Hit or Miss: The week in ads

This week’s line-up reflects the spectrum of festive advertising: brands blending tradition with technology, humour with heart, and purpose with positioning

by Soumya Gawri
Published: Oct 25, 2025 8:28 AM | 4 min read

As the Diwali lights fade, India’s adland is still glowing with creativity, from grand emotional storytelling to over-the-top celebrity punchlines. This week’s line-up reflects the spectrum of festive advertising: brands blending tradition with technology, humour with heart, and purpose with positioning. Some, like Apple and VinFast, leaned into cultural warmth and visual poetry, while others such as KFC and Goibibo rode on personality and recall power.

The post-festive week also saw brands like Fortune and Stanley Tools extend Diwali’s spirit into everyday empathy, showing how celebration can transition into community care. But not every sparkle shines, a few campaigns dazzled more in execution than in brand connection. As we move past the festive clutter, these ads offer a glimpse of what Indian advertising must now chase: authentic stories that outlast the season, not just dominate it.

Veedol NEXT-GEN Fully Synthetic

This ad shows an “undercover agent” testing Veedol’s new synthetic engine oil under real-world conditions. By dramatizing the test, it builds trust in Veedol’s performance and reinforces its technical credibility. It’s a hit because it feels authentic and performance-driven.

Apple “Rangoli’s got rhythm”

Apple’s Diwali ad celebrates rangoli through dance and music, shot using iPhones, combining tradition with modern tech. It resonates culturally and emotionally, making the festival feel vibrant and high-touch. However, the link to the iPhone itself is subtle, so viewers may remember the art more than the product benefit. It's a subtle hit still for Diwali.

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Goibibo “Hotel Deals Ka Asli Guru” (Pant & Sidhu)

In this playful campaign, Goibibo uses cricket stars Rishabh Pant and Navjot Singh Sidhu to promote their value hotel deals. Their banter and celebrity appeal make the ad fun and relatable, driving home the message of affordable stays. An amazing duo making a hit ad.

Fortune Foods “Ghar Ka Khana”

Fortune’s campaign tugs at heartstrings by invoking the comfort and nostalgia of home-cooked food during Diwali. It blends emotion with cultural insight and uses digital/AR elements to engage. It’s a hit for its warmth and relatability.

Stanley Tools - “Yeh Deepavali Yellow Waali”

Stanley Tools turned a Diwali ad into real social impact by lighting up a village named Deepavali with solar lamps, aligning their yellow branding with meaningful community work. It’s a win because it’s not just a promotion, but action.

MG / Morris Garages (MG India) Diwali Film

MG India’s Diwali ad focuses on relationships and mobility: celebrating bonds that go beyond just shopping or social status. It positions MG cars as part of life’s meaningful journeys. The emotional tone connects well, making it a hit.

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KFC “Epic Savers” - Himesh Reshammiya

KFC roped in Himesh Reshammiya as his alter ego Ravi Kumar to promote their 9-piece bucket for ₹299. He enters dramatically, delivers a quirky song, and brings comic flair. This works because it’s entertaining, catchy, and leverages a well-known persona, while clearly communicating the deal.

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VinFast India Diwali “Kindest Diwali Basket”

Created by Havas Creative, VinFast’s Diwali film spotlights kindness, empathy, and the joy of giving. Rather than push their EVs aggressively, they celebrate human values and community, aligning the brand with compassion and future-thinking. This is a strong, emotional play, but as a product ad, it’s subtle; some viewers might not connect it back to VinFast’s automotive value or technology. Sutble miss.