MAM
DDB Mudra west appoints Manoj Bhavnani as senior CD
MUMBAI: Joining DDB Mudra west’s formidable creative force under the leadership of creative head, Rahul Mathew, is Manoj Bhavnani who has joined as senior creative director.
Bhavnani joins DDB Mudra west from Bates India, where he was creative director working on some of the agency’s biggest accounts such as Fiat, Tata AIG and Colgate. He was a part of the RedFuse team, a group created by WPP to exclusively handle the communication duties for Colgate.
With over 11 years of work experience and a degree in Statistics, Bhavnani has also worked with top agencies in the country including FCB Ulka (earlier known as Draft FCB Ulka), Lowe Lintas, Grey Worldwide and Ogilvy & Mather. He has also authored a novel, ‘Screwed!’ which has been published by Penguin in September 2012.
Bhavnani said, “It’s an exciting time to be joining DDB Mudra. The agency has been creating great campaigns that have picked up many awards. Rahul, Rajiv and Sonal have placed their faith in me to keep up the quality of work, and I hope I will repay their faith in the time to come.”
Mathew added, “Over the past five months, Rajiv & I have been working hard at improving our product. Manoj is yet another step in this direction. He brings sound thinking and a lot of enthusiasm to our talented bunch. And am sure he will prove to be an essential cog in our creative machinery.”
DDB Mudra west president Rajiv Sabnis said, “Manoj is talented professional who has cut his teeth on demanding large brands in some of the best agencies. His ability to produce consistently good creative work on global, process-driven businesses really got us talking. We look forward to his contribution, especially on J&J Beauty Care, and hope that he has long innings in DDB Mudra.”
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.
