MAM
“We always keep bouncing off ideas and exploring possibilities of innovation and creativity”: Social Panga’s Himanshu Arora
Mumbai: Recently, Social Panga joined LS Digital (erstwhile Logicserve Digital) to form India’s biggest independent group for the global market. This move enables the group to further strengthen its solution-driven digital marketing transformation offerings, unlocking value for marketers looking for creativity and operational efficiencies in their growth path.
The integrated creative agency became part of LS Digital’s six-pillar framework, which comprises media, UI/UX, creative & communication, CX (MarTech), data & insights, and tech innovations. It marks a significant step towards realising the goal of creating an end-to-end suite of services in India for the world.
Social Panga has a presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, with over 150 clientele and a team of over 350 ‘marketing mafias’ providing a solution-driven approach. It also has an in-house video production wing ‘The Yellow Shutter’ that has shot over 100 advertising films and onboarded over 65 brands in the last 12 months.
Indiantelevision.com in an email chat with Social Panga co-founder Himanshu Arora conversed on the decision behind the merger, Social Panga’s long-term vision, and more…
Edited Excerpts:
On the driving force behind the decision to merge Social Panga with LS Digital and this merger benefiting both entities
This independent group empowers us to be more than just a marketing agency; we are now a holistic solution provider in the dynamic landscape of marketing transformations. Our expertise now extends across diverse domains such as media, UI/UX, creative, data and insights, CX, Tech and Innovations.
What makes this even more special is its global perspective. While our roots are firmly grounded in India, this marks the beginning of our journey from India to the world. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of our partners for their trust and support. Together, we are embarking on a ‘Made in India for the World’ revolution, and it’s all happening in the realm of digital and advertising.
On collaborative projects or initiatives that can be expected to emerge as a result of this merger
We firmly believe that specialisation is the key to providing you with unmatched services. With this partnership, we can now venture into more specialised areas such as AI, CX, UI/UX, and Media planning. These are the very elements that are shaping the future of marketing, and we are excited to bring them to a large pool of customers.
You can expect to see a range of collaborative projects, innovations in new-age technology and initiatives that leverage the strengths of all entities in the near future.
On the consistency of Social Panga’s long-term vision, and its evolution to align with LS Digital’s overarching goals following the merger
The long-term aim and vision of Social Panga remain consistent. We continue to be a culture-driven, people-focused agency, the way we have been in the last nine years. Our thought process continues to remain the same – to work towards something which is big enough and has not been done by anyone in the industry yet.
We will adapt focusing on scalability, efficiency, and integration into a larger global network. We will be prioritising strategies that leverage LS Digital’s resources and expertise to provide clients with more comprehensive and competitive digital marketing services.
On maintaining and integrating Social Panga’s core values and culture within LS Digital and harnessing the specialised ‘marketing mafias’ team for driving innovation and excellence across the newly formed group
We are all a part of a group. Along with Social Panga, there is Langoor Digital and F1 Studioz which have been present for some time. With this now there are four agencies bringing in different expertise aimed at global growth.
Our “mafia’s” will continue to work in the same manner with a single goal & objective.
It’s important to note that while this partnership opens new doors, our core values and working style remain unwavering & nothing changes, other than it opens up more opportunities. What changes is our ability to serve clients with even greater expertise, an expanded skill set, and a more empowered team.
On maximising knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas to drive continuous improvement with both companies joining forces
We are all a passionate bunch of entrepreneurs who are coming together. So invariably, knowledge sharing is going to be the way of working for us. We always keep bouncing off ideas and exploring possibilities of innovation and creativity. In fact, we already initiated cross-competency training across organisations.
We will now involve the team in this too and build structures or models which involve them. The team will get access to more information and knowledge across UI, UX tech, digital, global exposure etc. This will be a catalyst for an overall creative thinking rather than restricting to one single area.
On maintaining a balance between serving the local market’s needs and catering to international clients as LS Digital expands its global reach through this merger
Local markets are our cake right now and global clients are cherry. You may want to have cherry but the cake is the base for any birthday party. Similarly, we have got our cake covered anything from the global market is just a cherry on the top.
As pioneers in what may be a groundbreaking collaboration within the Indian advertising industry, we acknowledge that there may not be a well-defined roadmap. We anticipate encountering fresh challenges and obstacles, which will necessitate the creation of novel solutions and approaches.
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
