Mumbai: Maruti Suzuki India, the automobile manufacturer, announced the launch of its latest brand campaign – ‘IT’S UNBELIEVABLE. IT’S STRONG HYBRID.’ Featuring the advanced Grand Vitara and the extraordinary Invicto, the campaign stems from a simple yet powerful thought: ‘the extraordinary benefits of Strong Hybrid technology’. The campaign has been conceptualised to educate consumers about Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to bring technologies that not only benefit its consumers but also foster a sustainable environment. The campaign demonstrates how Maruti Suzuki Strong Hybrid technology, harmoniously blends electric mobility with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), harnessing the power of both under various driving conditions.
With the ability to be 60 per cent on EV mode under city driving conditions, the technology delivers an eco-friendly and remarkably silent drive experience. Strong Hybrid technology also offers unmatched fuel efficiency providing a range of more than 1200 km in a full tank and significantly lower carbon emissions.
Commenting on the launch of the new campaign, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s senior executive officer, of marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava said, “Strong hybrid vehicles are pivotal in propelling sustainable mobility forward, and our latest campaign is crafted to educate our audiences on the unbelievable benefits this sophisticated technology offers. The surge in demand for strong hybrid technology vehicles, nearly doubling from last year, underscores a growing eco-consciousness among consumers. The increasing demand for sustainable transportation among consumers also translates into Strong Hybrid sales almost matching those of electric vehicles for this financial year. Through this initiative, we endeavour to arm consumers with comprehensive insights into the beneficial attributes of Strong Hybrid vehicles.”
What sets Strong Hybrid cars apart is the incorporation of regenerative braking technology, a game-changer that converts braking energy into electricity. In suitable conditions, Strong Hybrid technology lets the vehicle seamlessly operate in electric mode, significantly reducing emissions and promoting a cleaner, eco-friendly driving experience, allowing consumers to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. Not only does the Strong Hybrid technology reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions, but it also instils confidence in long-distance travel, providing peace of mind and convenience.
The brand campaign kicks off with the unveiling of a captivating TV commercial that encapsulates the essence of driving a Maruti Suzuki Strong Hybrid car. The TVC, broadcasted across various platforms, aims to bring forth the benefits of Strong Hybrid technology, emphasising Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to a sustainable, greener, and more efficient future.
Mumbai: Terribly Tiny Tales (TTT), the acclaimed storytelling platform, is delighted to launch a powerful anthology of short films called ‘Journeys’ powered by Maruti Suzuki Arena.
Enabled by Lintas CEX, Journeys promises to be a riveting ride.
Marking the launch on Women’s Day is a special webisode where four prolific women filmmakers along with Maruti Suzuki India’s ED, Shashank Srivastava talk about Journeys, in this special 20-minute roundtable discussion full of inspiring conversations.
The highly popular platform of TTT brings forth four eminent women directors – Alankrita Shrivastava, Sonam Nair, Tahira Kashyap, and Tanuja Chandra – who engage in a candid conversation hosted by renowned presenter Gaurav Kapur. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director – Sales and Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India, also joins the discussion.
This insightful webisode serves as a springboard for Journeys, which will see four short films directed by the featured filmmakers released on the TTT YouTube channel in the coming weeks. Each film delves into the diverse experiences of women, capturing their stories of sisterhood, freedom, and joy.
The round table video aims to delve into the inspiring journeys of the four women directors and their experiences in the filmmaking industry. Shrivastava’s invaluable insights into the “Joy of Mobility” and the evolving role of women in the automotive sector add depth to the discussion, highlighting the synergy between storytelling and Maruti Suzuki Arena’s commitment to empowering women.
Terribly Tiny Tales founder & CEO Anuj Gosalia expressed his excitement for the collaboration, stating, “Partnering with Maruti Suzuki Arena marks a significant milestone for TTT. ‘Journeys’ goes beyond celebrating the remarkable achievements of these four talented women directors. It’s about amplifying their unique voices and perspectives, showcasing the power they hold to shape narratives and inspire others. We’re excited to work with Shashank and
the team at Maruti Suzuki Arena, along with the powerhouse team at Lowe Lintas to bring Journeys to screen.”
“We believe storytelling can foster empathy, spark dialogue, and ultimately drive positive change in the world. ‘Journeys’ is a testament to this belief, and we’re stoked to embark on this journey alongside a brand like Maruti Suzuki Arena, who shares our commitment to empowerment and inclusivity.”
Targeting a diverse audience, including young adults, especially women (18-35), fans of the featured directors, aspiring filmmakers, and cinephiles, the webisode promises to captivate viewers with its engaging dialogue and thought-provoking narratives. This initiative invites all to join the conversation and experience the unique perspectives shared by the women directors during the roundtable discussion.
Speaking on the collaboration, Lintas CEX creative lead Vasudha Misra, said, “Opportunities to women usually come with conditions attached. With caveats. With a ‘do what you want with this while we do the rest’. Opportunities, so to speak, with the handbrake on. Well, we took it off. And handed control, all of it, to 4 women directors. Not to work on our scripts, but to create their own stories. Direct them in their own way. And then bring it to the table. Imagine what women can do if they are given the opportunity? We got tired of imagining.”
Maruti Suzuki India Sr. executive officer – sales and marketing Shashank Srivastava said, “We, at Maruti Suzuki Arena, are honoured to collaborate with Terribly Tiny Tales on the impactful ‘Journeys’ initiative, championing the extraordinary talent and ingenuity of women filmmakers. Through this partnership, we strive to uplift and inspire audiences, recognizing the transformative power of storytelling in driving positive change.”
