MAM
Suzuki highlights low fuel usage in new campaign
MUMBAI: Suzuki Motorcycles India has launched a new series of campaigns for its hugely successful Access range of scooters. Created by Happy mcgarrybowen, the campaign line “Kam Peeta Hai” is a humorous yet bold take on Access’s stand-out feature, the superior mileage.
The film series shows how even the most mundane, everyday scenario can take a turn for the bizarre when an Access is in question. The campaign is set to blaze the trail with a series of films, digital amplification, print and outdoor activations on a national and regional level. The campaign aims to make “Kam Peeta Hai” a household lingo, and Access a household name.
Suzuki Motorcycle India Limited EVP of sales and marketing Sajeev Rajasekhran says, “Access is the favourite and bestselling 125cc segment scooter in India. With more than three million units sold so far, the Access combines superior performance with economy. We recently launched the new campaign line ‘Kam Peeta Hai’ for Access with the objective of strengthening this positioning in the market as a mileage efficient and technologically superior scooter that offers greater functionality benefits, and reinforce our customer’s reason to believe in the product. It is a humorous yet bold take on Access’s stand-out feature, the superior mileage.”
Happy mcgarrybowen CEO and co-founder Kartik Iyer adds, “India has always been obsessed with mileage. And the scooter category is no different. We wanted to come up with something that sticks and has a ring to it when flagging-off the big feature of the Suzuki access 125. ‘Kam Peeta Hai’ is a big idea and has infinite possibilities. The initial reaction to the campaign has been very welcoming. And we expect to have a lot of fun with the idea in the days to come.”
MAM
Star Sports under fire for ‘cringe’ India–SA Super 8 promo
Broadcaster accused of arrogance and disrespect as fans slam Super 8 promotion
AHMEDABAD: Star Sports is facing a wave of criticism after its latest promotional campaign for the India–South Africa T20 World Cup Super 8 match triggered a fierce social media backlash, quickly dubbed “Cupcakegate”.
The advertisement, released this week, hinges on a cupcake metaphor that many viewers have condemned as patronising and disrespectful. In the clip, an Indian supporter mockingly offers a pink cupcake to a South African fan, a visual jibe widely interpreted as portraying the Proteas as a soft, easily beaten opponent.
The backlash has been swift across platforms such as X and Reddit, with fans and commentators accusing the broadcaster of tone-deaf bravado at a crucial stage of the tournament. The criticism is sharpened by the context: both India and South Africa arrive in the Super 8s unbeaten, undermining any suggestion of a one-sided contest.
Online, the cupcake symbol has been read as carrying multiple barbs. Some users argue it alludes to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s domestic nickname, while others see it as recycling the long-running “chokers” trope associated with South Africa in ICC tournaments. The casting choice has also drawn scrutiny, with viewers noting the physical disparity between the actors playing the two fans, which critics described as a cheap attempt to belittle the opposition.
Even Indian supporters have joined the pile-on. Many warned that such chest-thumping marketing risks “jinxing” the team, pointing to past tournaments where aggressive campaigns preceded unexpected defeats.
Star Sports is no stranger to rivalry-led advertising, having struck gold with its earlier “Mauka Mauka” series. But analysts say the cupcake campaign misreads a fanbase that has grown less tolerant of overtly mocking narratives and more attuned to sporting parity and respect.
India and South Africa meet on Sunday, 22 February, at the 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium. With South Africa securing their Super 8 berth through a commanding win over the UAE, the fixture is widely billed as a heavyweight clash, not the walkover the ad appears to suggest.
