MAM
SX4 bring men back with latest TVC
MUMBAI: The Maruti Suzuki SX4 has launched its new campaign developed by Lowe Lintas. The television commercial is based on the proposition that SX4 is the car for men who are passionate about driving. It stems from the idea that almost every boy grows up playing with cars and dreams of driving his cars really fast and assertively. The TVC aims to establish that SX4 is a car that lets you live your passion for driving.
Shot at an airstrip in Bengaluru, the car shots were captured by hi-tech camera equipment and an experienced international crew which included an international stunts co-ordinator and the cinematographer. The stunts guy put the new SX4 to some rigorous driving tests both on the tarmac and off the road and helped in capturing the shots used in the TVC. Director Arun Gopalan (of Story-tellers) captured both the story part (boy growing) as well as the car shots. The TVC juxtaposes the manoeuvres of the boy with the car shots.
The TVC depicts a young boy‘s passion for speed and thrill of driving a car which is eventually fulfilled when he gets to drive the all new SX4. The music used is pacey and builds up the TVC well to establish that the new super turbo diesel engine is better than its previous versions.
Maruti Suzuki Industries marketing GM Sanjeev Handa said, “The new SX4, has attractive new exterior looks, plush interiors, and exciting features like the touch screen audio cum navigation system and power folding ORVM‘s. It comes with power packed performance and a Super Turbo Diesel engine. The latest TVC demonstrates our absolute commitment towards our positioning, which has let us stand distinctly apart in the segment. The production quality adds sheen to our statement and puts the TVC in a league of its own.”
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.
