MAM
Quaker kickstarts the new year with instant oats innovation and new TVC
Mumbai: Quaker, one of the leading players in the oats segment, has launched a delightful new TVC campaign to introduce its latest innovation – Quaker Instant Oats. The launch is an extension of Quaker’s 146 years of nutrition expertise and emerges as an effortless, and tasty snack solution, promising readiness in just 3 minutes.
Quaker Instant Oats brings a trio of exciting flavours – Herby Cheese, Masala Magic, and Mixed Berries – to meet diverse tastes and palettes, reflecting the growing demand for flavoured oats. Quick to prepare and versatile for any time of day, the product combines wholegrain goodness for a protein-packed, fibre-rich and fuelling snack. It’s the ideal choice for consumers seeking convenience without sacrificing on taste.
In the TVC, Kiara peacefully practices yoga as Sid enters the room, catching a whiff of something enticing. Intrigued, he discovers a steaming bowl on the table and impulsively takes a bite, not realising its Kiara’s prepared bowl of Quaker Instant Oat. Kiara, initially startled, watches as Sid’s taste test unfolds – he’s unaware of what the delicious snack is. As Sid continues to savour the flavour, Kiara reveals that it’s Quaker Instant Oats – Herby Cheese. She then hands over the pack, mockingly nudging Sid to take over the kitchen. The film ends with Kiara enjoying the oats Sid prepares, concluding with ‘Nutritious Oats, Ab Bane Delicious’.
Sharing her thoughts on the campaign, Kiara Advani said, “Quaker Instant Oats has been a delightful addition to my routine, and being a part of this campaign has been equally enjoyable. The TVC captures our quirky banter, making it a fun shoot and bringing this delicious escapade to life!”
Sidharth Malhotra added, “The Quaker Instant Oats TVC accurately communicates the joy of sharing our love for food. Being part of the campaign was a delightful experience, supporting and sharing this sentiment. It takes us through a flavourful journey that smoothly blends into our lives away from the screen.”
Speaking on the new film, PepsiCo India associate director and category Lead – Quaker Sravani Babu said, “Our unwavering commitment to innovation and nutritional excellence shines through in Quaker. Quaker Instant Oats is crafted for ever-evolving needs and palette of our dynamic world – a testament to our rich 146 years legacy. Through our film, we not only showcase how seamlessly Quaker Instant Oats integrates into your daily routine but does so without compromising on taste. Just like Kiara and Sid, embark on this oat-a-licious journey that makes ‘nutritious oats’ synonymous with ‘delicious’ in every bite!”
Leo Burnett national creative director Vikram Pandey (Spiky) said, “It is perceived that eating better means eating boring and tediously prepared meals. We wanted to break this perception with the new Quaker instant oats. With Kiara and Sidharth who are the quintessential millennial couple, we debunk the notions of eating better being boring. Presenting a great option for breakfast and beyond.”
Talking about this partnership, Abridge Entertainment Ventures LLP founders Devanshi Sodhani and Aditi Kanakia said, “For a brand as strong as Quaker, we were looking for a couple who align with its core values. We realised Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are the perfect fit instantly. Their freshness adds to the richness of this legacy brand and broadens its appeal further.”
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
