MAM
UBON collaborates with Yo Yo Honey Singh for his latest song ‘LOCA’
MUMBAI: In the social age, creativity is a powerful form of currency. And more and more brands are seeking out opportunities for collaboration to not only refresh or reinforce their message but to stand out as novel and innovative. Engaging in new-age stars collaboration, whether it is a campaign that raises awareness or an event/conference with famous superstars puts a great impact on the audience. It helps in increasing the brand image as well. Brands that are able to take advantage of this have been reaping the rewards handsomely.
After a yearlong gap, singing sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh is back-with-a-bang with his latest single ‘LOCA’ wherein he is collaborated with UBON, India’s leading consumer electronics brand. Sung and composed by Honey Singh himself, with vocals from popular Punjabi singer Simran Kaur, this new party anthem features Nicky Pickky wherein she can be seen donning UBON headphones while rapping in the video.
All set to rule the Indian music industry, this peppy number is produced by Bhushan Kumar and directed by Ben Peters. The video has been shot at various picturesque locations alongside yachts in the middle of the ocean which and is sure to give one serious vacation vibes.
Speaking on the collaboration, YoYo Honey Singh said, “I feel delighted continuing my association with one of the most leading consumer electronics brands ‘UBON’. It has always been great working with the brand and wish to continue to work together in the future.”
Commenting on this, UBON Co-founder Mandeep Arora said: “We are happy to announce our collaboration with the ever-green rapping sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh. Considering his popularity, this new collaboration will play a crucial role in boosting our brand’s image while reaching out to music lovers and enthusiasts.”
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