The round table video will premiere on TTT’s YouTube channel on 8th March 2024, coinciding with International Women’s Day, while the first short film directed by Sonam Nair is set to release on 21st March 2024. Subsequent films will follow on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, offering audiences a diverse range of stories celebrating the essence of womanhood.
As TTT embarks on this exciting new journey with the Maruti Suzuki Arena, audiences can expect a series of compelling narratives that resonate with the spirit of empowerment and inclusivity. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating the power of storytelling this International Women’s Day with Terribly Tiny Tales and Maruti Suzuki Arena.
Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, a powerhouse in India’s media and entertainment, is set to host the ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024.’ Set against the backdrop of a triumphant 2023 for Indian cinema, the event promises to honor outstanding contributions to the industry.
Recently, stars like Alia Bhatt, along with Maruti Suzuki and ZEEL representatives, unveiled the chic trophy. The kickoff event featured actors sharing memories from past editions, with an exciting performance lineup announced for the much-anticipated on-ground event on 10 March.
Delving deeper, Indiantelevision.com caught up with Zee Studios chief business officer Shariq Patel to gain insights on Zee Cine Awards 2024 being special; impact that Zee Cine Awards aims to create in the world of Bollywood celebrations and more…
Edited Excerpts:
On Zee Cine Awards’ evolution over the years, and the 2024 edition particularly being special
What will make the 2024 edition special, is Shah Rukh Khan, as he is coming back to the Zee Cine Awards after nine years, he is the showstopper for us. This year, there is a certain amount of enthusiasm as cinema has bounced back, especially after how well the films like ‘Pathaan’, ‘Gadar 2’, ‘Jawan’, ‘Rocky Aur Raani Kii Prem Kahaani’ did last year. An entire boom happened at the box office; that’s why we are following the mantra of ‘Cinema Zindabaad’ this year for the award show. We took the line from the movie ‘Gadar’ and made it into ‘Cinema Zindabaad Tha, Hai Aur Rahega’. With two key people in the industry associated with the award show- Shah Rukh Khan coming on board and Bobby Deol, along with the Deol family, the main agenda is to put the spotlight on the fine talents of the industry. The excitement is a lot more, with movies like ‘12th Fail’, ‘Sam Bahadur’ and some great performances that were delivered. It’s a natural progression, and I think it’s interesting because the films were so loved in 2023, it has been a landmark year in terms of Box-Office collection. post covid, everyone thought that Box-Office was going to die, but the audience has come back saying ‘We Want Cinema’, especially with OTT emerging and everyone thinking that overall habits have changed, and people just prefer sitting at home. All these theories got de-bunked in 2023 much to the elation to all of us, who actually are involved in this field.
Are there any new or innovative award categories introduced for Zee Cine Awards 2024 to reflect the changing dynamics of Bollywood
No, the categories pretty much remain the same because we are not looking at adding anything which isn’t there, it is basically honouring excellence in all departments of Cinema. Everyone knows what those departments are, so we are not creating any new departments or awards. The idea is to honour thousands of people who give their blood, sweat and tears to come up with movies on a week-on-week basis, it’s like holding in high esteem for the best of the lot.
On some exciting details about the star-studded lineup and collaborations for Zee Cine Awards 2024, and in what ways do brands, sponsors, and celebrities benefit from their involvement in the event
I guess the brands look at sponsoring any event which gives a positive rub-off, the bigger the event, the greater the recall and obviously if the event is in line with what the brand stands for, there is a positive rub-off that association brings in, which has happened with Zee Cine Awards and other film awards. I believe even in other big events like IPL, or other sports properties, there is always an association benefit that brands get. I think if you talk to the Maruti Suzuki team or any other sponsors, it’s easy for them to hire the same artist and do TVC or get their brand ambassadors to be a part of the event of the same scale. But shooting over one to two days and being posted or premiered later on might not have the same impact as much as an event of this kind and as it offers positive brand allure that rubs off so on the brand. Hence, they might choose this. However, the on-ground event is on the 10 March, so the excitement will be there from today till its actual on-air date, which will probably be a week or so later. So, that 20-day effect of conversations around it, especially the trade media and consumers as such, will always be a positive benefit.
On the enduring impact that Zee Cine Awards aims to create in the world of Bollywood celebrations
I think it’s honouring the talent; we have been putting out a lot of our old winners and if you see some of those clips on our Instagram page, everyone from Hrithik’s debut till this year, it’s a platform which gives opportunities, and make known of the brand Zee actually is. There is an ingrained association that every big actor or artist has with Zee, and this award kind of solidifies it in a slightly different manner. All the big actors, directors, and technicians have at some point or the other won a Zee Cine Award over the last 22 years, which kind of deepens the association. You have heard how everyone talks about it and how there is a specific emotional connection with it, whether they have performed, won, or have been nominated. There is a bit of that family feeling that Zee brings, being the true homegrown brand.
On Zee Cine Awards catering to an international audience, and the efforts that are being made to showcase Indian cinema on a global platform
I believe that if you speak to Ashish Sehgal (chief growth officer- ad sales) or Ruchir Tiwari (chief cluster officer- Hindi movies), they will be able to provide you with a better understanding of that. I think the international Indian-South Asian diaspora is very fond of Bollywood and starve for it. Like how Ashish mentioned that we cater to 17 channels that are distributed all over the world, which automatically includes cinema. This creates a complete circle where you can watch a large number of movies on the Zee platform, and then see many artists performing and getting appreciated.
On Zee Cinema/Zee TV planning to elevate the viewer experience in 2024, navigating creative challenges to make award shows entertaining and engaging, and adapting to the digital transformation and industry trends for Zee Cine Awards
I believe that in order to keep the audience engaged for the expected three hours, they should get entertained; it is the same thing as watching a series, a film or a TV show. We are asking for the time of the audience, and the moment you are asking for their time, you need to make sure that it is engaging, there is entertainment happening, so either there is a big performance, a gag, some fun moment or felicitation of the award, it’s a mix and match of all. So, creatively delivering that is a challenge for us, for which we have teams. And the rest of it will be giving three to four thousand people who are on-ground, a grand experience to enjoy those particular four or five hours a day in the arena watching these actors perform and being present under the same roof as them.
