ABP centenary campaign is a take on the inquisitive gene that makes us human: Agnello Dias
Dias, the creative force behind the campaign, talks to e4m about creating the film that encapsulates the journey of ABP Group & the quest to find ‘Corio City’

ABP Group recently launched an interesting centenary campaign reflecting its journey through the Indian media space. Presented as a cinematic parable seen through the eyes of a child, the film soon became a mass favourite because of its stellar storytelling and its take on the journey of ABP Group in the ever-evolving media landscape.
e4m got in touch with Agnello Dias, the creative force behind the campaign along with Sharpener Design Studio helmed by Hetal Ajmera and Bianca D’Sa, to understand the creative process and his experience of working outside an agency, and partnering with the Group.
Click on the image below below to know more about the campaign.
Speaking about what excited him about working with ABP Group on this project, Dias said, “The part that really got me interested was the fact that they did not want to peddle any product for the centenary campaign but instead conceptualize, articulate and put out a belief or a kind of life philosophy that held true for all humanity and what the group believed in as well.”
The philosophy that Dias talks about is how curiosity makes everything interesting and can make people traverse beyond their comfort zones to seek answers. It is depicted in the film via the journey of a child across India that spans geographies, cultures, roots, and traditions to find ‘Corio City’, a word that he happened to read in a paper. The film seamlessly encapsulates the journey of ABP Group and the role it plays in satiating the curiosity of generations through its content.
Dias shared that the final idea was a collaborative effort between him and the ABP brand team. “I came up with the core thought first, before finally writing out the film script for it. With Future East, the production house, I discussed the various approaches to mounting and pitching the story, but the core idea was already done when I took it to them.”
It was one of the rarest times that he kept the idea flowing through one route with one approach and one tagline from the word go, without any other ideas or thoughts presented to the client, he added.
“For me, most thoughts start out like a wild beast that must be controlled, tamed and pinned down to work for the brand. So, we have a chaotic churning period where our minds are circling the beast, figuring out how to tackle and tame it. During this period, we – Hetal Ajmera of Sharpener, Lata Vasudevan Bagchi – the co-writer and myself - had a lot of conversations around the notion of curiosity; a lot of talks, talks, talks about the thought, over the thought, under the thought, and all around the thought. It was tossed, turned and marinated inside my head till I homed into what I thought was an opening to go in and take a shot at nailing it. In this case, we felt that if we reverse the conventional cliché about curiosity providing answers to questions, it could get us a fresher challenging take on the inquisitive gene that makes all of us human,” Dias elaborated.
As engaging as the film is the campaign tagline – ‘Curiosity questions answers’, instantly strikes a chord with the audience. On being asked how Dias zeroed down on this thought, he noted, “To constantly want to know more, to explore new truths and challenge old ones is the cornerstone of civilization. In fact, in many ways, it separates the human species from the rest. I was grappling with the challenge of capturing this thought – that the human mind can both explore the unknown and turn inward to challenge the known – in a single line. It resonated deeply with the ABP Group as it captures not just a facet of humanity but is also the true essence of journalism in its purest form.”
The ad film also turned out to be Dias’ project outside the walls of an agency post his exit from Taproot Dentsu a year ago. Additionally, most of the work on this campaign was done during the Covid lockdown. Dias shares that the experience of dealing with all this was surely enthralling as he quips, “It was a little odd at first because we didn’t have strategic planners, servicing partners or the structure of a network agency. Moreover, it was lockdown time. So, most of our brainstorming had to be done virtually. One of the challenges working is that one is woefully short of bouncing boards for concepts at an early stage. The variety of minds that one bounces off raw thoughts - from a servicing intern or a senior strategic partner to a layperson, all of whom one has access to in an agency - is not available to you. The positive fallout of this is that it stimulates you to draw upon all your reserves of experience, intuition, self-scrutiny and introspection to arrive at what would still be a powerful piece of communication.”
Despite that, the film was conceptualised just within a month, “From the time we were briefed till we made the first and, what turned out to be the final creative presentation, was only about a month. What kept pushing the campaign development timelines was the increasing number of lockdowns due to Covid, and therefore postponements in plans, schedules, etc.”
What aided this quick delivery was possibly Dias’ chemistry with the rest of the partners working on the film. He noted, “Both Hetal Ajmera of Sharpener Design and Lata Vasudevan Bagchi, who is a freelance writer, have worked with me before in an agency. I have always liked Sharpener’s quirky sense of visual design and thought it would be great to challenge them with a design approach that called for an affirmative, bold, striking and mature tone of voice rather than a quirk. Hetal created the remarkable face-in-question-mark symbol, which is both striking and restrained after which the campaign’s look and feel flowed organically from there.”
