle loss is the aging factor that’s rarely discussed, and few adults realise the impact our muscles have on our health as we age. Abbott has been pioneering research in science-based nutrition and by introducing the new Ensure with HMB, we hope to help Indian adults thrive,” said Abbott Nutrition managing director and general manager Swati Dalal.

  • InCred celebrates spirit of ‘83’ with new digital campaign

    InCred celebrates spirit of ‘83’ with new digital campaign

    Mumbai: InCred, a new age NBFC with a pan India presence, has announced a partnership with the Bollywood film “83.”  This partnership celebrates the incredible victory of confidence against all odds. 

    InCred has a long-standing association with cricket, especially with Rahul Dravid, its brand ambassador who is also the current head coach of team India. To add further excitement for cricket fans, InCred launched a digital campaign with Dravid in which he shared his personal memories of the historic world cup win. The campaign also urges people across the country to share their memories of the historic ‘83 win.

    “We went out late at night to have ice cream to celebrate the win, and for us as 10-year-olds being out late having ice cream was a big deal, but team India gave us that. The 1983 victory also changed the cricketing landscape in the country and put India on the map of world cricket,” Dravid said.

    Talking about the campaign, InCred founder and group CEO Bhupinder Singh said, “We are delighted to be associated with the movie 83, based on the momentous win that created history in the world of cricket. The movie has a close affinity with our company values and brand ethos which rides on passion, determination, and a sense of Confidence. We believe that’s what it takes to make an InCredible success story possible.”

    “Through our collaboration with InCred, we aim to reach out to all the cricket and movie fans,” said Reliance Entertainment head of marketing Sameer Chopra. “The personal memories of the historic win add more to the celebration of the movie and make it grand. It is a good opportunity for so many Indians to reminisce the memorable day.” 

    Film “83” is directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Deepika Padukone, Kabir Khan, Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sheetal Vinod Talwar, Reliance Entertainment and 83 Film Ltd.

  • Practo names Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    Practo names Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Integrated healthcare company Practo has named Rahul Dravid as its first brand ambassador with a campaign marking its foray into secondary care services. 

    Conceptualised by Spring Marketing Capital and directed by Shlok Sharma of Absolute Productions, the ad film demonstrates that Dravid’s values as a dependable sportsperson with a great command over his craft align with the brand’s vision of building access to quality healthcare.

    In the first phase of the ‘You Are in Safe Hands’ campaign, the celebrated cricketer talks about the secondary care procedures under Practo Care Surgeries (PCS) in the hands of its team of experts. It covers key aspects of the new service, including the PCS experience centers, expert surgeons, use of the latest surgical technology, and financial support.

    Seamless delivery of secondary care can be challenging given the lack of adequate support patients may get in terms of access to expert surgeons, right information, financial help and post-surgical support. Practo has attempted to find a solution to these with PCS, said the brand.

    “Dravid embodies Practo’s spirit of always being dependable and trustworthy. Built on this understanding, our association with him is a step towards improving awareness – and thereby access – to quality secondary healthcare,” said Practo executive vice president of marketing Srikanth Pinninti. “Given the superior surgical support that sportspeople routinely need, this endorsement conveys that the same is available to anyone today with PCS.”

    The ad film will air on digital media platforms – including Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, SonyLiv, Voot, MX Player, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram – across six key cities (Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad), where the ace cricketer will be seen promoting quality, convenient, and end-to-end delivery experience in secondary care with the help of expert surgeons on Practo.

    “Practo has reimagined modern healthcare in India with its comprehensive digital services and integrated offline experience with Practo Care, helping us with our secondary healthcare needs,” Dravid said. “The company has earned a name for itself as a leader in delivering patient-focused care – anytime, anywhere – and I’m glad to be associated with them.”

    “Surgeries are considered a stressor for most patients, even though they can offer a lot of relief,” said Spring Marketing Capital founder and creative partner Arun Iyer. “PCS combines easy access with medical expertise and state-of-the-art technology to offer patients an end-to-end experience.”

