Brands
Sunfeast Mom’s Magic unwraps the love of adoption with heartfelt campaign
MUMBAI: ITC’s Sunfeast Mom’s Magic has baked more than just cookies, it’s baked a powerful message. The brand, long known for celebrating the warmth of motherhood, is now stirring hearts with its latest initiative to normalise and encourage adoption in India.
Stirring the pot on outdated norms, the brand teamed up with the upcoming film Dear Maa to host a compelling panel discussion in Kolkata. On the table? Breaking down biases around adoptive mothers and pushing the belief that motherhood is measured in love, not DNA.
The panel featured a stellar line-up: Soumeta Medhora, secretary of ISSA; actor Mandira Bedi; Shuvadip Banerjee, chief digital marketing officer, ITC Foods; director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury; and actor Jaya Ahsan, the face of Dear Maa. The group delved into the hurdles adoptive mothers face from social prejudice to emotional alienation, while urging society to widen its definition of family.
At the heart of the event was the launch of Dil Se Maa, a stirring poem that pays tribute to adoptive mothers. The piece reimagines motherhood as a bond built on care, not chromosomes.
Adding a deeply personal note to the discussion, actress Mandira Bedi shared, “Adoption is a beautiful and transformative choice, one that is driven entirely by love. As Tara’s mother, I’ve faced my share of questions and societal bias — from being asked if I could love an adopted child as my own, to people assuming adoption is a last resort. But love doesn’t come with conditions. That’s why I truly value what brands like Mom’s Magic are doing — creating space for these conversations and helping society move beyond its outdated stereotypes, so that every child is embraced with a mother’s love.”
Speaking on the occasion, ITC – Foods Division, chief digital marketing officer, Shuvadip Banerjee said, “At Mom’s Magic, we have always believed in celebrating the extraordinary power of a mother’s love. Through this meaningful collaboration with the film Dear Maa, we aim to spark important conversations around adoption and stand in solidarity with all mothers who create magic in a child’s life—regardless of how that treasured journey begins. Together, we hope to inspire greater acceptance, empathy, and inclusion for every form of motherhood.”
Sunfeast Mom’s Magic has consistently flexed its emotional muscle with campaigns like No More Missed Calls and Hug Her More. This new chapter is another notch in its belt of purpose-driven storytelling, one that swaps sugar for soul and biscuits for bold ideas.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
