Advertising News India
From UNIQLO’s celebrity-led fleece campaign to Taneira’s take on festive dressing, brands are using humour, product storytelling and familiar cultural cues to connect with consumers
According to AAAI, the Media Council will provide a forum for agencies to engage on issues affecting the media business
Havas reported net revenue of €703 million for the third quarter, up 7.2% from a year earlier
The broader representation is intended to strengthen collaboration across the industry
FMCG, BFSI and fintech are driving festive advertising momentum, while brands increasingly prioritise measurable returns, digital, CTV and commerce-led campaigns, says Lalatendu Das
Net revenue for the quarter stood at €3.81 billion, up 7.9% from the year-ago period
The two brands are part of the grocery portfolio of Associated British Foods
Empathy from Surf Excel, mischief from CRED and Rakhi Sawant, banter from Rohit and Virat: the 12 best ads of the week
Tilaknagar’s Ishwindar Singh and ad Director Roopali Singhal on bringing back the lift, putting women in on the joke and evolving an iconic franchise
From Flipkart to Amazon, big festive campaigns are increasingly coming from independents, as brands chase sharper cultural ideas and faster turnarounds
Purple Sketch will contribute to the event’s creative communication and brand representation
Veteran adman Prabhakar Mundkur writes why we seem to have confused measuring communication with understanding communication
With data, testing and brand safety shaping every brief, creative leaders ask whether agencies have turned too cautious, and where push-back should begin
Guest Column: Pradeep Menon M, Co-founder, Head - Branding & Strategy, of Blackswan (India) Ideations, writes Dr Sandeep Goyal as AAAI president has exposure to both the client side and agency side
Ranbir Kapoor's FMCG debut, Sachin Tendulkar's ChatGPT innings and festive face-offs from Amazon and Flipkart lead this week's best ads
The account will be handled by a customized team led by Paritosh Srivastava, CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi India, BBH India, and Propagate India, and Jai Lala, CEO, Zenith India
Goyal is the quintessential advertising maverick and understands advertising, entrepreneurship, technology and AI
With CTV and premium content moving to larger screens, brands are rethinking the hero film. Marketers and agency heads on why length is back in play
This will be Dheeraj Sinha’s second term as President of The Advertising Club
Cinema may have an attention advantage, but it still weighs in at less than 1% of AdEx. With the industry now selling more than the screen, is that enough to move the needle on budgets?
With Red Bull in the Delhi High Court over FSSAI's descriptor order, lawyers and a creative head weigh in on what changes for labels, ads and brand codes
ASCI’s guidelines outline when advertisers must disclose the use of synthetically generated content and specify uses that are not permitted
As ads enter ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, Indian creative leaders say the brief must plan for what a brand says after the ad ends
A notice, reviewed by e4m and issued by the CCI on March 19, 2026, to an independent agency seeks specific details and information regarding the probe and includes material related to a joint meeting
Bollywood star power meets festive season storytelling as brands from Rungta Steel to Myntra deploy celebrity ensembles, regional narratives and cause-led films this week
McDonald’s $1-bn ad business plan is the latest sign that retail media has escaped retail: if you have first-party data, consumer attention, surfaces to sell ads, you too can become a media company
Guest Column: Pradeep Menon. M, Co-founder, Head - Branding & Strategy, of Blackswan (India) Ideations, writes on how signs of AI fatigue are apparent in the creative agencies
From CRED's un-ad legacy to AI-sharpened workflows: agencies are working out whether stripped-down creative is craft, or a costume for compromise
Following a competitive multi-agency pitch, WPP will build an AI-powered content engine producing over 35,000 assets annually for Nestlé’s brands
In a post, he called for greater focus on preparing the next generation of advertisers to think beyond what constitutes effective advertising and consider what constitutes responsible advertising
The report, ‘It Happens In Bharat Only’, looks at distinctly Indian consumer behaviours and explores what brands and marketers can learn from them
Brand experts say AI brings the advantage of combining production capacity with audience intelligence and the differentiation now depends on strategy, original ideas, and human judgement
ASCI’s Vision 2032 can shift advertising self-regulation from complaint-led action to proactive monitoring, writes Dr. Annurag Batra
Local pitches accounted for 86% of assessed media spend, with 46 local reviews worth $719M against 16 global or multi-market pitches worth $119M, says COMvergence's New Business Barometer for India
As per COMvergence’s New Business Barometer for India, at agency-group level, Publicis Media led with net new-business value of +$218M, followed by WPP Media (+$198M), Omnicom Media Group (+$18M)
Vidhu Ravinath and Archisman Sarangi appointed as Vice Presidents and Business Heads of Dentsu Performance Studio
From Ravi Kishan’s viral charm to Bajaj’s nostalgic comeback, this week’s ads explore humour, nostalgia and fresh ways to connect with consumers
The induction ceremony was held on September 16 at Capitale in New York.
