Tag: RajDeepak Das

  • P&G’s new heartwarming film talks about education for all

    P&G’s new heartwarming film talks about education for all

    MUMBAI: In order to reaffirm its commitment towards improving the quality of education, P&G India has unveiled a beautiful new digital film for its flagship CSR program ‘P&G Shiksha’. 

    The new film portrays the heart-warming story of Appu, who wishes with all his heart to go to school. Unfortunately, there is no school in little Appu’s village. The film is the story of Appu’s anticipation of school and how his father deals with his impending disappointment. Leo Burnett India has conceptualised and created this campaign.

    P&G India director of marketing operations Abhishek Desai says, “Educating a child is the first step towards transforming a society and at P&G we are extremely proud to be working towards it. Through this film, we want to make an emotional connection with people and enable them to contribute towards the education of underprivileged children. The heart-warming tale of little Appu reflects the real lives of many children in India. This story is a true reminder of the power of hope, and we are incredibly proud to be able to tell it.”

    The film has been launched across social media platforms YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Now in its 14th year, P&G Shiksha continues to make critical infrastructure and learning interventions by building and supporting schools across the country thereby providing underprivileged children with access to education.

    In India, many children do not have access to quality education because of the absence of schools or infrastructure. P&G Shiksha has built and supported over 1500 schools which will impact the lives of more than 1.2 million children.

    Leo Burnett South Asia managing director for India and chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das adds, “P&G Shiksha has been doing so much work for education across the country. It is no small feat to build and support 1500 schools that will make a difference to the lives of over 1.2 million Indian children. We wanted to tell our audience about this positive impact in an interesting way. Appu’s story represents all the children who want to study, but have no schools around them. This is a heartfelt, humankind idea, and we are proud of this piece of work from Leo Burnett India.”

    With the objective to holistically improve the lives of underprivileged children, P&G Shiksha is working extensively to provide necessary amenities from building classrooms to building toilets, providing clean drinking water to setting up drinking water stations and playgrounds across India.

  • Leo Burnett elevates Dheeraj Sinha, Rajdeepak Das as MDs

    Leo Burnett elevates Dheeraj Sinha, Rajdeepak Das as MDs

    MUMBAI: Advertising agency Leo Burnett India has announced two key elevations in its senior leadership. Dheeraj Sinha and Rajdeepak Das have been named as managing directors.

    Both currently serve as the chief strategy officer and chief creative officer at Leo Burnett South Asia, respectively. The duo will continue to be based out of Mumbai and will report into Publicis Communications India CEO Saurabh Varma. Their new roles are in addition to their current responsibilities.

    In his new mandate, Sinha will be responsible for the agency’s revenue growth, in addition to heading its strategic and planning output. Das’ new role will see him leverage Leo Burnett’s humankind philosophy in order to elevate Burnett’s creative product.

    Speaking about his promotion, Sinha says, “I am looking forward to leading Leo Burnett at possibly the best time that the agency has ever had. Our success at Cannes Lions last year — being the only agency to win for innovation and effectiveness — is a good framing of our agency ambition. As a chief strategy officer, in various jobs across Asia, I have been deeply involved in the business aspect of the agency over the last decade. I am now looking forward to running the business hands-on. I am fortunate to have Raj’s partnership and Saurabh’s backing in my new role.”

    Das adds to this, “I am incredibly proud of where Leo Burnett’s creative output stands today. The last three years have been a great journey. We have turned our agency into one of the youngest and most dynamic creative companies in the region. Having said that, I believe we are only as good as our last piece of creative work. There is so much more to take on and achieve and I can’t think of a better partner than Dheeraj to take on my new responsibilities with.”

    Speaking about the development, Varma says, “Four years back we started on an incredible journey as a team. We challenged every rule book, every status quo. We wanted to create ‘Wave Three’ where engagement, experience and utility would be celebrated as much as a piece of content. We wanted to create a maker culture. In this period, Indigo Consulting became a digital powerhouse. We launched Arc Worldwide and made it one of the leading experiential agencies, and built Prodigious into one of the finest production houses in India. We created epic work and had great fun doing it.”

