MAM
IAA Debates: Are agencies rapidly reinventing?
MUMBAI: There is need for both advertising agencies and marketers to reinvent themselves. This was the basic message from the IAA Debates held in Mumbai earlier this month.
The topic of the discussion of the second of the new season of IAA Debates was: ‘Agencies are not rapidly reinventing themselves to stay relevant to changing advertiser needs.’
At the start of the debate, the overarching view of the audience was that agencies must reinvent to stay relevant. At the end of the debate, the view moved to that agencies are reinventing themselves and indeed more relevant than the initially held view.
Speaking for the motion (‘Agencies are not reinventing themselves’) were Dentsu Aegis Network chairman & CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin and Marico chief marketing officer Sameer Satpathy.
Speaking against the motion (‘Agencies are reinventing themselves’) were Madison World MD and chairman Sam Balsara and Godrej strategic marketing group COO Shireesh Joshi.
IAA India Chapter president and IAA vice president-development, Asia Pacific Srinivasan K Swamy said, “The fact that some of the leading lights of the industry participated in the debate ensured that we had discussion of the topmost quality. By bringing in practising leaders of the industry, the IAA Debates has become a must-attend event from all section of the advertising, media and marketing fraternity.”
D B Corp chief-marketing and corporate sales officer Pradeep Dwivedi added, “We are delighted to partner IAA Debates in bringing about discussions around current, thought provoking subjects which have a bearing on the industry and our marketing, media and advertising community. As marketers figure out ways to maximise value from their agency engagements and vice versa, as was the subject of the recently concluded second debate of the season, we at Dainik Bhaskar remain committed to contribute to the spirit of discovery and discussion to help bring about change and evolution.”
The IAA Debates hosted so far have been in Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. The debates have featured senior advertising, media and marketing professionals such as Prasoon Joshi, Vikram Sakhuja, Lloyd Mathias, Josy Paul, Pratap Bose, Deepika Warrier, Anupriya Acharya, Arun Anant, Arunabh Das Sharma, Partha Sinha, Monica Tata, Vikram Chandra, Punitha Arumugam, Mahesh Murthy, Virginia Sharma, Ashok Lalla and Zerin Rahman, Sadashiv Nayak, Atul Phadnis, Ronita Mitra, and Amitabh Pande amongst others speaking for and against the motion.
MAM
Haldiram’s unveils festive Holi range with Gujiya and Thandai
Brand celebrates colours of Holi with Kesar Gujiya, Coconut Dry Fruit Gujiya and chilled thandai pairings.
MUMBAI: Holi just got a whole lot sweeter because when vibrant gulal meets golden gujiya, the festival doesn’t just play, it feasts. Haldiram’s has rolled out its specially curated Holi collection under the tagline “Holi Ke Rang, Gujiya Aur Thandai Ke Sang”, turning the festival of colours into a full-blown celebration of indulgence and togetherness. The limited-edition offerings arrive just in time for the season’s lively gatherings, house parties, and family get-togethers, blending timeless tradition with the kind of flavours that make every splash and laugh more memorable.
At the heart of the lineup are two standout gujiyas. The iconic Kesar Gujiya arrives with a crisp, golden shell encasing a rich mawa (khoya) filling infused with premium kesar delivering a royal aroma, natural hue, and that melt-in-the-mouth decadence every Holi demands. Joining it is the Coconut Dry Fruit Gujiya, generously loaded with coconut shavings and a medley of premium dry fruits for the perfect crunch-to-sweet balance. Both are crafted to elevate the classic festive treat into something that feels both nostalgic and downright irresistible.
No Holi spread is complete without thandai, and Haldiram’s positions the chilled, nutty, spice-laced drink as the ideal companion cooling the spice of celebration while letting the sweetness of gujiya shine even brighter. For those leaning savoury, the brand’s special chaat and snackable range steps in, adding a tangy, crunchy counterpoint to the sweets and keeping party tables buzzing from afternoon play to late-night munchies.
Rooted in the spirit of rangon ki dhoom dhaam and shared joy, the collection turns every splash of colour into an excuse for one more bite. Whether you’re hosting a riot of friends or keeping it cosy with family, Haldiram’s Holi range proves the festival tastes best when tradition and indulgence collide messy hands, colourful faces, and zero regrets included.