The Omnicom-owned shop will look to sharpen the ‘neighborhood’ positioning that has long defined the casual dining chain for today's diners
The case has also expanded beyond the scope of competition investigations to include provisions of the CCI (General) Regulations, 2024, which govern the conduct of advocates during investigations
The Delhi high court has declined to approve BSC’s revised advertisement
For the ad industry, the question goes beyond the courtroom to how far can brands push a creative; legal experts say the aim should be to highlight one’s product, not take a dig at a competitor
The development comes as Dentsu works to restore normalcy following the searches
Participants will include Industry organisations, Brand Owners, Full-chain advertising and marketing service providers, Media and digital platforms as well as academic and research stakeholders
As brands chase live moments over 30-second films, agencies are redesigning creative craft around participation, not just production
The dispute concerns whether the advertisement amounts to disparagement of Gillette and if the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Delhi HC’s Intellectual Property Division
Guest Column: Two global cola companies, three holding companies and a buying process that has quietly changed shape thanks to consolidation, writes marketing veteran Shubhranshu Singh
As generative AI turns production into a commodity, agency leaders say judgement, taste and cultural insight are becoming advertising's scarcest currency
Indians never really liked chocolate, but always loved what it meant. Chocolate in India was never a food. It was a currency
From Shah Rukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar to AI, folklore, father-son banter, and festive storytelling, here are the campaigns that caught our attention this week
However, Publicis Groupe will not handle the account for Japan, which is under Dentsu
As per reports, the judge said that 'comparative advertising can place a rival’s product in an unfavourable light, but crosses the legal line'
Dr. Annurag Batra writes that advertising’s shift to Mumbai and Bengaluru risks weakening India’s regional creative diversity
One investigation does not make an industry-wide case. But it raises a larger question: as advertising becomes more complex, will the business behind the business face greater scrutiny?
Talent, culture and business are spreading beyond Mumbai. Agencies are now asking if the metro-first structure that built Indian advertising can hold
Publicis's new global media mandate with PepsiCo is prompting a fresh look at its existing U.S. and Canada arrangement with rival Coca-Cola
The investigation is understood to involve examining alleged off-balance sheet and financial transactions, along with government and political-led advertising campaigns
The Haier India media agency pitch has become the key commercial flashpoint in the dispute
Guest Column: Yesudas S Pillai, Entrepreneur, Investor, Marathoner and a Curious observer, asks if we are losing the value of an actual conversation while doing business
Dentsu’s tax probe could have implications beyond one agency, as scrutiny of royalty payments, IP & cross-border charges raises prospect of a wider examination across advertising networks
From big brand transformations and celebrity-led campaigns to nostalgia, humour, purpose and culture, these are the ads that made the cut this week
e4m was the first to report that the ‘royalty pivot’ was emerging as a key angle in the Dentsu IT probe
Vikkramm Chandirramani, astrologer, psychic and Founder of Futurescopes, decodes some of advertising’s most important periods of reinvention and the astrological patterns behind them
Around 20 Income Tax officials entered Dentsu’s Mumbai office on Tuesday, according to people familiar with the operation
Dr Annurag Batra writes that agency investigations underscore the need to protect trust through strong governance, transparency and clear communication
Industry executives say royalty payments have increasingly become an area of attention as multinational companies rely more heavily on intangible assets
Mohan's career offers a glimpse into how advertising leadership itself has evolved — from managing media and agency networks to building technology-led businesses
Omnicom loses a two-decade-plus stronghold as Publicis unifies PepsiCo's worldwide media business and steps back from a rival $4 billion Coke review
The APAC leadership has also sent out a message that the matter is serious and cannot be disclosed
While sugar prices have surged 30%, rising cost of edible oil, wheat, cocoa adds to margin pressure; packaged food advertisers left to choose between cutting spends or protecting festive visibility
According to sources at the Mumbai's Worli Police Division, the searches by IT officials began at 10 am
Under the mandate, Laqshya will manage branding and advertising across the airport, covering digital out-of-home (DOOH), traditional out-of-home (OOH), installations and other advertising format
Dentsu India faces renewed regulatory scrutiny, say sources. The raids are suspected to be conducted by the Income Tax department
The appointment follows a three-month global media pitch process initiated in March 2026
The review comes as Haier scales its India marketing spend on the back of a 30% sales jump, and profit more than tripling in FY25
