MAM
Surf Excel engages with consumers via Vijay TV’s show ‘Little Big Film Makers’
BANGALORE: Unilever’s detergent brand Surf Excel has partnered with the Star Network’s Tamil offering to create a one hour television show–‘Surf Excel Little Big Film Makers’ (LBFM) that has helped the brand to engage with consumers in three cities in Tamil Nadu – Madurai, Coimbatore and Chennai. The initiative kicked off in early February this year.
Based on the brief by the sponsors, Vijay TV gave an opportunity to children between 8 and 14 years of age in the three cities to tell a story that highlighted the concept “Dirt is good” (‘Daag aache hai). Surf Excel had started using the tag line Daag aache hai sometime towards the end of 2005 and continues to use it even today in many of its television commercials and promos. Exciting and interesting stories were identified and shortlisted by the show judges – leading director A.R. Murugadoss and actor Suhasini Maniratnam.
Vijay TV says that it has conducted road shows in the selected cities and had hundreds of school children participate in narrating their ideas. Eight of the selected stories told by these kids were converted into ad films by three ad film makers – Roshni Chandra and Socrates
from Primary Colours, Balaji from Reel Root and Sendil from Phoenix Films under guidance from the authors of the stories.
LBFM went on air a few weeks ago on the Sunday morning 10 am slot and Vijay TV will be airing the tenth episode and the grand finale of LBFM on April 24 at 10 am.
“Tamil Nadu is an important market; as a matter of fact, it is the largest market for us. This initiative was more for consumer engagement and we may have similar programmes with other channels if the opportunity arises,” explained Surf Excel brand manager Tanveer Khan.
“Our current on-air ‘Daag aache hain’ campaign has been created by our agency Lowe. We may use the eight short films which are about 2 to 2 and a half minutes long each in cinema theatres and selectively on television,” revealed Khan.
The eight selected stories that have been made into ad films are:Happy Birthday Patti” by Abhinaya (a short and sweet film about how a little girl whips up a surprise for her dear grandmother on her birthday); Kitchen Galatta by Evangeline (a fun film about a father and son who decide to surprise the mother with a lunch prepared by them in the kitchen); Anbulla Amma by Vasundhara (an emotional tale of a girl and her prized artwork that she presents to her parents before leaving for boarding school); My new friend by Rahul (a story of how a new boy in the class is bullied in the class and his new classmate comes to his rescue and they become friends; Thaatha’s Treasure by Raja (a story of magic and hidden treasure, little Tejas is out to seek a hidden treasure for his grandmother); Chutti Ponnu by Ziya (a story of little girl Riya, who saves her friend the waiter from an angry customer at her birthday party); Chicken Champion (the writer Arun Balaji has written the chicken story as two boys become friends over a chicken coop); and Muniyamma by Abhay (a tale of a boy who goes out of his way to help a distressed woman on the street).
Vijay TV will be airing the eight ad films during the grand finale and present awards to the children that helped create them. As a part of the festivities, special performances by the contestants of Junior Super Stars – Lakshmi, Alsabeth, Priyanka, Balasarangan, Jayanth and Shanmugapriya and dance performance by Junior Jodis Rinson & Gabriella will be aired during the grand finale.
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
