MAM
Sudipto Chowdhuri joins as SVP — national sales for TV9 Kannada and News9
BANGALORE:TV9 group has appointed Sudipto Chowdhuri as SVP — national sales and brand positioning for TV9 Kannada and News9.
Chowdhuri will be reporting to the TV9 Kannada and News9 director Mahendra Mishra.
In his two decades of experience, Chowdhuri has worked with brands such as Tata Yellow Pages, India Today, Zee Network, 9X and Star News.
Chowdhuri‘s last assignment was with Star News network based in Mumbai. He has worked across all markets in the country and is equipped with knowledge of corporate and retail advertising in both TV and Print.
Mishra says, “As TV9 Kannada and News9 continue to grow as South India‘s most powerful media brands, we will look to Sudipto to take these channels to even greater heights.”
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