  • Piramal Realty ropes in Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    Piramal Realty ropes in Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Piramal Realty, the real estate arm of the Piramal Group, has roped in Rahul Dravid as a brand ambassador for its portfolio of residential projects in Mumbai comprising Piramal Mahalaxmi, Piramal Vaikunth, Piramal Revanta, Piramal Aranya, and Piramal Agastya, its state-of-the-art commercial project. 

     As part of its association, Dravid will collaborate with Piramal Realty, speaking directly to the brand’s customers with signature messages on the importance of home ownership. With his reliable and always positive approach on and off the field, the cricketer will be showcased embodying Piramal Realty’s core values of knowledge, action, care & impact, the brand stated. 

    The new association will be promoted with a 360-degree marketing campaign, including print, digital, outdoor, and social media, it added.

    Piramal Realty, chief operating officer, Gaurav Sawhney said, “Rahul Dravid embodies our philosophy of creating a positive impact on people’s lives. As a company, we are constantly evolving to provide a great customer experience that transcends from understanding consumer sentiments to creating developments that encourage community building. Having Rahul Dravid on board will help us enhance our purpose of ‘Doing well and Doing Good’, since he is not just an international sports icon, but also a source of inspiration for many around the world. Rahul Dravid’s qualities of being dependable, authentic, true, and impactful perfectly align with our brand values.”

    Commenting on the association, Rahul Dravid said, “A career in sports is impossible to manage without the support, guidance, and reassurance of family and friends. During tough times, and there always are, home is where we go. As an advocate for the brand, it gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Piramal Realty, which resonates with my own core belief of giving the best throughout the process.”

  • India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    India-Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series set to begin on 18 July

    Mumbai: The start date for India’s tour of Sri Lanka has been changed ahead of the limited overs series that features three ODIs and three T20s. The first ODI will now take place on 18 July and the tour will conclude with the third T20 on 29 July.

    The series, which was originally scheduled to begin from 13 July, had been postponed after Sri Lanka’s batting coach and data analyst tested positive for COVID-19.

    Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed its official broadcast partner SPN that in consultation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has decided to reschedule the dates of the ODI and T20I series as a precautionary measure aimed at providing more time for the Sri Lanka National Players and the Support Staff to complete required health protocols.

    Led by former India captain Rahul Dravid who will step in as coach, Shikhar Dhawan will captain the young side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the vice-captain in the three-match ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.

    Revised schedule of India tour of Sri Lanka is as below:

    1st ODI: 18 July
    2nd ODI: 20 July
    3rd ODI: 23 July
    1st T20I: 25 July
    2nd T20I: 27 July
    3rd T20I: 29 July

    Viewers can catch live coverage of the series on 18 July, 2pm onwards on SONY SIX & SONY TEN 1 channels in English, SONY TEN 3 channels in Hindi and SONY TEN 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu on SonyLIV channel as well as on its on-demand OTT platform.

  • 315Work Avenue offers to protect you from ‘Indiranagar Gunda’ Rahul Dravid

    315Work Avenue offers to protect you from ‘Indiranagar Gunda’ Rahul Dravid

    MUMBAI: If there was one thing that bowled over netizens this weekend, it was Rahul Dravid’s dramatic turn as ‘Indiranagar ka gunda’ in a Cred advertisement. Otherwise known for his cool persona, a commercial managed to do what the fiercest bowlers and toughest competition couldn’t — get Dravid to lose his cool.

    To acknowledge and pay tribute to his the cricket legend’s extraordinary performance, coworking space provider 315Work Avenue has come up with witty responses to the new campaign. The company expressed how safe their working space is from ‘gundas’, especially in Indiranagar, where it’s office is located.

    It emphasised that, “Our wall is strong enough to keep you safe from Indiranagar Gunda: book your space now,” playing on ‘The Wall’ moniker of the cricketer. The other riposte talked about safety: “Safest Work Place in Indiranagar: Could protect from angry Gunda too.”

    315Work Avenue founder Manas Mehrotra said: “The always affable Dravid shouting, smashing rear-view mirrors and throwing coffee, is a brilliant play on his persona. The less than 15 menacing seconds on-screen ad transforms the public image of the former captain of the Indian national cricket team. We could not have imagined that India’s wall would one day be an Indiranagar gunda. As a cricket lover and a fan of Rahul Dravid, we are in awe of the most unexpected character. We came with our response as we wanted to pay an ode to this fantastic campaign and we made sure that we played with words to match the tempo.”

