MAM
#MediaMinds2 | Havas Group India Group CEO Rana Barua talks about digitisation and programmatic advertising
MUMBAI: A prominent face in the media industry, Rana Barua is a veteran with more than two decades of experience in the marketing industry. Having worked across agencies like Ogilvy, JWT and Creativeland, he is about to complete two years as Havas India CEO and has been doing some great work for the agency.
Barua believes in defining tasks that are short-term while keeping long-term plans in mind. He is also obsessed with time-oriented goals.
In the fourth episode of Media Minds 2, Barua talks about how the industry, including Havas, has been very aggressive about mergers and acquisitions in the past two-three years.
Elaborating more on the same Barau said, “Acquisitions may come down but will still be on. It will give you a certain edge. I see mergers happening more than acquisitions. When I say mergers, which is why I am splitting mergers and acquisitions, I see mergers because I can see certain companies merging into each other.”
Speaking about his future plans Barua shares, “We are being cautious about every form for the next few months in terms of every form of cost. What we are doing is very measured, we are ensuring that there is no ad-hocism, there is no upheaval or any kind of unplanned thoughts going on. So, if we are in the month of July, we are very clear how August and September have to be for us. There is is a lot of conversation that keeps happening between the senior management and the people who are running the show in the group.”
Watch the complete episode here:
MAM
Mangaldeep partners with Vrindavan Vibes at ISKCON Vrindavan event
Fragrance brand backs youth led kirtan gathering that drew 4000 plus devotees.
MUMBAI: If devotion had a soundtrack, Vrindavan recently turned the volume up. Mangaldeep Incense has partnered with Vrindavan Vibes at ISKCON Vrindavan, an emerging devotional gathering that blends traditional kirtans with a youthful, community driven atmosphere. The first day of the celebrations alone drew more than 4000 devotees, signalling the growing appeal of participatory spiritual events among younger audiences.
More than a festive collaboration, the association reflects a broader cultural shift in how spirituality is being experienced today. Vrindavan Vibes Jamming, described as a kirtan utsav, brings together youth, families and devotees for collective singing within a sacred temple setting, turning devotion into a shared, immersive experience.
For Mangaldeep, the partnership positions the brand as a long term enabler of community led devotion. Vrindavan, long regarded as the spiritual home of Lord Krishna, remains a vibrant centre for bhajans, temple gatherings and devotional music that attracts pilgrims and visitors from across the country.
As part of the collaboration, Mangaldeep has introduced a fragrance led experience within the venue. This includes ambient fragrance pillars designed to enhance the devotional ambience, a curated Khusbhoo Path experience, a selfie booth for visitors to capture shared memories, and specially designed souvenirs for devotees attending the event.
Mangaldeep divisional CEO of the matches and agarbatti division Rohit Dogra said the initiative reflects the changing ways in which faith is being expressed.
“At Mangaldeep, devotion has always been at the heart of everything we do. Today we are witnessing a beautiful shift in how spirituality is expressed, particularly among young India where bhajans and kirtans are becoming vibrant collective experiences of faith and belonging. Our partnership with ISKCON Vrindavan for Vrindavan Vibes reflects this evolution,” he said.
Bhajan and kirtan gatherings are increasingly emerging as spaces for emotional connection and cultural identity, especially for younger audiences looking for a sense of grounding in an otherwise fast paced world. Participants at the event described the gathering as a moment of calm and shared joy, as chants and music brought thousands together in a collective expression of faith.
By aligning with Vrindavan Vibes, Mangaldeep is positioning itself not just as an incense brand, but as a facilitator of shared spiritual experiences, extending its presence from homes and temples to large scale community led devotional platforms.
