Brands
Gulf launches unstoppable army campaign: Excuses CSK players and fans take centre stage
Mumbai: Gulf Oil Lubricants India, a leading player in the Indian lubricant industry, is thrilled to announce its innovative campaign for this T20 season, titled “Gulf Unstoppable Army”. In a groundbreaking move, Gulf Oil has decided not to feature Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players in its advertisements this season. Instead, the brand has launched an announcer film on digital platforms to highlight this novel approach, empowering CSK’s passionate fan base to create the advertisements, thereby giving the players more time to train and aim for their sixth title.
The campaign’s launch was made by a revealing behind-the-scenes film, offering a glimpse into this innovative approach. Picture a bustling set, filled with anticipation. As CSK’s beloved players, led by MS Dhoni, step onto the scene, there is a palpable energy. Yet, Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd, unveils a different agenda – one centred around giving the players the space they need to excel. “This season, Gulf is giving you the gift of time,” he declares, stressing the importance of their undivided attention on the game.
CSK CEO Kashi Viswanath underscores the significance of this decision, providing the players with an opportunity to refine their skills. The film concludes with a call to action for fans, inviting them to join the #GulfUnstoppableArmy by creating their own Gulf ads, highlighting the brand’s commitment to both the team and its loyal supporters.
Gulf Oil Lubricants India MD & CEO Ravi Chawla commented, “This year, we are taking a fresh approach by celebrating the true spirit of cricket and its passionate fans. The Gulf Unstoppable Army campaign is a tribute to the unwavering support and passion of the CSK fan base. We believe that by giving our beloved CSK players the gift of time, we are not only supporting their quest for another title but also engaging the fans in an unprecedented way, making them an integral part of our journey.”
Dentsu Creative West group executive creative director Ajeet Shukla adds, “The T20 season is that challenging phase of advertising where you’ll have to & must do something disruptive and good to get noticed. That’s what our attempt has been this time with the idea of not using CSK players for Gulf Ads. Instead giving back the time to practice and hopefully emerge as Champions for the 6th time. Now you must be wondering who’ll be making ads for us. Fans will. Something super interesting is coming soon.”
The Gulf Unstoppable Army campaign is a unique initiative that fosters a deeper connection between the brand, the fans, and the team. Leveraging digital platforms for the campaign’s launch and subsequent fan-generated content, Gulf aims to create a cohesive and engaging narrative that celebrates the spirit of cricket and its supporters. While primarily digital, the campaign will also extend its reach to TV and outdoors, ensuring widespread visibility and engagement.
The brand campaign film will be featured across digital platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