    He further adds, “Leo Burnett now needs a new chapter. The ‘power of one’ has given Leo Burnett access to the best specialist operations in the country. Backed by the expertise of Indigo, Arc, Prodigious MSLGroup and Publicis.Sapient, the agency is now in the best position to partner our clients’ businesses. Raj and Dheeraj have, together, transformed Leo Burnett India into the formidable force it is today. They have always led from the front and it is the right time to acknowledge the role they already play. Our collective ambition remains the same; to be the best in the world, bar none.”

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    Bajaj V’s new film paid homage to soldiers this Martyrs’ Day

     

  • Bajaj V’s new film paid homage to soldiers this Martyrs’ Day

    Bajaj V’s new film paid homage to soldiers this Martyrs’ Day

    MUMBAI: Bajaj V, the bike forged with the invincible metal of INS Vikrant launched the ‘Postcards of Pride’ film under its famous ‘Invincible Indians’ series.

    Through the film, Bajaj V asked all Indians to spare a moment to remember our martyrs who laid down their lives in military combat since 1947. It urged them to respect our martyrs’ memories, by lighting a candle outside their own homes at 8 pm on 23 March – Martyrs’ Day.

    22,000 of our soldiers have sacrificed their lives to protect our lands and borders, till date. Over the course of time, we as a nation, tend to move on with our grief of losing our brave men. One man, however, decided to honour our martyrs and their families’ great sacrifices. The campaign captures the story of Jitendra Singh Gurjar, a Surat-based security guard who has been writing postcards to martyrs’ families for the last 19 years. Till date, he has written letters to 4000 families. Through the film, Bajaj V conveyed a message of all Indians to come together on Martyrs’ Day at the same time to pay a tribute to our soldiers.

    Bajaj Auto vice president of marketing (Motorcycles) Sumeet Narang says, “Bajaj V has created invincible Indians, a platform to showcase the stories of solid Indians who, by their resolve and determination, performed extraordinary acts for our society. We feel that like Medicine Baba, Ambulance Dada and others, Jitendra Singh Gurjar is also a true invincible Indian and hope that his story will inspire millions of Indians to do their bit to pay tribute to our martyrs.”

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das adds, “As humans, we are prone to grieve about something momentarily if it is far removed from our own lives. We fail to internalise that even a single martyr’s death is our collective misfortune; it is an eventuality that happened only to keep us safe. Bajaj V and Leo Burnett India wanted people to honour our soldiers’ memories and say a silent thanks to them on Martyrs’ Day. We may never become Jitendra Gurjar ourselves, but we can definitely try. The brand has done a brilliant job of paying homage to our forgotten heroes, and I’m sure this humankind idea will urge Indians to light a candle outside their homes on 23 March.”

  • Leo Burnett ropes in Pranav Sharma as ECD

    Leo Burnett ropes in Pranav Sharma as ECD

    MUMBAI: Leo Burnett India has appointed Pranav Harihar Sharma as Executive Creative Director. Pranav will report to Rajdeepak Das, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett, South Asia.

    Sharma will be based in the Mumbai office. His last stint was at Rediffusion Y&R where he was the Executive Creative Director for West and North.

    In a career spanning over 18 years, Sharma has worked across several agencies such as DDB Mudra, J. Walter Thompson, Linen Lintas and Grey Worldwide, in addition to three stints at Rediffusion Y&R.

    Apart from his experience as a creative in advertising agencies, Pranav is also a well-known ad and short filmmaker. He was given the script and screenplay credits of the Dabur Vatika film – Brave and Beautiful when he handled the brand’s creative business at Linen Lintas. The campaign went on to receive multiple awards in advertising festivals across the country.