Dias further added that director Ashim Ahluwalia of Future East brought to the table the sheer passion and a crazy obsession with making the script happen. “Right from the day he heard the idea and the script, he has been even more passionate than me about making it come alive in its purest form. And the result would not have been possible without his infectious madness.”
On being quizzed about the most interesting feedback he has received on the film, Dias shared, “The film has generated a very positive response and has crossed over 4 to 5 million views across platforms already. The usual positive feedback aside, there are a few detailed ones like the one that mentions the use of the circular lamp above the child’s head when enlightenment dawns upon him. It was deliberately written into the script, and it feels nice when a designed nuance actually gets picked up.”
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Vedantu & dentsu creative India launch ‘The Everything Book’
The campaign aims to bridge the education gap in rural India
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 3, 2023 9:25 AM | 3 min read
Vedantu in partnership with DENTSU CREATIVE India has launched a campaign to address the absence of reliable connectivity that hampers the access for not only to online learning platforms but also to skilled teachers and valuable courses.
To address this challenge, Vedantu, in partnership with DENTSU CREATIVE India, has developed a patented network aggregator device nestled in a beautifully illustrated book titled, ‘The Everything Book’.
The device aims to bridge the connectivity gap by providing high-speed internet access to the most remote and disconnected parts of India. The goal is to provide children in these areas with a fair opportunity to access the education they rightfully deserve.
In an era where smartphones have reached even the remotest villages, the challenge of reliable connectivity still persists. This game-changing device operates as a portable network signal aggregator, capable of consolidating multiple data blocks from weak 2G mobile networks. By combining these fragments, it generates a strong ‘hyperspot’ that offers high-speed internet connectivity equivalent to 4G networks.
The concept of ‘everything’ represents the boundless nature of online learning. Additionally, the incorporation of a book element serves as a symbolic representation of the core purpose of this endeavour. Within the book, readers will find four inspirational stories, accompanied by captivating illustrations that depict the cultural heritage of the country. By employing various art styles, the aim is to create a sense of relatability and familiarity, encouraging more children to explore its contents. The book is an extraordinary amalgamation of art forms from across India. For the first time, the diverse styles of Avadhi, Rajput, Madhubani, Sikkimese Thangka, Pichwai, Chitrakathi, Kerala Mural, and Kalamkari have been united, showcasing the vibrant artistic traditions of the nation.
Pulkit Jain, Co-founder, Vedantu said, “We want to bring quality education to every child in the country, but without the internet, you cannot stream online courses. Children of rural India have so much potential which we’re losing out on because of a lack of supporting infrastructure. We worked with DENTSU CREATIVE to bring the idea ‘Everything Book’ alive to make sure quality learning reaches as many children as it could in our country.”
Aalap Desai, Chief Creative Officer, Creative Experience, West, DENTSU CREATIVE India added, “The Everything Book has the potential to democratise education in the country. It is simple to use, is portable, and can be easily held and moved around letting children who don’t even have a proper classroom to sit in, let alone proper books and resources, to study connect to the internet and stream the latest syllabus and learn from the best teachers at Vedantu.”
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MsChief unveils new brand film that empowers women to #ClaimYourPleasure
The film urges women in India to challenge the status quo
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 4:58 PM | 1 min read
MsChief, TTK Healthcare’s sexual pleasure brand for women, has unveiled its all-new brand film, a poignant and unique take on the sexual pleasure landscape in India, specially when it comes to female pleasure.
The new brand film traces the journey of five women from different walks of life who challenge the norm and shatter everyday stereotypes through their choices. At the beginning of the film, we see these empowered women breaking down walls when it comes to pay parity, dressing what is considered appropriate, getting married before the age of 25 and pursuing their careers after marriage. Mirroring society as it stands today, these women go beyond stereotypical gender norms. Claiming their identities and space, the women are finally faced with a wall that is often overlooked- the Pleasure Gap.
On the launch of the brand film, Vishal Vyas, AVP Marketing, TTK Healthcare comments, “MsChief rejects the idea that women should settle for diminished or muted pleasure. Today, women are forging ahead with milestones in all industries and fields, have broken barriers in terms of pay parity and education, but the pleasure gap is something which needs to be addressed equally openly. MsChief empowers women to claim their pleasure with their range of products, and the brand film reflects that.”
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Springwel ropes in Boman Irani for new campaign
The series of ad films will talk about the effects of sleeplessness in daily life
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 2:29 PM | 3 min read
Springwel Mattresses has launched a new ad campaign #DhangSeSoyaHotaTohYeNaHota, featuring Boman Irani by introducing multiple innovations in products like Pure Ortho balance, Tru Comfort and Tru Love.
