News Headline
Leo Entertainment launches TV commercial for movie ‘Kaante’
Leo Entertainment, the film marketing division of Leo Burnett India, today unleashed its first major joint TV commercial for Kaante, Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming action thriller, and Thums Up, the official brand associated with the movie.
Initiated by Leo Entertainment a few months back, this multi-million marriage between a movie and a brand is marks the first milestone of what is a new mantra of movie marketing, a company release says.
The 20-second TVC gives you a taste of the purely male essence of both the movie (starring action heroes Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, Mahesh Manjerkar and Lucky Ali) and the drink – targeted at adult adventurous males. It ends with the line “Are you ready for the thunder?”, which embodies the Thums Up motto and acts as a builds-up for the launch of Kaante in July.
“After we won the marketing business for Kaante, I read the script pondering over possible brand associations for the movie, and Thums Up was the first thing on my mind,” says Sanjay Bhutiani, head of Leo Entertainment. “To me, this is the perfect synergy between brand, story and characters. Both clients are extremely happy with the way the association is going and for us, this is the first milestone we are putting in the history of movie marketing. We have many more plans on how to market Kaante – watch this space.”
Adds Sanjay Gupta, Director and Producer of Kaante: “We have a lot of confidence in the Leo Entertainment team. We work great together. We have also entrusted them with Plan, our next project.”
Apart from having orchestrated this deal, Leo Entertainment is handling a huge advertising platform for Kaante and Thums Up – on-ground promotions, contests, the works.
Leo Entertainment, set up a year ago as a division of Leo Burnett India to provide marketing communication solutions to the entertainment world in India, is the only ad agency to work in the Hindi film industry. They also plan to get into marketing of music albums, celebrity management and endorsement, in the near future.
To be released in July, Kaante, a Sanjay Gupta film (White Feather Productions), is a thriller, featuring six Bollywood mega-stars, working together for the first time (Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, Mahesh Manjerkar and Lucky Ali). Shot in Los Angeles by an entirely American crew, Kaante is the first truly international film from India. A story of six men determined to commit the perfect bank robbery, the movie is more daring and provocative than anything Indian spectators have seen before. The agency is developing the in-film branding. The brand which will be marketed through the movie is Thums Up.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