Mumbai: The 18th India Digital Summit, hosted by IAMAI, delved into the intricate world of advertising and the martech industry, amidst the evolving landscape of data privacy regulations. Held at the Jio Convention Centre in BKC on 27 February 2024, the event brought together industry leaders to discuss the paradigm shift towards first-party data utilisation in a cookieless environment.
Moderated by Vivek Malhotra from India Today Group, the panel comprised distinguished experts: Arnad Fraude from Nielsen, Shuvadip Banerjee representing ITC Ltd., Mohit Kumar of Havas Media Network India, and Shashank Srivastava from Maruti Suzuki India. Their insights shed light on navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing digital ecosystem.
In recent years, concerns over data privacy and the impending demise of third-party cookies have prompted a reevaluation of digital marketing strategies. The focus has shifted towards harnessing first-party data, which is collected directly from consumers through interactions with owned digital platforms. This transition heralds a more personalised and ethical approach to targeting and measuring campaign effectiveness.
Fraude emphasised the importance of leveraging first-party data to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior while respecting their privacy. He highlighted the need for transparent data practices and emphasized the role of consent in data collection.
Banerjee shared insights from ITC Ltd.’s journey towards building a robust first-party data infrastructure. He stressed the significance of data quality over quantity and advocated for investing in data analytics capabilities to derive actionable insights.
Joshi said the role of creativity and innovation in crafting narratives that resonate with consumers in a cookieless world. He also said the need for collaboration between creative and data teams to deliver personalized experiences at scale.
Srivastava provided perspectives from the automotive industry, highlighting the challenges of targeting niche audiences in a cookieless environment. He told that the importance of data partnerships and ecosystem integration in delivering seamless customer experiences across channels.
Overall, the session underscored the pivotal role of first-party data in driving effective digital marketing strategies amidst evolving privacy regulations. As the industry adapts to a cookieless future, organizations must prioritize transparency, consent, and data stewardship to build trust and deliver value to consumers.
Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, a prominent name in India’s television, media, and entertainment landscape, is gearing up to revive the grand celebration of Bollywood with the return of the ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024.’ Against the vibrant backdrop of an exhilarating 2023, a year marked by the resounding success of Indian cinema with blockbuster hits, the awards ceremony promises an evening of honoring the industry’s finest achievements. This March, Mumbai will once again transform into the epicenter of Bollywood glamor, welcoming a constellation of stars including actors, directors, producers, and technicians for this eagerly awaited gala.
In an atmosphere exuding glamor, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, alongside Maruti Suzuki India’s CMO & senior executive officer Shashank Srivastava and ZEEL’s chief growth officer – advertising revenue Ashish Sehgal, unveiled the elegant trophy for the prestigious ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024’. The press conference was a nostalgic journey as actors Bobby Deol, Aparshakti Khurana, and Mouni Roy fondly reminisced about anecdotes and cherished moments from previous editions of this esteemed awards gala.
The kick-off event set pulses racing with the announcement of the performances by some of the most revered figures in the film fraternity, including Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, Bobby Deol, Ayushmann Khurrana, Mouni Roy, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, and more. Adding to the allure, the evening will be gracefully hosted by the charismatic duo of Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana, with the irrepressibly witty Sunil Grover injecting moments of levity with his humor.
However, the crescendo of excitement reached its zenith when the curtain was lifted on the biggest surprise of the kickoff meet – the return of actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is poised to grace the Zee Cine Awards stage after a hiatus of nine long years.
Amidst the fervor of the event, Indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of the event, seized the opportunity to engage with.
Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer, Ad Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and Ruchir Tiwari, Chief Cluster Officer, Hindi Movies, ZEE. During the interaction, they provided illuminating insights into the award show and beyond.
Edited excerpts
On Zee TV integrating digital platforms to maximize the reach and impact of Zee Cine Awards
Sehgal: Today we are very focused on how we are trying to build our reach not only in linear television, but also in the digital space. If you see social media, the entire meta ecosystem we had almost 150 million reach and almost 60 million followers across all our pages. That’s a humongous amount of viewership, which no broadcaster had till date. However, we feel that there are many platforms like Meta, YouTube, etc, we know don’t see them as competition, but more like our platforms. So the idea is how we can take our content to our consumers as much as possible? Hence, we have a proper strategy behind building viewership amongst all the platforms, whether it is telcos, whether it is YouTube ecosystem, or whether it is like a Meta ecosystem. So our digital presence is going to be quite formidable.
On the landscape of Hindi cinema influencing the execution of Zee Cine Awards
Tiwari: The Cinema cluster at ZEE holds a strategic commitment to recognizing and applauding exceptional cinema. Over our three-decade legacy, we have positioned ourselves as adept aggregators of quality films, spanning 8 languages across 17 channels. The Zee Cine Awards stands tall as our iconic initiative, dedicated to honouring the finest performances of the year.
Celebrating its 22nd edition, this year holds special significance against the backdrop of the uncertainties that loomed over Hindi cinema, following the challenges posed by Covid. It started with Pathaan, then came Gadar 2, Jawaan, and now Animal. Apart from these mega successes, there were incredible stories like ’12th Fail’ , Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway and Sam Bahadur. This cinematic journey in 2023 has proven to be a transformative one, marked by a resurgence of joy as the industry got back its confidence and garnered a renewed appreciation and so much love from the audiences.
