Brands
Bata on-boards Disha Patani as brand ambassador
Mumbai: Footwear major Bata India has roped in Bollywood actor Disha Patani as the new face of the brand. The move comes as Bata looks at further strengthening its youth connect and fashion-forward imagery that presents a fitting blend of style and comfort. The actor will be seen promoting various popular labels under the Bata umbrella.
Bata India CEO Gunjan Shah said: “At Bata, we have been on a quest to transform the brand imagery and deliver on the aspirations of the youth of the country. Over the years, we have established Bata as a brand that is contemporary and remains relevant with changing times. Disha, with her lively personality and positive energy, fits in perfectly with our brand narrative that blends together style and comfort. In line with consumer trends, we have been rolling out more sneakers, casual & two-mile fashion styles and our association with Disha will help us in further strengthening our connection with the youth and millennials and taking Bata’s brand appeal to the next level.”
Disha is a popular actor known for her fashion sense and fitness and enjoys a sizable following on social media.
On associating with Bata India, Disha Patani said: “Bata is well known for its comfortable footwear, but I was quite impressed with the wide variety of styles & designs across sneakers, casuals, and fashion footwear. It really excited the fashionista inside me and I look forward to an exciting journey with the brand ahead.”
Brands
Parle-G celebrates Bihu with music-led campaign rooted in culture
Two-part films blend nostalgia and storytelling to capture Assam’s festive soul
MUMBAI: Parle-G has turned to music, memory and meaning in its latest campaign celebrating Bihu, offering a culturally rooted tribute that goes beyond typical festive advertising.
Created by Thought Blurb Communications, the two-part campaign builds on the brand’s long-standing thought of finding joy in others’ happiness. It begins with a music-led prequel and culminates in a narrative-driven film that explores the emotional essence of the festival.
The campaign opened with a two-and-a-half-minute Bihu music video featuring Partha Hazarika, with music composed by Nilotpal Bora and vocals by Dikshu. Rather than positioning itself as a conventional brand piece, the video leaned into authenticity, capturing the vibrancy and rhythm of Bihu. Viewers also drew emotional parallels to Zubeen Garg, whose absence lent the film a nostalgic undertone. The response was swift, with over 12 million combined views across YouTube and Instagram within a week.
Building on this momentum, the main film tells the story of Ahir, a musician struggling to compose a Bihu song within the confines of a studio. His journey takes him into the open landscapes of Assam and eventually to the banks of the Brahmaputra, where a boatman helps him rediscover the true spirit of Bihu. The narrative underscores a simple idea that the festival cannot be manufactured in isolation, it must be experienced in nature, community and shared joy.
Speaking about the campaign, Parle Products vice president Mayank Shah said the initiative aims to celebrate not just the festival but the emotion behind it. He noted that Bihu reflects the idea that joy multiplies when shared, a theme that sits at the heart of the story.
From the agency side, Thought Blurb Communications chief creative officer Vinod Kunj said the team sought to tap into Assam’s cultural pulse, acknowledging the emotional void left by the absence of Zubeen Garg while celebrating the enduring spirit of the festival.
Adding to this, Thought Blurb Communications national creative director Renu Somani Karwa said the campaign draws from deeply human stories, where small acts of generosity become powerful expressions of connection.
Meanwhile, Thought Blurb Communications executive creative director Auryndom Bose highlighted the importance of nature in shaping Bihu’s identity, noting that the film attempts to capture how music and movement emerge organically from the landscape itself.
With this campaign, Parle-G leans into cultural storytelling with a lighter brand footprint and a stronger emotional core. By placing music and community at the centre, it offers a reminder that some stories are best told not in studios, but in the shared rhythms of real life