    Speaking about this new role at Leo Burnett India, Sharma says, “I have always admired the kind of work Leo Burnett India has been behind. It is an agency known for its innovation and effectiveness, and that is exactly the sort of culture I want to be a part of. My role here is to extend the legacy handed over to me and churn out effective work in the space of ‘content’, a key word in today’s advertising industry. I look forward to my new innings.”

    Das adds, “Pranav is a passionate and creative person who 

    combines strategic advertising thinking with brilliant filmmaking skills. His understanding of the Indian consumer runs deep, making him the kind of talent that is coveted in our industry. I have great expectations from him at Leo Burnett, and I’m confident he will easily fulfil them all.”

  • McDonald’s shows that you’re never too old for toys

    McDonald’s shows that you’re never too old for toys

    MUMBAI: McDonald’s Happy Meal was best known for the toy that came with the pack. Now, the brand is allowing any meal to be made into a Happy Meal by adding a toy for just Rs 35.

    Inspired by the hundreds of entries McDonald’s received for the biggest Happy Meal fan search, the campaign focuses on kids of all ages — a unique search for the biggest Happy Meal Toy collectors in India!

    Conceptualised by Leo Burnett, the digital campaign brings to the fore the heart-warming story of Sunil Chawla, a 35-year-old man, based in Bangalore. Sunil has, over the years, collected over a whopping 300 Happy Meal toys! The film shows Sunil speaking fondly about how his obsession with the Happy Meal toys began. He describes his possessiveness and how over the years he’s made sure to travel far and wide just to complete his toy collection.

    McDonald’s India senior vice president of strategy, innovation and capability Seema Arora Nambiar says, “Since the launch of the iconic Happy Meals in India in 1997, it has grown in popularity. The toys that our customers have collected bring back the happy memories created over food. We wanted to celebrate the emotional connect that our customers have with the brand through their Happy Meal toys, which is why we have featured a real life Happy Meal toy collector and his story in this ad film!”

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das adds, “There is a child in all of us, and we keep indulging this child with its favourite treats however old we may be. McDonald’s has just made it easier for everyone to embrace this child. We don’t stop liking toys, for instance, just because we grow up, do we? The joy of collecting toys knows no age. This simple idea got us to the story of Sunil, and we knew it was a story that our consumers would instantly resonate with.”

    The new campaign employs digital and social media as touch points.

  • HDFC Life promotes ULIP through anti-bullying campaign

    HDFC Life promotes ULIP through anti-bullying campaign

    MUMBAI: HDFC Life Insurance Company has launched a new ad campaign on Unit Linked Insurance policies for planning children’s future. The ad highlights the issue of bullying and conveys a message that parents need to empower their children to fight their own battles, making them self-reliant.

    The campaign emerged from a consumer insight that parents are inherently wired to be protective towards their children, but at the same time, they also want their children to be equipped with life-skills to navigate through the unexpected twists and turns that life throws their way. It shows parents’ efforts in preparing their loved ones for the future. The TVC will run for one and half months.

    The film narrates the story of a young boy who is bullied for his weight. The twist comes when the father, although concerned for his child’s well-being, sends him back to confront his tormentors. HDFC Life has tried to highlight the valuable life lessons that parents try to inculcate in their children; making them face their fears against their natural instincts of protecting their children. The film brings out the brand thought of ‘Apno Ko Apne Dum Pe Jeena Sikhao’, an interpretation of ‘Sar Utha Ke Jiyo’, showing the breadwinner of the family as more than just a conventional financial provider.

    The ad articulates the essence of the brand – helping your loved ones live with pride while making sure they have a secure future. And ULIPs offer dual benefits of growth and security which enables one to fulfil long-term financial goals and also ensures financial security. Thus, the campaign brings to light the necessity of not only providing financial strength in achieving future dreams but also the strength of character that helps one endure times of difficulty.