The narrative of 2023 unfolds as a narrative of comebacks, symbolizing the resurgence of Hindi cinema, the return of Shahrukh Khan, and the revival of the Deols. This thematic underpinning is integral to our presentation, encapsulated by our tagline, ‘Cinema Zindabaad’. It reflects our commitment to not only acknowledging excellence but also embracing the triumphs and resurgences that have defined the cinematic landscape this year.
On the strategies Zee TV employs to ensure sponsors receive tangible returns on their investment to the award show
Sehgal: Zee Cine Award is not just a one day event like how normally people perceive it. For us it’s a festival for almost two and a half three months. We showcase the show across all our channels, and also various Hindi speaking markets whether it is Bhojpuri, whether it is Bangla, Marathi apart from all the Hindi channels and the free-to-air channels as well, so that maximum reach happens on the show and the content is curated before and after also for the show. While there will be one day of the awards, prior to that we start building a lot of content which will be in promoting but at the same time facilitating or you know kind of showcasing what you are going to see during that one day. So Zee Cine Award is always a culmination of the award. Now having said that, how does it help the sponsors? Sponsors do get mileage across these three months, so they can actually build their whole campaigns around this show. Secondly, these sponsors do not just run their inventory there, we create a lot of content for the sponsors within the show. There is a lot of customisation of the brand’s energy along with our shows . We create moments within the show and before the show, which helps advertisers build their message within that. It’s a 360 degree, where they get a lot of mileage in ground presence and for Maruti we do dealer visits with our stars who would go and promote the listing in the dealership etc.
On Zee Cinema envisioning the future of award shows in the era of digital platforms
Tiwari: Content is always platform-agnostic, it inherently transcends platforms, seamlessly adapting to both linear broadcasting and OTT channels. The beauty lies in its universal accessibility, reaching audiences regardless of the medium. The overarching objective is to maximize viewership.
Sehgal: TV gives you the highest reach. But at the same time digital will become an engagement partner for us before the show. As I said, we will use your social media for engaging, remoting bytes of the stars when they’re coming, then the whole content will be also showcased on digital platforms like our Zee5 and later on to YouTube etc. So we use platforms now to take the content to as many people as possible. We are creating content which is platform agnostic.
Tiwari: Few properties exhibit a natural compatibility across all mediums. Notably, in non-fiction and event categories, award functions exemplify the synergy between digital and linear domains. They thrive in the digital realm, presenting a seamless blend that resonates well with audiences on both fronts.
Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, India’s leading television, media and entertainment powerhouse, is bringing back the biggest celebration of Bollywood – ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024.’ Set against the backdrop of a spectacular 2023 – a year when Indian movies made a roaring comeback with record-breaking blockbusters and it felt almost as if a chant of ‘CINEMA ZINDABAD’ was echoing within the walls of the theatres, the awards ceremony promises to be an evening of recognition for some of the finest work by the film industry. This March, once again, Mumbai will play host to Bollywood’s crème de la crème, actors, directors, producers and film technicians as they come together for this much anticipated star-studded extravaganza.
At a chic and glamorous affair, Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt, alongside Maruti Suzuki India CMO & senior executive officer Shashank Srivastava and ZEEL chief growth officer – advertising revenue Ashish Sehgal, unveiled the sleek trophy for the ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024’. At the press conference, actors Bobby Deol, Aparshakti Khurana and Mouni Roy walked down memory lane and recounted anecdotes and special moments from the previous editions of the esteemed awards show. The kick-off meet announced an exciting line-up of performances by some of the most popular faces of the film fraternity including Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, Bobby Deol, Ayushmann Khurrana, Mouni Roy, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur amongst others. The evening will be hosted by the charming Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana while the witty Sunil Grover will take over for a few fun segments. Excitement hit the roof when the big surprise of the kick-off meet was finally revealed – The Baadshah of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan is all set to perform at Zee Cine Awards after nine long years!
Bhatt said, “I always look forward to performing LIVE on stage! Last year’s performance at Zee Cine Awards was one of the most memorable one for me, I’m even more excited to be performing second year in a row for them. It’ll again be a very very special act and truly dedicated for my audiences. Zee Cine Awards have a legacy of their own and it’s been a long-standing relationship with the Zee team that has only become stronger in the years. The thrill and energy of a live performance is unbeatable and I can’t wait to get onto the Zee Cine stage!”
Deol said, “Privileged to announce the Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024. After having attended the ceremony regularly over the years, I’m thrilled to perform this time. Brace yourselves for a night of excitement, as Abrar will have everyone dancing to ‘Jamal Kudu’ and some delightful surprises.”
Srivastava said, “This association is continuation of our exciting partnership between India’s largest automotive channel Maruti Suzuki Arena and one of biggest celebration of Bollywood – Zee Cine awards, to celebrate the magical and extravagant world of Bollywood. Maruti Suzuki believes in bringing the Joy of mobility to all and creating exciting new experiences. Maruti Suzuki Arena is bringing this vision to reality with future ready products like The All New HOT & TECHY Brezza that goes above and beyond your expectations. And Zee Cine brings alive the world of entertainment, top notch experiences and much more and truly we found our match to reach out to our audiences.”
Sehgal said, “The year 2023 has been a stellar chapter for Indian cinema, with box office records shattered and a slew of blockbuster hits captivating audiences worldwide. We aim to take the entertainment quotient to a whole new level through the presence of some of the most sought-after faces of the fraternity and exciting performances at the ‘Maruti Suzuki Arena Presents 22nd Zee Cine Awards 2024.’ We have an excellent lineup including Shah Rukh Khan who’s performing with us after 9 years, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Ananya Panday, Bobby Deol, Ayushmann Khurrana, Mouni Roy, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur and we’re committed to making it an evening to remember. Cinema buffs who wish to experience the thrill of watching their favorite stars perform LIVE and win accolades at the ground event in Mumbai on 10th March can buy their passes via BookMyShow!”
