MAM
Publicis India helps HDFC MF boost investor confidence
Mumbai: Publicis Worldwide India, part of Publicis Groupe India, has conceptualised an exciting ad film, ‘Seekh,’ for HDFC Mutual Fund. This film is an extension of the highly successful ‘Zindagi Ke Liye SIP’ campaign launched last year and highlights the ease of investing in mutual funds through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP).
The film aims to forge a strong emotional connection with first-time investors, emphasizing that investing in mutual funds through SIP is as simple and familiar as our daily lives, contrary to how consumers perceive it.
The new film depicts a father imparting a valuable life lesson to his son. Through this narrative, the brand wants investors to know that success comes to those who start early and think long-term – a life truth that SIP mirrors.
Speaking about the film, Publicis Worldwide India managing director Oindrila Roy said, “At Publicis Worldwide India, we help brands engage their audiences by leveraging powerful human insights. Zindagi Ke Liye SIP is a perfect example of a campaign that is based on a powerful cultural insight that unlocks category growth for mutual funds. Through a series of heart-warming and relatable stories, we want to showcase how SIP can make mutual fund investing rewarding.”
“We, as a society, believe that starting something early is very important and a prerequisite for success. It’s a principle that’s equally true for SIP. This observation forms the premise of our second film for the campaign ‘Zindagi Ke Liye SIP’. The film tells a simple yet poignant story of vulnerability and honesty. The film is authentic and relatable. And like always we have tried to keep the narrative honest,” added Publicis Worldwide India executive creative directors at Srijan Shukla and Pratheeb Ravi.
The campaign is crafted to resonate with diverse audiences across the country, highlighting similarities between life and a successful SIP investment. The film will be aired on TV and digital platforms, targeting a wide audience of young investors.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
