MAM
Ogilvy unveils new campaign ‘Pulsar unleashing its Mania’ for Bajaj Pulsar
Mumbai: Bajaj Pulsar has launched its latest motorcycle, the Pulsar N160, with the most sedate advertisement on television.
The ad is an extremely clever way of getting a nod of approval from audiences, who often sat up and took note of “Pulsar unleashing its Mania” on national television.
In all its glory, and absolutely unlike the Pulsar advertising of two decades ago, this video showcased a stationary motorcycle. The intrigue comes from one clear instruction: scan the QR code on screen to watch the most thrilling Pulsar video ever!
The QR takes the viewer to YouTube, where the real advertisement will be played for the true enthusiast. The rider is seen on the all-new Pulsar N160, displaying breath-taking riding control while performing jaw-dropping stunts set in a city maze, all happening to the beats of an addictive music track.
Furthermore, this QR code has been seen all over many Indian cities and towns—in public spaces, public transport, youth-centric spaces, from college notice boards to cafes and so on. Essentially, branding the most mundane and boring pieces of our day as opportunities to become the most thrilling moments of the day.
Speaking on the campaign and how they were convinced that this is “the” way, Bajaj Auto head of marketing Narayan Sundararaman said, “Brand Pulsar is all about action and thrill. For its new avatar as the Pulsar N160, we had to deliver a communication package that would talk about the category-first feature of Dual Channel ABS. In this cluttered media environment, we thought our best chance would be to involve the viewer and nudge them towards a thrilling film… Do they want to watch an ‘uncensored’ ad of eye-popping motorcycle action? It’s great to see that the answer is a resounding yes!”
Speaking on the collaboration with Bajaj, Ogilvy chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak said, “Pulsar is the most thrilling motorcycle on the road, so we took its communication a notch higher on thrill. How? We got their attention twice! We made an ad in an ad. First, we made a censored Pulsar ad for TV and released it with a QR code. The film invites die-hard Pulsar fans to scan and watch the most exciting ‘Uncensored Pulsar ad’ of all time. The ‘Uncensored Pulsar QR code’ will make not just the TV ad but every ad thrilling – newspaper, outdoor, and even posters. Let the thrill take over.”
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