    Several other brands like Zomato, Oyo and Parle-G also hitched onto the bandwagon and created some wonderful spinoffs of the Cred ad. Along with the ex-cricketer’s colleagues, including Indian skipper Kohli, top marketing professionals, movie makers and actors also lauded Dravid for his unexpectedly marvellous ‘off-field’ performance. Meanwhile, social media has been in a frenzy since the ad hit the internet, churning out bountiful memes revolving around the rarely-ruffled Rahul Dravid.

  • Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid’s calm facade cracks in new Cred ad

    Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid’s calm facade cracks in new Cred ad

    MUMBAI: How many times have you seen the Indian cricket team’s former captain Rahul Dravid lose his cool and holler at an opponent? Chances are nil. Known for his calm and gentlemanly temperament, both on and off-the-field, ‘The Wall’, as he’s been dubbed for his rock solid Test match innings, has seldom been known to crumble even under the most intense, nail-biting match situations. So, it’s not surprising that a new ad for credit card payment app Cred, which shows him in a never-before-seen angry avatar, has been breaking the internet! Fans just cannot have enough of this spanking-new side of the cricketer.

    So much so that, even current Team India skipper Virat Kohli could not believe his eyes and took to Twitter to share his disbelief saying, “Never seen this side of Rahul bhai,” with a shocked emoji.

     

     

    The ad plays precisely on this sense of disbelief to promote Cred’s cashback and reward schemes, saying that the offer may sound as unbelievable and ridiculous as saying “Rahul Dravid has anger issues!” And then goes on to show the rarely-flustered cricketer losing his cool while stuck in Bengaluru’s infamous traffic jam. Dravid aces his road rage acting display, even going on to stand up through his SUV’s sunroof with a cricket bat in hand to holler, “Indiranagar ka gunda hun main!’ (I am the don of Indiranagar- a well-known locality in the metro).”

    The ad, released ahead of the opening match of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, went viral in no time and has garnered two million views already.

    It even sparked a meme fest online, with some netizens listing it among Dravis’s best ‘performances’ and some blaming the cricketer’s new-found aggression on the Bengaluru traffic, saying it can do this to the best of us.

  • Pixel gets Rahul Dravid to show its importance in life

    Pixel gets Rahul Dravid to show its importance in life

    MUMBAI: On the back of the successful launch of Pixel 2, Google has launched a new campaign featuring Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid. Conceptualised and executed by Lowe Lintas, Delhi, the three-minute film shows how seamlessly Pixel 2 blends with people’s lives.

    Dravid, a cricketing legend and coach, was roped in by the brand to share his experience in the film. The personality traits of Rahul – dependable, honest, passionate, genuine and one with a smart cricketing brain are a perfect sync with the smartness and simplicity Pixel offers and the brand attributes of Google.

    The story revolves around Dravid and his team who are in the picturesque location of Dharamshala for a match. On an off day, three of his proteges (Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Mayank Dagar) decide to take the coach out in the city. The film captures the fun filled day in the life of the players, with Pixel being an integral part.

    Google marketing director India and South East Asia Sapna Chadha says, “The range of features such as assistant, maps, search, camera clarity, unlimited storage through photos, etc that Google’s Pixel 2 offers addresses consumer pain points and finds ways to ease our lives. Like everything we do at Google, Pixel is about the user. It’s a belief in the awesome things consumers can do with the best tools we can give them. The new campaign highlights and exemplifies that in an engaging way.”

    With this influencer campaign, the brand aims to build premium credentials, create advocacy and affinity for Pixel 2 among the consumers.

    Lowe Lintas regional president of creative North and East  Joy Mohanty adds, “It was interesting to see what lies on the other side of ‘The Wall – Rahul Dravid, the Coach’. We see him hang out with the new kids on the cricket block and he shows them a trick or two. Aided all along, of course, by his superbly smart Pixel 2.”