Hit or Miss: The Week in Ads 

As the year tiptoes toward its grand finale, the air is thick with two things: winter chill and the collective urge to romanticise everything. Suddenly even agency deadlines feel festive (okay, almost), fairy lights make every brief look prettier, and brands everywhere are wrapping their final campaigns with a bow, some sparkling hits, some endearingly chaotic misses.

This week in ads feels like the holiday season itself: warm, nostalgic, a little sentimental, and occasionally asking, “Did we really need that?” From heartstring-tugging family stories to brands attempting “quirky” one last time before the year ends, the industry is clearly in its cosy-core era. And honestly? We’re here for it.

So grab a cup of hot chocolate, ignore the unopened pitch decks for a moment, and dive into the final festive roundup of the year. Here’s where we celebrate the good, the goofy, and the gloriously season-soaked.

Flipkart - “The Great Khali’s Year-End Sale Madness”

Flipkart ropes in The Great Khali, and honestly, it’s a casting masterstroke. Khali’s towering presence in a regular Indian living room delivers instant comedy, especially when he obsessively preps for the Big Year-End Sale like it’s WrestleMania for discounts. The chaos, the family reactions, the visual exaggeration, everything lands. It’s a hit because the brand turns festive FOMO into pure entertainment while never losing sight of the CTA.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSIAB0KCFUf/?igsh=dzNheTU2Z3MxN2l0

Rungta Steel Ad

Rungta Steel goes big, SRK and Ranbir, styled unmistakably in shades of their beloved screen personas (SRK’s suave authority, Ranbir’s sharp-edged grit). The ad pivots on “Sachchai ki Neev,” using their dual-star charisma to build a story about reliability, integrity, and inner strength. It’s a Hit, not just because of star power, but because the narrative feels rooted, emotional, and tonally aligned with the brand’s long-term trust messaging.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSIF4Jkjb4W/?igsh=MXkxNGdtd2dxeG81aw==

GIVA - “Srishti Garg’s Jewellery Upgrade Fest”

This one is classic GIVA: confident, sparkly, aspirational. Srishti Garg plays the modern, self-loving woman telling you to ditch your old, dull jewellery and switch to something that actually reflects you. The storytelling is light, aesthetic and creator-driven, which works beautifully for Gen Z and young millennials. A clear hit, because the offer is strong, the message is empowering without being preachy, and Srishti’s persona fits the brand perfectly.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSHxKi6iGqC/?igsh=aDZiYmg4emZ5eHdo

Seagram’s Xlamatón - “Disable the P-Function”

Xlamatón enters the mixer market with swagger, humour and a slightly rebellious creative voice. The campaign encourages users to “disable the P-function,” essentially removing ‘punctuation’ or pauses from life, a metaphor cleverly crafted into a modern, nightlife-forward identity. The ad is slick, energetic and purposefully noisy. Definitely a hit, because it announces a new brand personality with clarity, confidence and a surprising dose of wit.

https://youtu.be/NFGZGR9QQ7U?si=ZWjbyOZMI0uxcMcJ

Google India - “Celebrate Safely with Google Assistant”

Warmly lit and shot like a festive street vignette, Google’s film shows a couple navigating celebration chaos, implying that Google Assistant can make festive nights smoother and safer. But the ad stays too atmospheric and doesn’t spotlight the features enough. Visually lovely, emotionally pleasant, but slightly soft on product storytelling. A miss, because the brand’s utility doesn’t shine through clearly despite the festive charm.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRmaTH9AN7S/?igsh=cXdydWQ4ZXd1Mmlz

Intermarché - “Holiday Table, Holiday Tension”

Intermarché delivers another holiday film filled with gentle tension, tender pauses and all the emotional micro-moments that define Christmas dinners. The storytelling is cinematic, soft lighting, warm colours, and a relatable family dynamic that unfolds subtly. It’s a hit because it continues Intermarché’s tradition of human-first festive narratives that feel universal, heartfelt and effortlessly shareable, proving once again why the brand is a seasonal favourite globally.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR707qADb2S/?igsh=ZGZ4cTUxbHNrNWJn

Whisper India - “Real Couple, Real Conversations”

Whisper keeps it warm and grounded with a simple kitchen-set conversation between a young couple discussing comfort and protection naturally. The tone is modern, the chemistry is believable, and the product benefit is integrated without drama. It’s a hit because it normalises period conversations without using heavy messaging, relying instead on ease, relatability and clean product communication, exactly what the category needs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSFJA5SgMSY/?igsh=ZWd0Nzd0aXZob2Fq

Air India x Vistara - “#ChangeIsInTheAir” 

Air India’s #ChangeIsInTheAir campaign is more than a merger announcement, it’s an emotional reinvention of India’s most storied airline. Even this simple link-drop asset reflects a larger universe of beautifully crafted films blending Vistara’s warmth with Air India’s heritage. The music, voiceovers and visual palette across the campaign feel comforting and rooted in nostalgia. It’s a Hit, because the communication reintroduces the brand with dignity, softness and a renewed sense of pride, exactly the tone a legacy reboot deserves.