Brands
Flipkart plays on Ugadi vs Yugadi debate in festive campaign
Light-hearted film turns pronunciation clash into deals and delight
MUMBAI: Flipkart is turning a tongue-twister into a talking point with its latest campaign around Ugadi, playfully diving into the age-old debate of Ugadi versus Yugadi.
Conceptualised by 22feet, the campaign leans into a simple cultural truth. While pronunciation may differ across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, the festive spirit and the urge to shop remain universal.
The campaign film captures this with a humorous back-and-forth between Telugu and Kannada speakers arguing over the ‘right’ way to say the festival’s name, only to land on a cheerful twist where both sides are rewarded. It is less about settling the debate and more about celebrating it.
At the centre of the activation is an interactive microsite, where users can share festive wishes and unlock exclusive deals on the Flipkart app. The idea turns a linguistic quirk into a participative experience, nudging users to engage while they browse.
The campaign is being amplified across digital platforms, including Meta, along with integrations on Flipkart’s own ecosystem, encouraging users to join the conversation and cash in on festive offers.
22feet chief creative excellence officer Vishnu Srivatsav said, “Small cultural nuances often create the most interesting ideas. The pronunciation debate gave us a playful starting point, and from there we built a take that is both celebratory and distinctive.”
In blending humour with heritage, Flipkart’s campaign shows that sometimes, it is not about who is right, but how everyone can win, especially when there are deals on the table.
Brands
Havas reports solid Q1 2026 with 2.5 per cent organic net revenue growth
Advertising group maintains positive momentum and confirms full-year guidance.
MUMBAI: Havas has started 2026 on a strong note proving that even in uncertain times, its converged model continues to deliver. The global advertising and communications group reported net revenue of €638 million for the first quarter of 2026, representing organic growth of +2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. This performance was driven particularly by a robust +7.4 per cent organic growth in the United States.
Total revenue for the quarter reached €667 million, with organic growth of +2.8 per cent. Recent acquisitions contributed a positive scope impact of +1.7 per cent, while foreign exchange movements had a negative impact of -5.8 per cent, mainly due to the US dollar and British pound.
Europe, which accounts for 50 per cent of net revenue, delivered +1.1 per cent organic growth, supported by a good performance in France. North America (36 per cent of net revenue) led the way with +7.4 per cent growth, thanks to strong contributions from both Havas Creative and Havas Media. APAC & Africa (8 per cent) saw a decline of -6.2 per cent, while Latin America (6 per cent) remained nearly stable at -0.6 per cent.
Havas chairman and CEO Yannick Bolloré said, “Havas has started 2026 on a solid footing, continuing its momentum and delivering organic growth in net revenue of +2.5 per cent. This performance, in line with our full-year 2026 guidance, was driven in particular by continued strength in the US.”
The group also continued its bolt-on acquisition strategy, acquiring majority stakes in four agencies during the quarter: Acento Public Affairs (Spain), Ctrl Digital (Sweden), Styleheads (Germany), and Eyesight (France).
Havas maintained its strong creative reputation, ranking as a top holding company in the WARC Creative 100 for the sixth consecutive year, with three agencies BETC, Havas Paris, and Havas India placing in the Top 50.
Looking ahead, Havas confirmed its 2026 guidance: organic net revenue growth between +2.0 per cent and +3.0 per cent, adjusted EBIT margin between 13.2 per cent and 13.5 per cent, and a dividend payout ratio of around 40 per cent. The group also reiterated its medium-term targets for 2028.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Havas enters the rest of the year with solid fundamentals and confidence in its ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
In a challenging environment, Havas is proving that its integrated, client-centric model remains resilient delivering steady growth while continuing to invest in creativity and innovation. The first quarter results suggest the group is well-positioned to navigate the year ahead with confidence.
