MAM
[Podcast] Media Minds: Kokuyo Camlin CMO Saumitra Prasad on leveraging technology and social media
MUMBAI: It’s a brand that much of Gen X, Gen Y and even Gen Z has grown up with. As one of the oldest and most popular stationery brands in India, Camlin has been a mass favourite. Since 2011, Camlin has been a part of Japan’s Kokuyo which enabled it to diversify its existing product range and delve into premium products too.
In the latest episode of Media Minds, Kokuyo Camlin CMO Saumitra Prasad talks about the brand journey after the ownership change and how technology is helping it stay relevant.
Speaking about its current digital-first marketing approach, Prasad says, “Initially, it was to check whether technology is a threat to us because we realise that children today are spending a lot of time on tablets and apps as compared to making paintings. We started by developing an app called Camlin Experience App, which would give children the experience of (using) the real colours and what we realised that, over time, children developed an interest in real colours.”
Social media engagement is also a high priority to get a pulse of the new generation. He is proud of the engagement that the brand is getting on these platforms. He shares that like its offline property Camlin Art Contests, it runs many competitions on Facebook as well which receives great response from kids.
He also talks about how the brand has been investing in research and development to create product differentiations based on specific needs and likings of users.
Listen to the complete interaction here:
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