Mumbai: InSight, the flagship conclave presented by WION & Zee Business, recently convened an esteemed gathering of industry leaders, esteemed journalists, and visionary moderators to illuminate the path forward for India’s future. This landmark event served as a platform for insightful discussions, thought-provoking fireside chats, and engaging sessions, all aimed at deciphering the complexities of the past year and charting a visionary course for the year ahead. The conclave showcased the unwavering commitment of both media giants to deliver insightful and engaging content that resonates with viewers globally. It was streamed live on WION & Zee Business’ respective YouTube channels.
The on-ground conclave comprised of a fireside chat with the guest of honour, minister of state for road transport & gighways and civil aviation General V. K. Singh (Retd). Subsequent sessions delved into diverse topics including ‘Changing Investment Trends and the Future Ahead’, featuring SBI Mutual Fund deputy MD and joint CEO D.P. Singh, engaging in thought-provoking dialogue with Anil Singhvi, Zee Business, and Vikram Chandra, WION. The conversation explored the evolving dynamics of investment and the burgeoning participation of retail investors in shaping market trends. A strategic conversation on ‘Accelerating Progress – Mapping the Evolution of India’s Automotive Landscape’ featured Maruti Suzuki India Sr executive officer, marketing & sales, Shashank Srivastava and BMW Group India president & CEO Vikram Pawah.
WION & Zee Business chief business officer Madhu Soman lauded the success of InSight, stating, “As we reflect on the success of this conclave, we are reminded of our core mission—to inform, to inspire, and to empower. The overwhelming response affirms that our efforts to create a platform for meaningful discourse have struck a chord with our audience, driving us to continue pushing the boundaries of content delivery.”
Zee Media Corp Ltd (ZMCL) chief revenue officer Mona Jain echoed this sentiment, highlighting, “InSight exemplifies our dedication to fostering informed dialogue and facilitating knowledge-sharing among industry leaders and experts. As we navigate the complexities of an ever-changing world, events like these play a crucial role in shaping our collective understanding and driving positive change.”
In addition to the enriching discussions, attendees were treated to a special performance by Anirban Dasgupta, Stand-up Comedian and writer, adding a touch of humour and entertainment to the proceedings.
As InSight drew to a close, attendees left with renewed optimism and determination. Armed with their insights, participants are ready to tackle the challenges and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in 2024 and beyond. Watch the full stream on WION & Zee Business’ YouTube channels.
Mumbai: With a mission to uplift India’s youth and democratise entrepreneurship Super Shark, Anupam Mittal, the visionary behind Shaadi.com, introduced Season 2 of his unique DreamDeal initiative in 2023. The initiative is a one-of-a-kind ground-breaking move, where Mittal invites aspiring entrepreneurs to present their business ideas in a 30-second Instagram reel. He has now selected five extraordinary talents from across India to receive micro-grants in over 2 lakhs without any equity in their business and mentorship from Mittal himself. This path-breaking move has also positioned Mittal as the first investor in India to harness the power of social media to find entrepreneurial potential from across the country.
Season 2 of DreamDeal saw over 1000 entries from across diverse sectors like FMCG, D2C, B2B, home farming, pharma, sustainable products, FnB and many others. Following this, a meticulous evaluation process was initiated based on the novelty, creativity and potential impact of the idea pitched, alongside engagement metrics including the number of likes on Instagram. From the pool of entries, the top 12 best ideas were carefully selected, of which the following emerged as winners:
First position
Gaikar Omkar Rajaram who envisions transforming the energy landscape with a groundbreaking gravity-powered energy system that generates continuous electricity through a cyclic process of circular pulleys and strategic underground holes. He plans to use the grant money to scale the system’s reach and elevate clean energy availability by bringing his game-changing technology to homes and industries, reducing carbon footprints one cycle at a time.
Second position
1) Jaisal Sandeep Shah & Cyrus Setna are 13-year-olds from Grade 8 of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, have worked on ‘The Transhifter Pro Academia,’ which seeks to assist prospective students and parents to the gates of their dream institution and help them choose the right board of education. The academy will provide advice about securing admission to Mumbai’s prestigious schools, including the availability of past papers of entrance exams, interview questions, etc – all under one roof. They will use the grant money to rent space for the academy.
2) Shashank Srivastava is the co-founder of Plantera Banana Fiber Pvt Ltd. The company develops bio-leather from banana fiber, a renewable and biodegradable biomaterial that can reduce the environmental impact of leather production and consumption. The company designs and produces various types of leather products, such as bags, wallets, shoes, and accessories, using different materials like canvas, paper, and wood. His goal is to combine his creativity and technical expertise to shape a more sustainable and ethical future with banana fiber biomaterials.
Third position
1) Nikunj Walia’s Wrestlefanent is an engagement platform for wrestling fans and Indian wrestlers. Through this platform, the fans can showcase their passion for the sport through competitions, celebrity meets, online engagement, events, gaming, and much more, while Indian wrestlers get an opportunity to display their in-ring talent. He plans to use the grant money in marketing and attracting sponsorship interests for the first edition of its large-scale event, Wrestleverse. The event will be a massive expansion step for the company.
2) Nagaland-based Ididaule Ngia’s Nagahaat is a re-use/renew brand that will give a second life to textile waste by turning it into beautiful household items or accessories. This, in turn, will help reduce land and air pollution. She will use the grant money for marketing and sales of the products.
