Ad Campaigns
IndiGo’s #nofilter crafts a close-knit photography community with National Geographic
Mumbai: IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, recently collaborated with National Geographic India to bring forth #nofilter by IndiGo, an inspiring platform that seamlessly blends the realms of travel and photography. The culmination of this initiative witnessed a staggering success, leaving an unforgettable mark on the nation’s creative landscape.
In a country bursting with photographic talent, the response to #nofilter was nothing short of extraordinary. Over 90,000 impassioned photographers, hailing from diverse backgrounds and corners of the country, participated in this unique community-building venture. This surge of creativity set the stage for an exciting reality TV showdown, where the lens met reality in a four-episode showcase. This platform helped passionate photographers across the category to showcase their talent.
Amidst the sea of talent, 27-year-old Harsh Kharwar emerged as the winner, capturing the hearts of judges Imtiaz Ali and the renowned photographer Raghu Rai. The impact, however, extended beyond the competition, resonating with a wider audience through its reach on National Geographic and Hotstar.
Unveiling the impact:
- The reality TV show gathered over 600K views on National Geographic and Hotstar.
- The campaign reached an impressive 11.8 million people on Meta, showcasing its widespread influence.
- Meta impressions soared to 37 million, with a noteworthy click-through rate of 0.18 per cent.
- YouTube witnessed the visual spectacle, with an impressive view rate of 21.14 per cent.
Being part of the #nofilter community isn’t just about winning a competition; it’s a gateway to becoming the next photography luminary. IndiGo’s commitment to fostering talent and providing opportunities for aspiring photographers is evident in the success of #nofilter.
IndiGo chief digital, and information officer Neetan Chopra expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled with the success of #nofilter by IndiGo. This remarkable initiative has not only celebrated the unbridled beauty of India, seen through the unique lenses of talented photographers hailing from every nook and cranny of our vibrant nation, but it has also been an exhilarating journey. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to all those who participated and supported this extraordinary campaign. It goes beyond simply showcasing India’s diversity and opulence; it has harnessed the captivating power of photography to inspire, educate, and forge connections across the tapestry of life. Our hope is that this incredible voyage will continue to shine a spotlight on India, a land of unparalleled depth and allure, beckoning both domestic and international travellers to explore its wonders.”
Disney+ Hotstar head – content & Disney Star HSM entertainment network Gaurav Banerjee emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “National Geographic has always held a very distinctive and revered position in photography, inspiring audiences with iconic imagery since 1888. Through #nofilter, IndiGo and National Geographic have not only captured the breathtaking beauty of India but have also harnessed the transformative power of photography to create a visual narrative that transcends boundaries. The nine finalists have brought forth stories that resonate with the heart of India. This journey chronicled across the National Geographic platforms, is a celebration of the unfiltered essence of our culture, landscapes, wildlife, and people. As we close this chapter, we congratulate all participants for contributing to this extraordinary journey, inviting the world to witness India’s boundless allure through the unfiltered lens of passion and creativity.”
Renowned filmmaker Imtiaz Ali shared his thoughts saying, “As a filmmaker, I share a deep passion for the camera, and I believe that photography is a powerful means of storytelling. I’m thrilled to witness these talented photographers come together and compete with unfiltered creativity. Serving as a judge alongside the prolific Raghu Rai, we shoulder the responsibility of handpicking the most exceptional shots. My gratitude goes out to National Geographic and IndiGo for providing a platform that not only celebrates the art of photography but also fosters the growth of emerging talent.”
IndiGo’s #nofilter initiative broke records in terms of participation while also casting a spotlight on the countless stories captured by photographers from every corner of India. The campaign’s far-reaching influence in the photography community and beyond speaks volumes about its success.
NATIONAL: Amazon Ads has laid out a sharply tech-led vision for the advertising industry in 2026, arguing that artificial intelligence, streaming TV and creator partnerships will combine to turn brand building into a more precise, performance-driven business.
At the heart of the shift, the company says, is the fusion of AI with Amazon’s vast trove of shopping, browsing and streaming signals, allowing advertisers to move beyond blunt reach metrics to campaigns designed around real customer behaviour.
“The future of advertising is not about reaching more people, but the right people with messages that resonate,” said Amazon Ads India head and vice president Girish Prabhu. “By combining AI with deep customer insights, we help brands move from broadcasting campaigns to having meaningful conversations wherever audiences spend their time.”
One of the biggest changes, according to Amazon Ads, will be the collapse of the wall between media planning and creative development. Retail media, powered by first-party data, is increasingly shaping everything from brand discovery to final purchase, pushing marketers to design campaigns around audience insight rather than internal instinct.
AI is also moving from a support tool to a creative engine. Agentic AI, which automates and accelerates production, is expected to make high-quality creative accessible even to small businesses, compressing weeks of work into hours and giving challengers the ability to compete with larger brands on speed and scale.
Behind the scenes, AI-driven analytics will take on a bigger role in campaign optimisation, identifying patterns, spotting opportunities and recommending actions that would previously have required teams of analysts.
Streaming TV is another big battleground. With India’s video streaming audience now above 600 million and connected TV users at 129.2 million in 2025, advertisers are set to treat streaming not just as a branding channel but as a performance engine, measured increasingly by sales, sign-ups and bookings rather than just reach.
Finally, Amazon Ads sees creators and contextual advertising reshaping how brands tell stories. Creators will act less like influencers and more like long-term partners, while scene-aware ads on streaming platforms will allow brands to insert hyper-relevant offers into the flow of what viewers are watching.
Taken together, Amazon Ads argues, these shifts mark a move towards advertising that is both more human and more measurable, where AI handles the complexity, and creativity does the persuading.
