MAM
KFC’s ‘Aaj ka Special’ looks to break monotony of daily fare
NEW DELHI: Slow braised with the choicest of ingredients, infused with flavourful spices and presented like poetry on a plate – a karela (bitter-gourd) would still be a karela! When your mealtimes are a series of Ks – karela, khichdi, kaddu – or when your week seems such a drag that you can no longer tell the difference between Tuesday or Thursday, KFC’s ‘Aaj ka Special’ campaign hopes to break the monotony with its zing and zest.
Through a series of ‘Aaj ka Special’ digital films that feature Colonel Sanders promoting KFC’s new range of daily special menu items, the fast-food chain is tempting customers to give in to their cravings for crispy fried chicken.
The films, conceptualized by Ogilvy & Mather India, capture relatable moments from everyday life when we grapple with the choices of ‘go with it’ or ‘go for it’.
“When life gets dull and boring, we usually reach out to food and not everyday food, we ask for something special – ‘Aaj ka special kya hai?’. It is precisely this emotion that we’ve latched onto,” said Ogilvy (north) chief creative officer Ritu Sharda. Of course, the message here is to bring out how KFC is all the ‘special’ you need on an otherwise dull day.
KFC India CMO Moksh Chopra tells us what makes ‘Aaj ka Special’ so special indeed. "Whether it is boredom with the same home food or the tyranny of work routine, KFC is a great way to liven up any day and make it just that little bit more special. The different films in this series are sure to strike a chord with KFC fans across all ages,” he said.
In the first of the ‘Aaj Ka Special’ series, the colonel foils a father’s attempt to woo his family with some gourmet karela (is this a thing now?). In another, he shows us how a family that bites into crispy, juicy, KFC chicken together, stays together. Imagine the plight of a husband in the last film, when he’s told that the kids are away, but he has to make do with khichdi. Luckily, the Colonel was right around the corner delivering more than a sermon of ‘Boring hatao, Special le jao’.
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