Talking about the initiative, People Group founder & CEO Anupam Mittal said, “Our country is home to rich talent, and I am delighted to support, encourage and nurture their creative potential. This season, too, we encountered brilliant ideas that gave a glimpse of India’s entrepreneurial spirit and the potential of each individual. What amazed me was that this included talents as young as 13 year-old-school students! I hope the grants and mentorship the winners receive will help boost their confidence, chart meaningful career paths and establish themselves as stalwarts in the business realm.”
A ‘Super Shark’ of Shark Tank India, Anupam has consistently expressed a strong commitment to helping young Indian entrepreneurs explore diverse business opportunities. The launching of DreamDeal is an extension of this commitment. A testament to this is brothers Dhaval (20 years) and Jayesh Prakashbhai (22 years) who went on to be a part of Shark Tank India S2 and walked away with the season’s second all-shark deal.
Mumbai: One of India’s multi-genre music and lifestyle festivals, Budweiser Beats presents Vh1 Supersonic Co-powered by Nexa, 2024, is coming back with a bang with the best in music, lifestyle, art and food this time. The festival has been aching all these years by filling the gap of techno and EDM music with over 10 more genres, unlike any other music and lifestyle festival in India. Spread across 3 days and 5 stages, the festival with their brand manifesto, Be There, Be Free will be held at Mahalakshmi Lawns, Pune, on 16,17,18 February 2024.
The festival curators have unveiled its illustrious line-up including top names from across the globe, such as Major Lazer Soundsystem, Adam Beyer, King, Yotto, Denis Horvat, Hamdi, Patrice Bäumel, The Midnight, Arjun Vagale, Browncoat, Kohra, Taba Chake and The Yellow Diary. Legends like 10,000 Lions, Bass Maya, Chromaderma, D2, Dr. Sel, Earl Gateshead, Ital Soup, Major C, NZ Selector, Rasta Yuga, Rudy Roots and Sanyas-I will also be ramping up the much-loved Reggae Corner.
At Vh1 Supersonic, the experience takes centre stage and for this, the festival has partnered with distinguished sponsors who share the vision of creating unforgettable moments. Leading the way as the title sponsor is Budweiser Beats, setting the tone for an unparalleled adventure, co-powered by Nexa, along with Maybelline as the beauty partner. Celebration partner, Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix, joined the line-up, adding their unique flavour to this extraordinary celebration.
Top of form, Viacom18 LIVE (integrated network solutions) business head, Gaurav Mashruwala said, “Vh1 Supersonic has been at the forefront of bringing new experiences to India and curating a festival within a festival. True to our legacy, even this year it’s about more than just music and we are back with a bang to make the 9 edition as legendary as the experience. Right from international icons to indie stars, the stellar line-up is sure to give an out of this world experience to the festival-goers. With the support of our esteemed partners, we are looking forward to an iconic celebration of music and culture combining multi-genre stages, experience zones, the best of fashion, lifestyle, F&B and art.”
AB InBev India, CMO Vineet Sharma said, “Globally and in India, Budweiser believes in connecting authentically with consumers through shared passion points. Music and culture are important touch points for our consumers and Vh1 Supersonic, year on year, brings together these elements and redefines the essence of live entertainment. Budweiser has been a long-standing partner at Vh1 Supersonic, and we’re excited to see what the 9 edition of the festival brings us. It’s not only about the music, it’s about co-creating culture, music lifestyle and bringing India’s electronic music subculture through BudX to the forefront that resonate with a diverse audience”
Maruti Suzuki India Pvt Ltd Sr executive officer, marketing and sales Shashank Srivastava said, “NEXA is an automotive lifestyle brand that has been setting new benchmarks in the automobile industry and caters to every need of the incessant seeker of ‘new’. NEXA has three pillars based on our target audience’s affinities: lifestyle, journeys, and music. NEXA has always been closely associated with music with their own IP featuring A R Rahman. Our association with Vh1 Supersonic reflects our commitment to seamlessly blend automotive excellence with cultural dynamism. Vh1 Supersonic has consistently crafted a significant consumer journey through experiential excellence. We are happy to take this relationship into yet another year and are excited by the fact that our association brings us a step closer to our new age customers who seek global experiences in their everyday lives.”
Maybelline New York assistant general manager Smruthi Rajagopalan said, “Our collaboration with Vh1 Supersonic is a celebration of self-expression- bringing the world of music & makeup together for our Gen Z consumers. Recognising the transformative power of music and makeup, Maybelline New York aims to create an immersive experience at Vh1 Supersonic to experience the world of New York trends and makeup, crafted for all.”
Monika Alcobev Ltd national sales director Hemang Chandat said, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with VH1 Supersonic 2024, where Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix takes centre stage as the Celebration Partner. This collaboration is more than a fusion of music and spirits; it’s a symphony of passion, a celebration uniting the dynamic worlds of concert enthusiasts and aficionado of margaritas. After our successful partnership with VH1 Supersonic Arcade, this collaboration with Viacom18 Live marks an even more exciting synergy between the vibrant energy of one of the country’s premier music festivals and Jose Cuervo Margarita lovers.”
Vh1 Supersonic 2024 will encompass 5 spectacular stages dedicated to multiple moods. The Main Stage will offer attendees the main headliners of the festival along with the best of Pop, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Indie Pop! Ardent LIVE music fans can get their dose of their favourite LIVE artists at the NEXA Live Stage. The ultimate techno and dance music lovers can head directly to the Budx Spectrum Stage. The Reggae Corner will pack a musical punch in its dedicated space curated for Reggae enthusiasts.
Vh1 Supersonic 2024 headliner, major Lazer Soundsystem, said, “India is a special place to us, so we are thrilled to be back at Vh1 Supersonic this year with some amazing sets planned. With each tour that we do in India, it’s always exciting to connect with more and more people and watch our fan base grow.”
