MAM
ITC Classmate’s new TVC celebrates ‘uniqueness’ in every child
MUMBAI: It is at a tender age of 9-10 years that children first start interacting with a pen to write. This is also the time when they try to create their unique signature which is as unique as the individual. ITC Classmate‘s new TVC, focuses on this aspect of childhood. ‘Signature‘ which is the central theme of the new ITC Classmate commercial is all set to be aired on 2 July.
The new campaign is the next logical step in the communication continuum, taking forward the current brand campaign- ‘Because you are one of a kind.‘ The TVC has been conceptualised and created by Rediffusion Y&R and will be launched in two languages – Hindi and Tamil. While the Hindi TVC adorns lyrics penned by the legendary Padma Bhushan Gulzar, the Tamil TVC is embellished with lyrics penned by six times National Award winner Vairamuthu.
The theme campaign comprises three commercials of 60, 40 and 30-second durations. The TVC creatively amplifies a “Signature/Dastkhat”, which is almost the beginning of a new life stage – where the pen becomes a trusted honest companion, almost like an instrument of empowerment.
“Classmate has always endeavored to recognise, nurture and celebrate the uniqueness of every child. “We decided to take the concept of ‘uniqueness‘ forward by exploring what is that one thing in every child that is the most obvious manifestation of his/her own uniqueness,” ITC Stationary Business marketing manager Karan Kumar.
The ad is a simple insight into the way every child writes his/her name. “The ad concentrates on the unique signature that every child always wants to create, almost like a master-piece, developed after many rounds of secret iterations. This stands as an outward representation of every child‘s uniqueness. It is this powerful simplicity of the child‘s endeavor that we wanted to capture,” he informed.
“We are proud and happy that we have worked with Gulzar and Vairamuthu, both extremely acclaimed writers, to capture the powerful yet innocent emotions of children during this pursuit, in an extremely important life-stage.”
The film opens on Tara, a young girl who grows up in the hills. Standing on the cusp of childhood and adolescence as she does, Tara is earnestly trying to create her own unique signature – an identity that represents her and her unique individuality. While at it, she‘s very protective, almost zealously guarding her various iterations from everyone around her; it is almost her own very secret which she wants to reveal only once she has masterfully crafted it. She finally finds her inspiration at the local community festival where the swirls of ribbons set against all the festivities, inspire her to her final flourish.
The national television campaign will be supported extensively by digital and social media marketing; consumer activations and engagements, besides a slew of school connect programmes.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