The three films starring Irani highlight how lack of proper sleep leads to absent-mindedness, embarrassment, and errors in the smallest of tasks. ‘Dhang se soya hota, toh ye na hota’, the catchphrase remarked by Boman Irani in the films, captures the brand messaging light-heartedly. The three films talk to three unique consumer cohorts and address their specific sleeping needs.
Sharing his thoughts on the association and the brand campaign, Ankit Kapoor, CMO and Operating Partner, Ananta Capital, said, “Springwel is constantly innovating and extending the technology prowess in the mattress industry of our country. This campaign highlights the need for proper sleep, and Mr. Irani’s portrayal as the central character adds credibility to the unique features that Springwel’s new innovations. We are delighted to collaborate with him and are confident that the consumers can relate to the daily nuances we project through each of our films. With that, we aim to play our part in solving the problem of lack of proper sleep in our country.”
Expressing his concern towards the rising cases of sleep deprivation in the country, Boman Irani said, “Through this campaign, I would urge people to consider the importance of good sleep and the role of the right mattress in addressing sleeping issues. I am thrilled to be part of this initiative, thought over so well, innovated and door-delivered by Springwel. Technologies like cleantech protection and pure orthopaedic benefits will ensure better & deep sleep for every Springwel consumer.”
Commenting on the same, Ashish Kharwatkar, Executive Creative Director, Enormous said, “Enhancing the quality of your sleep is paramount for overall well-being, and Springwel has embraced cutting-edge technological advancements to achieve that. Through relatable situations depicting the consequences of sleep deprivation, we've crafted an entertaining and lighthearted message of ‘Dhang ki neend’ - The perfect sleep, expertly delivered by the affable and iconic Actor, Mr. Boman Irani."
Sharing his thoughts on the association & the brand campaign, Ankit Kapoor, CMO and Operating Partner, Ananta Capital, said, “Springwel is constantly innovating and extending the technology prowess in the mattress industry of our country. This campaign highlights the need for proper sleep, and Mr. Irani’s portrayal as the central character adds credibility to this message. We are delighted to collaborate with him and are confident that the consumers can relate to each of these situations in the three films. With that, we hope we can make the consumer conscious of the role our mattress innovations can play in getting them good sleep."
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Creativeland Studio acquires London-based Creators Inc
The deal value exceeds UK £3 million
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 1:19 PM | 3 min read
Today, on its 16th anniversary, CLAN announced Creativeland Studio's acquisition of London-based Creators Inc – in a total deal value exceeding UK £3 million (three million pounds) to solidify its entry into international long and short content production and the expansion of CLAN's global footprint aligned to its vision of building a global creative super ecosystem.
Further, Creativeland Asia Network (CLAN) has launched Creativeland Studios to focus on the growth of its long and short-format cinema and tv content offering – focussing on creating, producing and distributing high-end films, documentaries, television series and audio content.
With this acquisition, Creativeland Studios has consolidated ten active slates, including two titles in production and now will have over 50 titles in its pipeline.
Creators Inc. is a unique long and short format production house with a roster of directors that includes Oscar, Emmy & BAFTA-winning directors such as Guy Ritchie, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Sarah Gavron, Philip Barantini, Colin Tilley, Mark Osborne and many others.
Creators Inc., founded and led by Jani Guest, brings together award-winning industry specialists from advertising, film and television. Creators Inc. use various synergies across these industries to position themselves worldwide at the top of the production market across all formats.
On the back of this acquisition – Creativeland Asia Network has begun its successful foray into CLA’s creative, technology, marketing & media services ecosystem to the global market.
Sajan Raj Kurup's vision for Creativeland Studios is to provide a platform for filmmakers and creators to express their vision and bring their ideas and unique stories to viewers. The acquisition of Creators Inc is a significant step in achieving that vision. With this new global acquisition – the possibilities are endless, and CLAN is ready to take on the entertainment world.
Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder & Chairman of CLAN, said, “At Creativeland Asia – we are on a passionate journey to create a formidable creative infrastructure for the new world where media, technology, creativity and humanity will come together to curate a more entertained life. The core strategic insight for this acquisition is to build on our ability to bring brands, content and talent together – through a consolidated platform. Today, more than ever before, we recognise that content plays a pivotal role in keeping us connected, informed and entertained.”
Jani Guest, Founder & CEO of Creators Inc, said, “Creators Inc. places its incredible directorial talent at the heart of the company. The partnership with Raj and CLA allows us to accelerate the development and production of stories - created by our talent - to entertain, move, and impact positive change. I could not have wished for a better partner as we move forward to achieve our shared visions and goals.”
