MAM
Bates CHI to Xploree Key creativity
MUMBAI: KeyPoint Technologies, a global leader in mobile language technology, has awarded the creative mandate for Xploree, its flagship product, to Bates CHI & Partners. Xploree is the tech major’s forerunner mobile keyboard product, which is available on the Android OS as of now. Bates was chosen as Xploree’s creative partner after a competitive multi-agency pitch.
This creative alliance is expected to augment the branding process of the smart keyboard amongst India’s mobile and app-hungry user base. The tie-up aims at introducing a whole new ethos into India’s ever-evolving online consumer story of connected lifestyles – through the revolutionary keyboard.
Bates CHI India CEO VS Srikanth said Xploree was a unique amalgamation of a keyboard and lifestyle. As Bates would be building the brand and the category demand from scratch, it would be challenging. Bates will be taking up the task to design a unique brand identity for Xploree.
Bates Bangalore sr. vice president & branch head Naveen Raman said they were excited to work with a young and driven bunch of professionals who were passionate. Digitalisation of vernacular languages would be next big thing, and Xploree would be the front-runner.
KeyPoint director (marketing) Deepti Mani Saxena said their stated intent was to make the smart mobile device an ultimate responsive solution through the Xploree keyboard. Bates CHI stood out amongst competition and demonstrated good insights and out-of-the-box ideas.
Brands
Zee partners L’Oréal Paris on multi-language Glycolic Gloss campaign
Brand films and show integrations target Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Bangla viewers
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited has partnered with L’Oréal Paris to roll out a multi-regional advertising campaign for the Glycolic Gloss haircare range, leaning on regional storytelling and trusted television celebrities to drive belief and recall.
The campaign spans four bespoke brand films and contextual integrations across Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Bangla markets. At its core is a simple consumer insight: Indian audiences are more likely to trust visible results validated by others than abstract product claims.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises head of advertisement revenue, broadcast and digital Laxmi Shetty, said brands are increasingly seeking relevance and credibility alongside reach. She said the campaign demonstrates how regional “dilfluencers” can turn product claims into “visible, validated experiences” by embedding brands within authentic storytelling across platforms.
To that end, Zee has deployed its roster of regional “dilfluencers”: familiar faces from leading fiction channels, to anchor the films. The celebrities share first-hand experiences with the Glycolic Gloss range, framing shine and smoothness as instantly noticeable and socially affirmed rather than promised.
WPP Media president, client solutions, South Asia Shekhar Banerjee, said the campaign was designed as a platform-first, integration-led solution that balances scale with attention. Aligning the brand with Zee’s premium content and trusted talent, he said, helped push impact beyond visibility towards sustained brand trust.
Beyond standalone films, the campaign extends into contextual integrations within top-rated fiction shows airing through January and February 2026. These in-show moments are designed to embed the product into everyday narratives without disrupting viewer engagement.
L’Oréal Paris India general manager Dario Zizzi, said the renewed partnership reflects the brand’s focus on engaging India’s diverse consumer base through local languages and culturally resonant narratives. He added that integrating the Glycolic Gloss range into Zee’s regional content allows the ‘Gloss Ki Guarantee’ proposition to connect with women’s lived experiences across markets.
The initiative will run across Zee’s linear television network and its OTT platform, Zee5, combining mass reach with digital amplification. For L’Oréal Paris, the strategy reflects a deliberate move away from one-size-fits-all communication towards locally resonant messaging tailored to language, culture and viewing habits.
Media planners involved in the campaign say the approach underscores a broader shift in beauty advertising, where scale is increasingly paired with credibility and contextual relevance. By aligning with premium content ecosystems and well-known regional talent, the Glycolic Gloss campaign aims to translate visibility into sustained brand trust.