    HDFC Life executive vice president of strategic alliances, bancassurance and marketing Pankaj Gupta says, “As parents, financial security is not the only gift we want to leave behind for our children. We also want them to be emotionally independent. Our motto of ‘Sar utha ke jiyo’ is all about holding one’s head high no matter what the situation is.

    “Through this campaign, we aim to convey this in the context of a prevalent concern among children – bullying. Instead of showing the child as the victim and having viewers sympathising with him, we wanted to show how the right kind of encouragement from parents empowers and prepares him to face the future. Planning for the child’s future and securing it, is the priority for every parent. In fact, our research shows this as one of the key reasons for buying life insurance, especially the savings and investment plans. Our ULIP offerings enable parents to plan their child’s future over the long-term,” he adds.

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das mentions, “To truly imbibe ‘Sar Utha Ke Jiyo’ in today’s world, we needed to understand what’s happening with the kids today. Of the many problems that they face today, bullying is something that kids are unable to tackle head on. We wanted to use this as a metaphor to highlight the importance of teaching children to be emotionally independent. I am proud of how our philosophy flows through this entire campaign, and I am confident consumers will relate to it and do what is best for the emotional health of their children.”

  • Iodex helps women stretch their limits

    Iodex helps women stretch their limits

    MUMBAI: Women are known to be the ultimate multi-taskers as they perfectly manage their home and families while fulfilling their own dreams and ambitions. Bringing alive this insight, Iodex, a brand in India since 1919, has introduced an all-new campaign ‘Thodi Himmat, Thoda Iodex’ featuring actress Swara Bhaskar.

    Iodex, through this campaign, aims to be women’s everyday ally by helping them stretch further and explore their true potential.

    GSK area marketing lead for pain relief and respiratory health Saurabh Nandi says, “With our new platform – Thodi Himmat, Thoda Iodex, we are talking to the modern woman representing a progressive India. These are women who are not only giving their 100 per cent to their home and family but also stretching themselves physically to give their 110 per cent to do something extra. The extra could come with the desire of supporting their family financially or following their pursuits. In this journey, pain is inevitable. And instead of giving up, Iodex wants to convey to these women that all they need is a little courage and a little Iodex.

    The film features the eminent film actress Swara Bhaskar playing a Bharat Natyam dance teacher. It begins with her teaching dance to her students, and she sprains her back while showing them a slightly difficult step. To this, her husband questions her as to why she takes on so much work at once, be it her dance class or managing household chores. She says that she wants to equally take on the financial responsibility hence needs to be courageous. Her husband is touched and applies Iodex on her sprained back reiterating the brand’s proposition ‘Thodi Himmat, Thoda Iodex’.

    Leo Burnett, South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das says, “Women are the backbone of any household in a way that they keep the entire family together. They want to do more with their lives, and yet equally contribute to their households. We thought this was an exciting insight to bring to life, especially since a woman’s invaluable contribution is rarely spoken about across the entire category. I’m confident the campaign will hit home with our consumers.”

    The film has been executed by Prodigious India, Publicis Communications’ in-house production house.

  • Ranveer Singh plays an offbeat mechanic for HP Lubricants

    Ranveer Singh plays an offbeat mechanic for HP Lubricants

    MUMBAI: HP Lubricants has rolled out a tongue-in-cheek and vibrant integrated campaign for its motorcycle engine oil HP Racer. The campaign, featuring popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, emphasises the importance of using the right engine oil for bikes to both, bike owners and mechanics. The new campaign is conceptualised and executed by Leo Burnett India.

    The TVC opens with a young biker riding into a garage and asking the mechanic to refill the engine oil in his bike. To this, the mechanic asks if he wants regular engine oil or HP Racer. The customer reacts indifferently saying he doesn’t care. In comes Ranveer Singh along with other mechanics, rapping the superior benefits of HP Racer.