As he celebrated his birthday recently, e4m looks at the Omnicom Media India CEO’s journey and his role in shaping the evolving media landscape
The mandate will see OMD India lead the brand’s media strategy, planning, and execution
Guest Column: Marketing veteran Shubhranshu Singh shares in a social media post his take on OpenAI introducing ChatGPT ads in India
As brands rush to react to the same cultural moments, industry experts warn that the format that makes one response sharp can turn the next ten into template work, putting distinctiveness at risk
Guest Column: Shantomoy Ray, Founder and Director of K Factor Communications, explores why consumers are tuning out traditional advertising and why relevance, genuine engagement matter more than ever
The controversy began after a section of users objected to Kriti’s outfit in the ad
Uflex and CreativeMud will work towards developing communication that strengthens consumer engagement
The ad drew flak for the actor’s Indo-Western styling in a rakhi campaign, but many defended it by calling it a contemporary expression
Here's a review of Bobby Pawar's writing, focusing on the poems, themes, language and the distinctive poetic voice
As feeds move faster than campaigns, Indian ad agencies are relearning the art of picking their cultural battles
The court also clarified that no interim or ad-interim relief would be considered until the jurisdiction issue is decided
The dispute covers Urban Company’s Native M0, M1, M2, M1 Pro and M2 Pro purifiers
Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld and Founder, exchange4media Group, and Parag Sawhney, GM, The Park New Delhi, co-hosted the event at the newly launched Tyde
Explore this week's standout ad campaigns from Flipkart, Google, and more, showcasing creativity, humour, and a courtroom clash in the advertising world.
As predictive AI tools promise to de-risk campaigns before they air, India's creative leaders are debating whether the data sharpens judgement or replaces it
The suit, filed against Beco's parent company Kwick Living, alleges commercial disparagement, trademark infringement and passing off
As brands chase shock value for cut-through, Flipkart's obituary-style sale ad reopens the debate on where provocation ends and poor judgement begins
While procurement is changing the commercial side of pitches, holding-company consolidation is complicating the conflict-of-interest equation
Guest Column: Shantomoy Ray, Founder and Director of K Factor Communications, examines why great creative ideas begin with clear thinking, meaningful insights and a strong strategic purpose
Dentsu said it plans to allocate a portion of Global HQ cost savings to AI and Data & Technology investment
As pitches expand to test AI, data and business transformation chops, agency leaders weigh in on whether the big idea can still win the day
Maharashtra's FDA flags the campaign as possible surrogate promotion of banned Vimal Pan Masala, ordering the actors to pull the ad from all platforms they control
During his long tenure with dentsu, Iyer led several key businesses and agencies
His journey stands out for its continuity, institutional knowledge and sustained contribution to the organisation’s growth
Arnab Mitra, Founder and Managing Director, Liqvd Asia, writes why advertising is still arguing a case the country has already won
From heritage trails to freedom sales, mothers in uniform, to 80 stories of courage: this Independence Day, brands found new ways to say “Happy Azadi”
From heritage trails and 80 stories of courage to freedom sales and a mother's compassion, brands moved past the flag-and-jingle template this year
APAC reported an organic decline of 3.8% in the first half. Australia, China and Taiwan recorded declines, while India delivered organic growth
Goyal's response broadly challenges how she believes the AAAI should be governed
At a time when BARC's credibility is already under the microscope before MIB, industry executives say the appointment risks opening an uncomfortable new front for the ratings body
As generative tools fold shoots, adaptations and VFX into the creative desk itself, agency leaders are split on how much of the traditional production department will actually survive
Industry questions whether Srinivasan Swamy can take on another major responsibility, while calls grow for a younger, agile agency leader with a deep current-market connect
Guest Column: Ganapathy Viswanathan, Independent Communication Consultant & Author, looks at how Pidilite transformed its Annual Report into a tribute to Piyush Pandey, celebrating iconic ad stories
The London-listed advertising group saw its stock surge as much as 29% on the day it reported first-half earnings on August 6, marking one of its strongest single-day gains in decades
As part of the mandate, McCann India will support integrated communications across mainline, social media, e-commerce, influencers and activations
Philips Home has invited creative agencies with demonstrated experience in brand building, category creation and integrated campaign development
The campaign is conceptualised and written by Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Omnicom Advertising India, and developed by Google with McCann India and Nirvana Films
Neeraj Roy is Managing Director and CEO of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment
As AI transforms the advertising landscape, agencies like TBWA are rebranding to signal their evolution and commitment to innovative solutions for clients.
