MAM
Anil Agarwal Foundation’s multimedia drive targets child hunger & malnutrition
Mumbai: Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the philanthropic arm of Vedanta Limited has launched a campaign, to address the pressing issues of hunger and malnutrition. Beginning with a personal note from the Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal that was released today in print media, the multi-media campaign will include video and digital assets as well. Commencing in the month of September, also observed as the National Nutrition Month or ‘Poshan Maah’, the campaign with the tagline ‘Agar Bachpan Se Puchha Khaana Khaya Toh Desh Ka Kal Banaya’ propagates the need to end child hunger and malnutrition, to nurture the untapped potential amongst the less privileged. The campaign represents the Foundation’s dedication to building a better future for children and youth in India by ensuring the proper nourishment required for growth and development.
Commenting on the campaign launch, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. director, Vedanta Ltd and chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar said, “Stemming from my father’s personal journey and experiences of hunger in his childhood, and his vision of ensuring food security for each child, the launch of this campaign marks the beginning of a movement that will involve and engage every citizen of India so that together we can give our future generations a fair chance to realize their dreams and take India to even greater heights. It’s our inherent belief that there is potential in every child that needs to be nurtured, not just for their sake but for our country’s future. Through Project Nand Ghar, we are positively impacting children enrolled in our centers yet there’s a lot that needs to be done to help them realize their true potential and for that, we must begin with the elimination of hunger and lack of nutrition.”
The campaign, designed and executed by McCANN Erickson (India), in its initial phase, strives to spread awareness among citizens to end hunger and malnutrition and provide equal opportunities to our future generation for a better tomorrow. With this launch, the Anil Agarwal Foundation has also revealed its new logo, inspired by a growing sapling symbolising AAF’s philosophy that there is potential in everyone that should be recognised and nurtured to flower to its maturity.
McCann Worldgroup India and chairman, Asia Pacific CEO & CCO Prasoon Joshi said, “When campaigns are born out of true-life experiences, they are authentic and strike a genuine chord with people. This is one such campaign which genuinely reflects a felt truth and a true connection. It also tries to shake one out of inertia and move society towards positive action.”
Sensitivity: Internal (C3)
AAF through its flagship social impact project Nand Ghar, a collaborative project between Vedanta and the Government of India is contributing to eliminating hunger and malnutrition across the country. It aims to develop and modernise over 29,000 Anganwadis across the country. It has already developed 5,500 Anganwadis into Nand Ghars so far and is impacting the community, especially children and women at the grassroots through holistic development opportunities. Aligned with the Government of India’s POSHAN Abhiyaan and this year’s Poshan Maah theme of ‘Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’, Nand Ghar has become a true personification of its vision to support health, education, and empowerment along with addressing nutritional needs of all beneficiaries.
Nutrition forms one of the core focus areas of the Nand Ghar initiative. Considering that poor nutrition hampers growth among children, having long-lasting consequences on learning and productivity, the project supports this crucial need. Nutrition is also central to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Two of Zero Hunger. Nand Ghars have been successful in reducing malnourishment among preschool children and include almost 20 per cent fewer children in Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) and moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) categories as compared to the national average.
Nand Ghars have consistently demonstrated the ability to transform the lives of communities at the grassroots. Earlier this year, AAF launched a nutrition initiative for preschool children to provide multi-millet nutri bars across Anganwadis including Nand Ghars. These bars, rich in protein, fibre, and antioxidants have not only improved the daily nutrient intake of children, but also boosted cognitive development, and reduced absenteeism in Anganwadis.
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.