    HPCL executive director of direct sales Rajnish Mehta says, “In a strategic move to improve visibility and brand recall of our ‘Power Brands’, we believe that Ranveer Singh, as the face of the brand, will help strengthen our association further with biking enthusiasts and mechanics. Engine oil is a low-involvement category, and we are confident that this campaign will see consumers voluntarily opting for the technologically superior HP Racer.”

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das adds, “Ranveer Singh’s infectious energy and natural connect with all audiences lent themselves seamlessly to the film. His portrayal as a mechanic is sure to strike the right chord with our primary audiences – the mechanic community and youth of the country – predominantly bikers. I’m confident that our customers will remember the catchy rap and Ranveer’s jig in the HP Racer film for some time to come, especially since it is so relatable.”

  • ‘McCafé for everything’ digital campaign launched

    ‘McCafé for everything’ digital campaign launched

    MUMBAI: McDonald’s India has rolled out a thematic, digital-led campaign ‘There’s A McCafé For That’. Whatever the feeling might be, or whatever may the reason to go out and have a beverage, there’s always McCafé for it. 

    Need a break from shopping? Meeting a long lost friend? Celebrating a good exam result? Dealing with a break up? Sympathising with a friend who has broken up? Want to blow the first-ever paycheck? There’s a McCafé for that, and more.

    The new film, that will be launched on digital and social channels, uses chalk animations cleverly interspersed with food and beverages from the McCafé menu. A fun, catchy song the film also lends itself to the film. Apart from digital, the campaign will also have touchpoints on social media, radio and in-store.

    Present in over 121 locations, McCafé has been delivering a unique experience to coffee connoisseurs with coffee made from cent per cent Arabica beans. The brand extension offers an assortment of over 30 beverages ranging from handmade specialty coffees and iced coffees to smoothies, iced splash beverages and share shakes. Catering to everyone alike, McCafé stays true to brand McDonald’s core value: of celebrating life’s moments over great food and beverages, however big or small. The new campaign has been conceptualized and executed by Leo Burnett India.

    McDonald’s India SVP – strategy, innovation & capability Seema Arora Nambiar  said, “Since the launch of McCafé in 2013, we have seen tremendous growth and received an overwhelming response from our existing customers. As a brand extension, McCafé offers great handmade coffees and beverages that connect with the consumer need for having more options with their food. It adds a new segment of customers who have higher affinity for premium coffee or the other specialized beverages that we serve.”

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das said, “McDonald’s has always been a happy, joyful brand, and McCafé is the perfect extension of this intrinsic happiness. People come to McCafé to celebrate everything going on in their lives, over a beverage – highs and lows, love, romance, friendship, reunions. Every item on the McCafe menu means something different to each person, and has a story. The execution of the film also weaves this thought in beautifully. To me, this is HumanKind work that makes viewers feel a strong emotion; happiness, in this case.”

  • Leo Burnett wins storyboard award for Bajaj V

    Leo Burnett wins storyboard award for Bajaj V

    MUMBAI: Leo Burnett India has a new feather on its cap: the agency has been honoured with the coveted ‘Storyboard Commercial of the Year’ award, at the 17 edition of the CNBC-TV18 Overdrive Awards. The agency has bagged the award for the Bajaj V launch commercial.’

    The CNBC-TV18 Overdrive awards honour India’s cars and bikes that are changing the face of the industry, through cutting-edge technologies and innovations. Storyboard is its weekly advertising, media and marketing TV show.

    Leo Burnett CCO RajDeepak Das who was present to collect the award said, “This is pretty much the best way to end the awards streak this year! Automotive is one of the most dynamic, high-volume categories in advertising, and making it to the top spot for real work is extremely encouraging. It is great to have walked up on the stage to receive this honour on behalf of my team. I hope Leo Burnett and Bajaj V’s great streak continues into 2017 as well.”

    The Bajaj V, that contains metal from India’s legendary warship and aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, was launched earlier this year on January 26. Bajaj sold a record 11,000 V bikes on the first day of the V’s launch.