AD Agencies
Publicis Entertainment launches in India for branded content
MUMBAI: Publicis Communications has launched Publicis Entertainment, its new entertainment marketing unit in India. The unit was formally set up in June 2018. Publicis Entertainment will help all of Publicis Communications’ agencies (Leo Burnett India, Leo Burnett Orchard, Publicis Worldwide, Publicis Capital, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, MSL Group, Indigo Consulting, Publicis Beehive, Digitas, Sapient.Razorfish and Prodigious India) collaborate with big players in the content and entertainment space by leveraging social and digital marketing.
Publicis Entertainment will look after brand integrations for film and TV series, IP creations, partnerships between brands and clients, and celebrity management. It aims at being a one-stop-advisory for business solutions in the branded entertainment and entertainment marketing space.
Publicis Entertainment executive director Pranay Anthwal will head the division. He will report to Publicis Communications CEO India Saurabh Varma.
Speaking about the launch of the new division, Varma says, “Great storytelling is happening around us, even in an attention-deficit economy. We believe this is the biggest opportunity for our brands. We want the stories of our brands to intersect organically with the beautiful human stories already being told in popular culture. And we want to go beyond. Our unique model will unfold over the next 18 months. Pranay brings an incredible amount of expertise and passion to make our ambition a reality.”
Anthwal is a multiple award-winning branded content and entertainment specialist. His career boasts of stints at Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Starcom Worldwide, The Times of India, Star TV, DHL and Zee Interactive, among others. Pranay has marketed over 150 successful films such as Munnabhai MBBS, Lagey Raho Munnabhai, Viruddh, and Krrish, to name a few. He has worked for key clients – Sony Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Buena Vista, Disney India – in the span of his career.
Speaking about his new role, Anthwal mentions, “I am happy to be back to the Publicis family. For far too long, branded entertainment and entertainment marketing have been in the cost-per-deal space. This is because not many creative and strategy ad agency majors were involved in this process. So far it has been, and still is, a supply side market model. We hope to play a role where we curate and recommend entertainment industry partnerships from a brand lens, in addition to focusing on brand objectives instead of deal objectives.”
“Our focus products for the first few years will be entertainment marketing, branded entertainment and co-creation of branded entertainment IPs for our big brands. We hope to move some big investments from the expenditure column to the assets column for some of our key clients,” he added.
Publicis Entertainment is already associated with key brands such as Fox Star Studios, HDFC Life, and Avon Beauty, among others. For Fox Star, the unit has already conceptualised and created a very successful social and digital campaign for blockbuster film Sanju
AD Agencies
Havas Media Network India bags integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited
PivotRoots and Arena Media to drive 360° strategy for student outreach
NEW DELHI: Havas Media Network India has secured the integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited, following a competitive multi-agency pitch, signalling a fresh push by the education major to sharpen its reach among students nationwide.
The mandate will be jointly handled by PivotRoots and Arena Media, both part of the Havas network. Together, they will roll out a full-spectrum media strategy designed to boost AESL’s visibility across digital and traditional platforms.
At the heart of the partnership lies a simple idea: making the brand not just seen, but sought after. The agencies will blend data, technology and creative storytelling to craft campaigns that resonate with students and parents navigating an increasingly digital-first education landscape.
Aakash Educational Services Limited SVP marketing Kanika Kumar Nijhawan said, “At Aakash, we believe success is built through a structured, long-term and data-driven approach. As we expand across the country, adopting a more integrated approach to media is essential. This partnership marks a significant step towards building stronger connections with our audiences.”
Under the arrangement, PivotRoots will spearhead digital and performance marketing, covering social media, influencer collaborations and data-led optimisation. Meanwhile, Arena Media will focus on traditional channels including print, television, radio, cinema and outdoor advertising, ensuring consistent messaging across touchpoints.
Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said, “Delivering for a powerhouse like AESL requires both scale and precision. By combining Arena Media and PivotRoots, we are deploying our Converged.AI platform to create a 360-degree strategy that drives engagement, conversions and long-term growth.”
Echoing the sentiment, PivotRoots founder and chief executive officer Shibu Shivanandan added that the collaboration would focus on building “impactful, full-funnel experiences” powered by deep analytics and performance-led marketing.
With a strong legacy in coaching for medical and engineering entrance exams, AESL is now doubling down on integrated media to stay ahead in a crowded, fast-evolving education market. The partnership with Havas signals a clear intent: to turn visibility into meaningful engagement and, ultimately, student success.
