Brands
Candyman gives Halloween a tangy desi twist
MUMBAI: This Halloween, ITC’s Candyman Sourzzz is serving up scares with a splash of sour. The candy brand’s new campaign, “A Desi Halloween,” swaps haunted mansions and carved pumpkins for eerie banyan trees, bhoot banglas and Indian-style mischief, all packed with its signature lip-puckering twist.
While the world celebrates Halloween with witches and werewolves, Candyman Sourzzz has resurrected a trio of homegrown legends, tangy tantrik, sour sundari and meetha khatkula, to reclaim India’s own folklore of fright. These zesty spirits star in a digital-first campaign that unfolds like a mini Hindi cinema horror flick, complete with neon chaos, comic chills and nostalgia-laced spookiness.
“With Candyman Sourzzz, we’ve always aimed to make sourness fun for young India,” said ITC Limited vice president and head of marketing – chocolates, coffee and confectionery, foods division Anuj Bansal. “This Halloween, we wanted to localise the thrill by celebrating our own folklore in a playful, modern way.”
Conceptualised by FCB India, the campaign takes inspiration from the delightfully campy Hindi cinema horror of the 90s, think smoky graveyards, echoing laughter, and a bhoot with attitude. “Halloween may be new to India, but horror isn’t,” said FCB India national creative director Suchitra Gahlot. “We wanted kids to meet our own spooky icons, tantriks, daayans and bhoot banglas, and make ITC Candyman the brand that owns Halloween, desi style.”
The fun doesn’t stop on screen. The brand’s special edition Halloween pack, complete with a mask that doubles up as a candy bag, is now available on quick-commerce platforms in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the desi Halloween spirit is spilling into the streets with RWA activations, vibrant OOH displays and influencer collaborations featuring spooky storytellers and GRWM content inspired by the campaign’s folklore icons.
With its mix of flavour, folklore and fright, Candyman Sourzzz has turned Halloween into a deliciously desi affair, where every scare comes with a splash of sour.
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
