MAM
Manthan- A trip down memory lane
MUMBAI: The story of women farmers which started with the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation‘s (GCMMF) ‘Manthan‘ ad in 1996 has now been re-created in the new Amul TVC. The ad is an extension from the previous campaign, where women are shown to be multitasking and handling more than just routine domestic work.
The ad shows the progressive journey of women – from looking after cattle to studying and teaching in management colleges to even financing their children‘s education abroad.
The earlier campaign was based on the 1976 National Award winning movie ‘Manthan‘ directed by Shyam Benegal which was sponsored by 500,000 farmers of Gujarat, constituents of the GCMMF. And to revive this great story of success, GCMMF created a TVC titled Manthan in 1996 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW9DSUbZX34) with the song – ‘Mero gaam kathaparey‘.
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The ad was a specially created film which incorporated clips from the movie – Manthan, featuring actor, Late Smita Patil. The commercial celebrated the economic independence of women farmers, thanking the co-operative movement by Amul India.
In 2011, GCMMF produced another version of the commercial called Manthan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bma1OE4sMVc) which was conceptualised and executed by Draftfcb Ulka.
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The earlier TVC showcased how women in rural villages have become entrepreneurs by supplying milk to millions in India with the help of Amul India. The advertisement was unique as it drew a parallel between the rural and urban lifestyle.
The new campaign (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv0hzVTfHkY) for Amul India shows the appropriate model for rural development and especially the advancement of women farmers.
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Draftfcb Ulka chief operating officer Nitin Karkare said, “The new TVC is an extension of the earlier versions. While, the earlier ones were about the whole journey, right from the milk collection, processing to delivery to the urban homes, the latest TVC celebrates women empowerment. The idea is to showcase men acknowledging women as financially independent and celebrating their role as the Shethani.”
“The core objective was to communicate – ‘AMUL – A co-operative movement that empowered 35 lakh women farmers.’ And thus bring alive the societal impact of the cooperative movement. Our primary targets are opinion makers and housewives.”
When asked if the account was on pitch basis, Karkare added, “No campaign for Amul is a pitch. The brands are clearly aligned between the two agencies which build a strong sense of ownership and accountability with the agencies. We are promoting this commercial mainly via television supported by Digital.”
The latest TVC, directed by Subodh Poddar, has composite lyrics – ‘Mari Bairi Bani Sheethani‘(My wife is the head of the family and business) and ‘Mare ghar jhanjar laxmi ke baje‘ (in my house, the bells of wealth ring) which symbolises success. The foot tapping music has been composed by Umesh.
The TVC merges the commercials from 1966 to 2011 and showcases the gradual progress of women from homemakers to entrepreneurs.
GCMMF managing director R S Sodhi said, “We are extremely proud of the Amul journey so far and the role played by women in managing the dairy cooperatives. This film is an attempt to celebrate their contribution and demonstrate their capabilities to the urban world.”
Brands
Hiili names Sanjay Hemady as country manager India
Media veteran to drive digital decarbonisation push
MUMBAI: Climate tech firm Hiili has announced its entry into India, appointing industry veteran Sanjay Hemady as India country manager to steer its growth in one of the world’s fastest-expanding digital markets.
Hemady, a familiar name across India’s media and consulting circles, will lead Hiili’s India operations from Mumbai. His mandate is clear: help Indian companies measure, manage and reduce the carbon emissions generated by their digital services.
Hiili offers a scientifically validated platform, certified by the UC3M-Santander Big Data Institute, that enables businesses to improve the efficiency of their digital infrastructure while cutting emissions. As organisations race to meet ESG targets, the company positions itself as a practical bridge between climate pledges and measurable action.
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as country manager, India at Hiili,” Hemady said in a LinkedIn post, adding that the company aims to move beyond broad sustainability promises towards precise, science-based decarbonisation.
Hemady brings more than three decades of experience spanning print, television, radio and digital media. He has previously served as chief executive officer at HIT 95 FM, assistant general manager at CNBC TV18, and held leadership roles at MTV India and The Indian Express, among others. Most recently, he worked as an independent business consultant advising firms across media and technology.
With India’s digital economy expanding at pace, the environmental cost of data, streaming and online services is climbing quietly in the background. Hiili’s bet is that carbon efficiency will soon sit alongside cost efficiency in boardroom conversations.
For Hemady, the move marks a shift from selling airtime and ad inventory to championing climate accountability. If successful, Hiili’s India play could make digital growth not just faster, but cleaner too.