Known as the music & lifestyle festival of India, Vh1 Supersonic will amp up its experiential zones with more than 80 specially curated Fashion and lifestyle brands & an art showcase at the Superflea which will be curated by All You Can Street! This will be topped with the best of F&B partners, flea areas & art installations across the festival.
Festival curator Nikhil Chinapa said, “We’re back, as promised and this time we’re bringing Major Lazer, Adam Beyer, King, Yotto and a massive array of festival favourite artists from across the world. We’re opening our gates on the 16 of Feb to welcome back friends and fans for our 9 edition in 2024 and it’s going to be a massively memorable weekend. See you on the dance floor!”
Headlining the edition, the crowd’s favourite: Major Lazer Soundsystem — the legendary global dance trio of Diplo, Walshy Fire and Ape Drums — returns to Vh1 Supersonic. Also making a much awaited comeback while raising the BPM, is Swedish techno DJ & the king of modern techno music – Adam Beyer. Keeping up with the iconic league of Indian rappers who became a rage overnight with his hits like Maan Meri Jaan, OOPS – King – is making his debut at Vh1 Supersonic! Adding to the buzz is world-renowned – Yotto, aka Otto Yliperttula – a Finnish DJ with a deep house techno sound who’s garnered a fan following that spans all borderlines!
Other debut artists at Vh1 Supersonic who have been known to create heart-thumping sets across the world, are Denis Horvat, Hamdi and Patrice Bäumel – the master of melodic techno, who are all going to be contributing their unique flair to the sonic stage! For the first time in India – The Midnight – an American Synth-wave band, known for their soulful R&B music is definitely going to be the act you just cannot miss.
Apart from these star-studded international acts, are the stellar Indian acts who have not only earned an international presence as the pioneers of live acts in India but have been a driving force in putting India on the worldwide music map: Arjun Vagale, The Yellow Diary, Taba Chake, Kohra, Browncoat and many more to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Going beyond the ordinary, Budweiser Beats Presents Vh1 Supersonic co-powered by Nexa 2024 is determined to provide a joyous & sustainable experience to be a part of as promised year-on-year! The festival curators encourage all to Be There, Be Free as safety, wellness and festival-goers’ happiness will be well taken care of at utmost priority!
Mumbai: The power of movies on television, often referred to as “The Big Picture”, has impacted how we consume entertainment, making it an essential part of our lives. Not only that, the synergy of Movies and TV has also proven to be lucrative for brands who want to reach India at large and impact their daily lives. In a series of chats with marketers and media veterans, we discuss all things related to marketing, media and especially movies. I am your host, Kalpana Ravi, Associate Editor Indiantelevision.com and today my guest today is Shashank Srivastava – Senior Executive Director of Sales and Marketing – Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
Edited excerpts
On your early life, about how you grew up and what has been your experience.
My hometown is Bhopal and I did my initial schooling there. Then I did my engineering, I was always out of Bhopal after that. I did my MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, post which I joined Maruti Suzuki. And that was a long time back, just out of college. And this is actually 33 years I have been in this industry. People asked me this question as to why the how, and why this long innings in Maruti Suzuki? The clear answer is that this is one industry, which I really love. It’s always cars, it has always been my passion, starting from my school days. Therefore, I wanted to join an organisation, which was in this industry. Maruti Suzuki, of course, has been leading organisations for a very long time. That’s how I came into Maruti Suzuki. It gave me a lot of good experiences across different areas of work. That’s how I kept on with Maruti Suzuki. I’m glad because we did contribute a lot to the industry. I feel that I have also been a part of that contribution to the Indian economy.
On your connection with cars
I started driving the car when I was in the seventh standard. My father used to have an Ambassador car. In those days, cars had these radiators, so we had to fill the water to cool the engine down. I was given the task of cleaning the car every morning and putting that water on the radiator. Once in a while I started, I started the car as well, and started driving a little bit just about 10 metres. I’m not sure that my father ever knew about this. But my mother clearly knew about this activity of mine. I’m not sure whether she told this to my father because he didn’t say anything. That’s how I started driving the car and started getting to have the feel of the car.
On choosing to be a marketer in the automobile sector.
It’s basically a consumer perspective and I thought that as a consumer, what should be what product it should be, what it should mean to a consumer. So, I got interested in the technicalities of the car in the mind of the consumer of the car, and that is how I started thinking about the products especially automobiles from a consumer perspective. For that obviously, during my course, in my MBA at the at IIM Ahmedabad but I mastered in you know, there was a subject I had to choose to specialise in and I chose marketing and it gave a very structured sort of knowledge a very structured approach to the entire consumer behaviour, consumer mind and how companies should make products and how to market them and that is how I chose marketing.
On sharing some highlights from your journey so far
There are many actually. Starting from the early 90s, you had a very high tax structure, the penetration of cars was just around two cars per 1000 people. Today it is 32. When I joined Maruti Suzuki, we had two other car manufacturers in the industry, the total sale was about 50,010 per annum. Today, we are selling 50,000. Maybe in the industry, we are selling almost 40 lakh this year. From about 50,000 to 40 lakhs, I have seen these changes happening in the last 30 years, not only in terms of volumes, which I just mentioned, also in terms of the different segments which emerged earlier. The Maruti 800 was being used by everybody, the bureaucrat, the businessman, the family guy, the young boys and the girls. But today, you see a lot of segmentation. So, you have family cars like the Ertiga, the Sedan’s then you have the SUVs, which were earlier a rougher sort of thing as technology has changed immensely. While volumes have changed, segments have changed and the consumers themselves have changed. You see a lot of digitalization in the industry today, which means the consumer buying process itself has changed. The type of buyer also has changed and the income level of the buyers has changed. In that sense, there has been a complete change from what it was 30 years ago, and each of these changes has been a highlight. For example, when the new Swift came in, it started a new segment which people thought would never exist, but it did then we had the Esteem. It was also a segment which suddenly came in. Therefore, each of these moments are like highlights of the last 30 years and I have been very lucky to be a witness to almost all of them.
