MAM
Thumbs up asks people to #TakeCharge
MUMBAI: As the new Thums Up Charged makes it way to shelves across India, Coca-Cola India has launched a new campaign called, #TakeCharge featuring ever-energetic actor and Thums Up brand ambassador Ranveer Singh.
The new campaign builds further on Thums Up’s unique expression of masculinity and belief that heroism is a choice for us to make and an opportunity to take. The campaign conveys that for any challenge that demands heroic action, the hero needs to get charged to rise up to that occasion.
The TVC opens to an international car race event where the protagonist is seen ready to hit the track in his car which is inscribed with the ThumsUp Charged logo. Focused on victory, with his ThumsUp Charged by his side, he starts manoeuvring his way past the other cars. Just as he’s about to take the lead, the car in front of him loses control and brings our car to a halt. Shaken but determined, the protagonist takes a gulp of his ThumsUp Charged and sets off to finish the race. As he charges ahead and victory is almost in sight, his gearbox jams. Epitomising the ‘Never Give Up Ever’ attitude, he puts his car in reverse and races to victory in a photo-finish.
ThumsUp Charged is the first-ever variant of Thums Up that was recently launched by Coca-Cola India to celebrate 40 years of Thums Up. The company will be rolling out a series of initiatives including consumer-led engagement campaigns along with exciting marketing campaigns with its brand ambassadors through digital, social, traditional, and outdoor media channels.
Coca-Cola India and South West Asia Director, Colas marketing Ajay Bathija says, “ThumsUp TVCs are all about seeking thrill, adventure, exhilaration and excitement and Ranveer Singh as a brand ambassador embodies all of that perfectly. The ‘#TakeCharge’ campaign is about taking the controls of life in one’s hands and overcoming adversities by not giving up hope. Our TVC captures this attitude and we are confident that the campaign will resonate well with all Thums Up lovers.”
Actor Ranveer Singh mentions, “I distinctly remember when I first tasted toofani Thums Up and since then it has become my favourite cola. It’s an honour to be the face of this brand. The ‘Take Charge’ campaign is very close to my heart as I constantly push boundaries and don’t believe in quitting when a challenge is thrown my way. Challenges keep me going in life and make me strive harder to achieve my goals. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the campaign; it was an invigorating experience to perform as a car-racer.”
Leo Burnett creative head Sainath Saraban adds, “ThumsUp Charged has an extra thunder in it just the kind of push that somebody needs to take his or her achievement to the next level. Even though the story is set in a massive car race that makes for grand theatre, it is an intensely personal journey about how a huge victory starts within your own self. When I wrote this film, I wanted to leave the viewer with a message that worked at a product level and was inspirational as well. If there’s one thing we want people to do after being exposed to this communication, it is to take charge.”
#TakeCharge is a 360-degree campaign that will leverage mass-media on larger-than-life outdoor sites in the core markets of the product. The campaign also leverages key social media platforms of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MAM
Barista partners Ginny Weds Sunny 2 with mango campaign
Cafe chain blends cinema buzz with summer menu and 20 per cent offer.
MUMBAI: Love may brew slowly, but marketing clearly doesn’t especially when coffee meets cinema and mangoes steal the spotlight. Barista Coffee Company has partnered with the upcoming hindi film Ginny Weds Sunny 2 as its official beverage partner, in a move aimed at tapping into youth culture through entertainment-led engagement. The collaboration is not just a logo placement exercise. Instead, Barista is translating the film’s high-energy vibe into its cafés with a themed summer menu titled “Main Hoon Mango”, accompanied by a limited-period 20 per cent discount on combo offerings across outlets.
Actors Medha Shankr and Avinash Tiwary feature in the campaign, seen engaging with the mango-themed menu inside Barista cafés, a visual cue designed to blur the lines between reel and real-life consumption moments.
The strategy reflects a broader shift in how consumer brands are leveraging hindi film industry not just for visibility, but for immersive, on-ground engagement. By embedding the film’s narrative into its product experience, Barista is aiming to drive footfall, especially among younger audiences who increasingly seek experiential touchpoints over traditional advertising.
Barista Coffee Company CEO Rajat Agrawal described the partnership as both a branding and growth play, focused on expanding reach beyond the existing customer base and aligning with evolving consumer preferences.
The emphasis on a seasonal, flavour-led hook mango, one of India’s most culturally resonant ingredients adds a timely layer to the campaign, aligning with summer consumption trends while riding on the film’s promotional momentum.
For Barista, the move is part of a larger positioning shift. Rather than operating purely as a coffee retail chain, the brand is increasingly framing itself as a lifestyle destination, one that intersects with entertainment, conversation and shared experiences. By integrating cinema into its physical spaces, Barista is effectively turning cafés into micro-extensions of the film’s universe, where consumers do not just watch a story unfold but participate in it sip by sip.
The 20 per cent offer further nudges trial, lowering the barrier for consumers to engage with the themed menu while amplifying recall through a tangible incentive.
Brand-film collaborations are hardly new, but their execution is evolving. Where earlier partnerships relied on co-branded ads or product placements, the current playbook leans towards immersive storytelling and retail integration.
In that sense, Barista’s “Main Hoon Mango” push is less about promotion and more about participation inviting consumers to experience a slice of the film within a familiar, everyday setting. As the film industry continues to act as a cultural amplifier, such partnerships underline a growing truth, in today’s attention economy, it is not enough to be seen brands must be experienced.
And if that experience comes with a mango twist and a cinematic backdrop, all the better.
