MAM
The Thums Up man graduates to a new masculine code this summer
MUMBAI: Thums Up, India‘s most successful cola brand, is evolving into a wholesome personality while sticking to its masculine image.
This summer, Thums Up has graduated from its ‘Live the Thunder’ life philosophy to a new masculine code.
Aided by creative agency Leo Burnett, Thums Up has unleashed its ‘Aaj kuch toofani kartey hain’ (Let‘s do something stormy today) campaign as it seeks to quench the thirst of an increasing number of Indian consumers this hot summer and maintain its leading market share position in the cola segment.
Featuring action movie star Mahesh Babu, model-turned-actor Sahil Shroff, winner of Khatron ke Khiladi 2011 Dhaval Thakur and Kingfisher calendar girl Angela Johnson, the Thums Up man grows up from being the ‘angry young man’ to the ‘cool risk taker’, the follower of ‘playful mastery’ and now the advocate of bold masculine leadership.
Shot in Bangkok, the campaign highlights a series of daredevil acts by Babu and his team who use Thums Up as a fuel to achieve their mission to do something ‘Toofani’ (stormy). As the leader of the pack, Babu inspires his team to use a combination of bold action, smart thinking and team effort to outwit the challenges, demonstrating the bold leadership and daredevil attitude of a Thums Up lover.
The campaign also includes an anthem that has been composed by the lyricist duo of Ram Sampath and Amitabh Bhattacharya of ‘Delhi Belly‘ fame. The ad film has been directed by Hollywood action director Nick Livesey.
Says Leo Burnett executive creative director Sainath Saraban, “Thums Up campaigns are about ultimate adventure and daring stunts that reflect the brand’s persona. The new ‘Aaj Kuch Toofani Kartey Hain’ campaign has been designed to give the consumers a differentiated and thrilling experience. Shooting this campaign was extremely challenging and exciting and that added to the stature of the stunts.”
In the past too, Thums Up‘s brand proposition has been “action” and “daring” virtues as it differentiates itself from the other cola competing peers as a stronger aerated drink. The bold, red Thums Up logo is a very popular icon in India, forcing Coca-Cola to acquire it.
Thums Up‘s previous brand ambassadors include Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Akshaye Kumar.
MAM
Barista partners Ginny Weds Sunny 2 with mango campaign
Cafe chain blends cinema buzz with summer menu and 20 per cent offer.
MUMBAI: Love may brew slowly, but marketing clearly doesn’t especially when coffee meets cinema and mangoes steal the spotlight. Barista Coffee Company has partnered with the upcoming hindi film Ginny Weds Sunny 2 as its official beverage partner, in a move aimed at tapping into youth culture through entertainment-led engagement. The collaboration is not just a logo placement exercise. Instead, Barista is translating the film’s high-energy vibe into its cafés with a themed summer menu titled “Main Hoon Mango”, accompanied by a limited-period 20 per cent discount on combo offerings across outlets.
Actors Medha Shankr and Avinash Tiwary feature in the campaign, seen engaging with the mango-themed menu inside Barista cafés, a visual cue designed to blur the lines between reel and real-life consumption moments.
The strategy reflects a broader shift in how consumer brands are leveraging hindi film industry not just for visibility, but for immersive, on-ground engagement. By embedding the film’s narrative into its product experience, Barista is aiming to drive footfall, especially among younger audiences who increasingly seek experiential touchpoints over traditional advertising.
Barista Coffee Company CEO Rajat Agrawal described the partnership as both a branding and growth play, focused on expanding reach beyond the existing customer base and aligning with evolving consumer preferences.
The emphasis on a seasonal, flavour-led hook mango, one of India’s most culturally resonant ingredients adds a timely layer to the campaign, aligning with summer consumption trends while riding on the film’s promotional momentum.
For Barista, the move is part of a larger positioning shift. Rather than operating purely as a coffee retail chain, the brand is increasingly framing itself as a lifestyle destination, one that intersects with entertainment, conversation and shared experiences. By integrating cinema into its physical spaces, Barista is effectively turning cafés into micro-extensions of the film’s universe, where consumers do not just watch a story unfold but participate in it sip by sip.
The 20 per cent offer further nudges trial, lowering the barrier for consumers to engage with the themed menu while amplifying recall through a tangible incentive.
Brand-film collaborations are hardly new, but their execution is evolving. Where earlier partnerships relied on co-branded ads or product placements, the current playbook leans towards immersive storytelling and retail integration.
In that sense, Barista’s “Main Hoon Mango” push is less about promotion and more about participation inviting consumers to experience a slice of the film within a familiar, everyday setting. As the film industry continues to act as a cultural amplifier, such partnerships underline a growing truth, in today’s attention economy, it is not enough to be seen brands must be experienced.
And if that experience comes with a mango twist and a cinematic backdrop, all the better.