On some of the memorable campaigns you have worked on work
One good thing about the large experience is also that I have been part of most of the memorable campaigns actually, because Maruti’s a 40-year-old company and I have worked for more than 33 years. In essence, the theme of those campaigns also defines how the consumer has been changing. So initially, there was a campaign about fuel efficiency. There was one Sardar Ji campaign that became a rage because it really defined in a very nice way how fuel efficiency is so dear to consumers. Those times consumers were obviously the first criteria for car purchase was the running cost and therefore, the second campaign on the network, which was about a guy who goes up to Ladakh somewhere, and he says, Is there a hotel? There is no hotel and he says there is a Maruti Suzuki service station. And they say yes, there is. So even in remote areas, that was a great campaign on fuel efficiency. Of course, some really good campaigns on the products as well. Like the new alto campaign, we had a blue-eyed boy campaign and so on and so forth. So, there are and there is one other campaign which is the corporate car campaign, which was about how Maruti Suzuki cars are integral to Indian consumers. It was a campaign which had a lot of elements of the brand being ubiquitous as it was everywhere. So that was another campaign, which I really loved and the consumers loved them too. And it became a talking point in the advertising world as well. So, some of these campaigns are really memorable. Even after 20-25 years, when I think about them, they really lift my spirits, because I’ve been part of them.
On your thoughts on Bollywood movies making record-breaking numbers this year
Indian consumers are really big movie fans. If you see this year, some of the movies have really done well in the theatres like Pathaan, Gadar 2, Jawaan, Kantara etc. Then down south KGF and RRR, have all done business in excess of 500 crores. So it’s encouraging not only for the film industry but also if you look at it from an advertisers’ point of view, it’s really very encouraging. In fact, when a movie does well at the theatre, you also have a high anticipation of the OTT and Television as well, because there will be a World TV premiere of these blockbusters as well. They tend to garner a lot of buzz because of them doing well in the theatre. Some of the movies have delivered extremely good numbers on television. Obviously, in a media strategy, we have tried to leverage these movies for our brands and going forward, I think we will continue to do that. One point about this is obviously the evolution of the OTT, there is a lot of content which are now available to consumers. So of course, he’s spoilt for choice in that sense, but even OTT premieres are big, and hence for the advertisers, I think we need to analyse the ROI very diligently and invest on both TV and OTT to get the best ROI. And that’s what Maruti Suzuki has been doing.
On watching movies on television creating value and impact that offer your brands?
It creates immense value because it is about memory structure as they say. It is not just about one advertisement or FCT that you put on. Of course, if you look at marketing as an investment and not as an expense, then what it does is build a longer-term brand value and these values come from these memory structures like watching a movie together with the family so, that becomes a brand conversation, which happens because of the family watching together. There are other memory structures like logos for example, or the packaging design, or, the visual treatment of the product itself, if you look at our Maruti Nexa product, for example, the design language is different. So there is also brand communication through the design language, we call it crafted futurism. So, therefore, I think these memory structures are extremely powerful, and very valuable for any brand. So, therefore, these memory structures are extremely powerful and very valuable for any brand. What it does is, it probably requires a small investment to keep the brands on top of the mind, because the investments have grown over time. That’s how those memory structures have evolved. These are the things which have a greater cultural relevance. Brands that see the advantage of this approach, will succeed and their ROI will grow. And we at Maruti Suzuki, feel that these occasions such as the ones that you mentioned, are really great opportunities for marketers.
On the current media spectrum of TV and digital contributing a winning mix for a marketeer and on the overall effectiveness of TV plus digital advertising
I’m glad that you said what is the ideal mix, rather than a lot of people who asked this question, which is better, is it TV or is it digital, because obviously, you have to strike the right balance between television and digital and find out the best way to reach the TG. For example, television is great, because for automobiles, if you really want to create imagery, the stickiness of the imagery is good on television, because you can have a large video format there. That’s essential, especially when you are launching a product. Also, the television media today in India has got a larger reach. So, if you’re trying to build a quick reach, and if you want to create imagery for brand positioning, initially, television is a great medium. However, in the funnel, if you look at the marketing funnel, as you go down for consideration and the actual conversion, then you need to have a more personalized message for consumers, their digital becomes more accurate, better, and less wasteful. Therefore, digital platforms obviously have got unparalleled, targeting capabilities because it allows marketers to reach specific audience segments and send personalized messages. That’s great for converting to an actual sale. And therefore, you need to have a mix of both television as well as, digital. It depends on the product category. A category such as car, imagery is very important. Because the category is different from the finance product, it also depends on the specific target audience, if you’re looking at really young consumers, who consume a lot of media in the digital sphere, obviously, you have to spend more money on digital. It also depends on your campaign objective, or even on the creative integration, the creative which is there. If you’re looking at performance measurement, obviously, that’s also one important thing because you can have a better measurement of the digital thing. It also depends on budget constraints. So, I would say that the media effectiveness and the mix are determined by the reach & engagement, if you want reach then TV. It definitely provides that broader reach and mass appeal, digital channels offer targeted engagements and personalised interactions. If you look at brand building, obviously, TV excels in brand building and emotional storytelling, digital platforms, drive performance marketing and maybe measurable results. So, a synergistic effect is what we are looking at. Therefore, a mix is good. In our case, the mix currently is about 30 per cent digital, television is about 40 per cent and the rest is print, radio, OOH and cinema.
