MAM
Weekend Unwind with: DCMN India’s country head Bindu Balakrishnan
With another weekend upon us, it’s the time to unwind with some tete-e-tete that peeks into the mind of a corporate executive. An attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better, by having them share their nuggets on life and their mantras to deal with the curveballs that life throws – not necessarily revolving around work life – and sometimes going beyond work.
This week we have Bindu Balakrishnan, who leads DCMN’s operations and expansion in the Indian market, shares her musings and thoughts with IndianTelevision.com. Bindu also heads DCMN India’s offline and online marketing experts, while also being responsible for client strategy, bridging customer needs and commercial operations. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Balakrishnan has over 15 years of experience in marketing, mobile attribution and sales, and has worked across the Netherlands, Germany and India.
Here it goes:
Your mantra for Life
Do good for others and good things will come back to you.
A book you are currently reading/ plan to read
I love reading, but often don’t have time to do so. Recently, I enjoyed Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Long walks with my dog, Loki.
Your comfort food
Comfort food is always one’s mother’s cooking. For me, that’s South Indian food and the dishes I grew up on.
When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
Not to be put down by failures, because something better is always waiting right around the corner.
Your guilty pleasure
Playing games online, specifically crosswords, puzzles, and the New York Times’ Wordle. It helps me to switch off!
When was the last time you tried something new?
It’s been a while since I’ve tried something new, which makes me think it’s about time to be more spontaneous! One memory that sticks out is going dune bashing in Dubai, a form of off-roading in 4X4s across the sand. It was like being in the ocean, but with pristine dunes instead of water.
A life lesson you learnt the hard way
To accept that some people aren’t a good fit within your team, and let them go when you know it isn’t working out. When I haven’t listened to my gut, this has sometimes backfired and led to bigger problems.
What gets you excited about life?
Family, friends, travelling, food and movies.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Going to Machu Picchu and skydiving – not necessarily at the same time!
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Putting an end to child poverty. It pains me to see children around the world not having the same access to food, water, education and opportunities in life. My dream, when I retire, is to start a small orphanage, or home, for children who have been abandoned or lost their parents.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Working with forward-thinking brands, and the impact and growth that DCMN has on our clients. It’s hugely rewarding to have worked with many clients on their way to becoming unicorns or to IPOs.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Spending time with family and friends, and travelling somewhere new.
Your go-to stress buster
Taking my dog Loki for a walk in nature, where I can let him loose, is the ultimate way to clear my head.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Not to fret over things unnecessarily, because there is a bigger plan for you and things will always fall into place.
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
