MAM
Caratlane makes a Pujo proposal with a love story set to Rabindra Sangeet
MUMBAI: When love meets Pujo, sparks fly louder than dhak beats. Caratlane has dropped a new festive film that transforms Durga Puja into the most romantic stage for a proposal, complete with sindoor, Rabindra Sangeet, and one unforgettable ring.
The campaign, titled ‘Maayer Aashirbaad’, is conceptualised by BBH India and directed by award-winning filmmaker Bauddhayan Mukherji of Little Lamb Films. At its core is Caratlane’s elegant proposal ring, unveiled as the ultimate symbol of commitment, timed to match the emotional crescendo of Bengal’s grandest celebration.
Music drives the entire storytelling. Composed by Debojyoti Mishra, the score is a soul-stirring medley that blends timeless Rabindra Sangeet with earthy folk melodies. Sung by Mekhla Dasgupta and Chirantan Banerjee, the tracks double as dialogue, with lyrics becoming playful exchanges between the protagonists, actors Ayoshi Talukdar and Subhrojit Saha. Their chemistry carries the love story from Shoshthi to Doshomi, across iconic moments like Anjali, Dhunuchi Naach, and Bhog.
The film reaches its high point during Doshomi’s sindoor khela, where the male lead drops down on one knee in a cinematic proposal. The ring gleams not just as jewellery but as a promise rooted in tradition yet charged with spontaneity. It’s the kind of moment that lingers, much like the colours of Pujo itself.
For BBH India, CCO Parikshit Bhattacharya the festival was always a love story waiting to be framed. “Durga Pujo is already about romance, rituals, and memories. We wanted to set one more love story against that backdrop,” he said, emphasising how cultural truths create deeper brand narratives.
Caratlane MD Saumen Bhaumik echoed that sentiment, noting that proposals are “matters of the heart free flowing, spontaneous, like a melody.” By weaving music, ritual and romance, the campaign aims to move beyond standard jewellery ads into something more heartfelt and enduring.
With its lush visuals, rich soundscape, and a story that plays out as much in the heart as on screen, Maayer Aashirbaad isn’t just a campaign, it’s a proposal wrapped in the colours, chaos, and cadences of Pujo itself.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