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Sociowash renews digital mandate with multiple brands under Viacom18
The agency’s Mumbai team will amplify the YME cluster's social media presence across digital channels
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 1:17 PM | 1 min read
Sociowash has renewed its digital mandate with Viacom18’s Youth, Music, and English Entertainment (YME) cluster.
They have been associated with the agency since January 2022 and have continued their partnership to upscale their strategies for the subsequent tenure. Sociowash will manage their social media strategy, campaign management, influencer marketing, and shoot management under this association.
YME cluster includes responsibilities for MTV Beats, Vh1, Colors Infinity, Comedy Central, KaanPhod, and Fully Faltoo. Sociowash, with its competence in digital and creative marketing, will manage its social media strategies, including 23 of its Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages. The efficiency of its workforce will also concentrate on Analytics and reporting for its campaigns.
Speaking on the association, Raghav Bagai, Co-Founder of Sociowash, said, “The continuation of our journey speaks volumes of how successful the partnership has been in making them divergent from their competitors. The Sociowash team aspires to accomplish exceptional work and get recognised by winning numerous industry awards to maintain the soaring/high standards set in the past. We look forward to strengthening our association and making it more fruitful by helping the brands achieve their goals.”
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ITC Nimyle celebrates the ‘joy of clean floors’
The campaign has been conceptualized by Ogilvy
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 3, 2023 9:25 AM | 2 min read
The floor is a child’s first playground. From crawling to taking their first steps, to creating memories as they grow, floors have been a comfort zone for all kids. While parents take steps to create a safe environment for kids, ITC Nimyle celebrates the joy and satisfaction of clean floors that can be a happy safe space for kids, with their newly launched campaign film with ‘Nimyle Farsh hai, Khushiyon Ka Farsh’.
Conceptualized by Ogilvy, the endearing film highlights the fact that children spend an ample amount of time indulging in activities on floors.
Commenting on the campaign, Sameer Satpathy, Chief Executive, Personal Care Products Business Division, ITC Limited said, “Floors are often playgrounds for many, especially for children. The expression of unbridled enthusiasm, happiness and energy is more often on floors in a protected home environment. To keep floors clean and safe is extremely important and Nimyle with the power of neem enables clean and hygienic floors for all.”
Kainaz Karmakar and Harshad Rajadhyaksha, CCOs, Ogilvy India, said, “The floor beneath our feet is such a taken-for-granted space, which usually finds mention in this category of advertising only functionally. With Nimyle, being natural at root and warm as a brand, we laddered up this functionality of the safety of our clean floors, to the emotionality of what those clean, safe floors mean, especially for childhoods to flourish on them. For such a sweet idea, we are so happy with the way our film director, Afshan, has brought out this correlation between clean, safe floors being a part of healthy, wholesome childhoods.”
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Reckitt welcomes Wavemaker as 'newest partner in India'
The media agency will lead the mandate for Reckitt’s brands across health, hygiene and nutrition portfolios
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 11:52 AM | 2 min read
Reckitt has selected Wavemaker as their media agency in India. Wavemaker, part of GroupM, won the business after a competitive global pitch.
Under this new partnership, Wavemaker will be responsible for handling the media strategy, planning, buying and implementation for all mass and digital media. The media agency will lead the mandate for Reckitt’s brands across health, hygiene, and nutrition portfolios such as Dettol, Durex, Mortein, Harpic, Lizol, Strepsils, among others.
Commenting on the association, Dilen Gandhi, Regional Marketing Director, South Asia – Health & Nutrition, Reckitt, said, “Reckitt is one of the leading consumer products brands in the Indian market with a diverse product portfolio. At Reckitt, we are always looking out to strategically align ourselves to the ever-changing consumer needs and improve our connect with them. As a result of a global decision, we are glad to welcome Wavemaker on board and are confident of their domain knowledge and media buying clout. Their experience will help us enhance saliency across our brands and drive media efficiencies.”
Saurabh Jain, Regional Marketing Director, South Asia - Hygiene, Reckitt said, “We welcome Wavemaker, our newest partner, and believe their comprehensive understanding of the media landscape will position us at the forefront of media innovation, endearing our brands to all stakeholders. The decision to change has been made in alignment with our global processes. We would like to thank the Dentsu team for their unwavering dedication in establishing our power brands over the past years.”
Ajay Gupte, CEO - South Asia, Wavemaker said, “We are absolutely ecstatic to have been selected as Reckitt's esteemed media agency partner. Securing the consolidated media mandate for Reckitt's iconic brands not only recognizes our profound comprehension of the ever-evolving media landscape but also showcases our exceptional proficiency in crafting ground-breaking solutions for our clients. With Reckitt's illustrious heritage, we wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to delivering unparalleled media and communications strategies that set new benchmarks in the industry.”
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