Brands
Rahul Dravid pads up for Paradeep Phosphates campaigns
MUMBAI: Rahul Dravid has taken guard again, this time not on the pitch, but in the fields. Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL), one of India’s largest private fertiliser producers, has roped in the cricketing legend as its brand ambassador to champion innovative and sustainable farming practices.
The partnership brings together two names known for trust, consistency, and performance. Dravid’s steady hand and PPL’s farmer-first ethos aim to inspire India’s growers to adopt smarter, more sustainable methods through two nationwide campaigns, “Kheti Ka Game Changer” and “NPK & Organic Fertilizers Ki Winning Team.”
The campaigns use cricketing analogies to make agronomy simple and engaging. In the first, Dravid fronts Jai Kisaan Navratna Nano Shakti Nano DAP, likening nano fertilisers to game-changing strategies that improve yield and efficiency. In the second, balanced fertilisation takes centre stage with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium playing star “team roles,” promoting soil health and stronger crops.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Dravid to the PPL family,” said Paradeep Phosphates managing director and CEO Suresh Krishnan. “His discipline and integrity mirror our values. Just as he led teams to victory through patience and planning, our products empower farmers to achieve winning outcomes season after season.”
Dravid echoed the sentiment, saying, “Farmers and sportspersons share a similar spirit, both rely on patience, timing, and the right support to succeed. I’m proud to be part of an initiative that helps India’s farmers make practical, informed choices.”
Backed by sister company Zuari FarmHub Ltd (ZFHL) in collaboration with TERI, PPL’s nano fertilisers have shown strong results in boosting crop yield while promoting sustainability. The new campaigns will roll out across television, print, and digital platforms, taking Dravid’s calm resolve and PPL’s innovation to millions of farmers nationwide.
Looks like Dravid’s next innings will be played on fertile ground, where discipline meets growth and every crop has a shot at victory.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