Our take on this week’s campaigns and a spotlight on fresh ways to turn familiar cultural cues into brand stories
As per sources, the digital business account could be worth nearly Rs 80 crore to Rs 100 crore
The pitch has attracted participation from advertising agency networks, including WPP, Omnicom Advertising India and Cheil SWA
Of the 40 ads reviewed, 21 were modified or withdrawn by advertisers without contest after ASCI raised concerns, while another 18 were held to be in violation by the Consumer Complaints Council
Chief Executive Cindy Rose said WPP had completed the first phase of its organisational overhaul under its Elevate28 strategy
As quick commerce platforms squeeze festive shopping into minutes, agencies are redrawing creative, media and production plans for instant buyers
Dr. Annurag Batra writes that AAAI must embrace change, transparency and fresh thinking to stay relevant
Dr. Annurag Batra writes that AAAI must embrace change, transparency and fresh thinking to stay relevant
In a social media post, Kartik Sharma, CEO of Omnicom Media India, reflected on his journey at Omnicom Media as he completes 6 years
In a social media post, Anita Kotwani, Senior Partner - Growth, at Zoo Media, has shared her thoughts on completing 5 months
Guest Column: Dr. Sandeep Goyal shares how Old Monk never advertised but had the the best media plan in the world
While Teads has not disclosed a specific damages claim, the filing seeks treble damages, punitive damages and restitution, with the final amount to be determined during trial proceedings
Industry leaders say the most valuable agency talent of the future will be those who orchestrate AI, data and creativity into distinctive ideas
TVS, Raymond, L'Oréal and Godrej Consumer among companies that are tapping consulting firms
Celebrating Nirvik Singh means recognising the Indian leadership that professionalised agency business at home and earned authority across global markets
Industry insiders say the transaction has repeatedly missed internal timelines but there are positive signals of the deal between Havas and Madison likely to finalised by September
Dr Annurag Batra shares his suggestions that could make the award even more credible, transparent and meaningful in the years to come
Tanya Goyal explains why she chose to recuse herself from the selection committee before deliberations began, alleges systemic governance failures within the association
Dr. Annurag Batra writes that AAAI must evolve from celebrating its past to actively shaping the future of India's advertising industry
As AI rewrites what execution means, Indian creative agencies are looking past the book for talent that is fluent in data, technology and business
Diageo has historically worked with multiple creative agencies across its global and Indian businesses
The recent debate surrounding the Advertising Agencies Association of India's (AAAI) Lifetime Achievement Award has highlighted an important issue that goes well beyond any individual nominee
From evil eyes to Spider-Man, jewellery to lip balms; this week's ads prove brands are betting big on nostalgia, celebrity buzz and cultural storytelling
Dr Annurag Batra writes about the industry veterans, as e4m has learnt that they are the leading contenders for the award
Dr Annurag Batra writes why Dr. Sandeep Goyal’s remarkable journey as an adman, entrepreneur and industry voice merits the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award
Celebrating an advertising veteran who documented an industry while quietly shaping it
Associations should encourage the best talent from across the industry rather than allowing leadership to rotate within a familiar circle
Advertising body accused of spreading ‘false and malicious’ allegations; legal notice seeks public apology, explanation and withdrawal of statements
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