MAM
This Diwali ‘it’s all about loving one’s family’: Brands celebrate the joy of homecoming
MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when advertisers spend the major portion of their annual ad spends in going all out to woo the Indian consumer. With the Festival of Lights upon us, marketers and brands are doing everything they can to unlock the year’s biggest festive blitzkrieg by ensuring their campaign stands out this Diwali.
With families separated by the pandemic for long, it’s time to come home, sit together, and catch up. After all, festivals are all about celebrating togetherness, and what better way to celebrate than to be home with one’s loved ones? With this understanding, brands across categories have released ad films centred around family reunions and bonding sessions. After all, ‘it’s all about loving one’s parents/ family’.
Backed by a heart-warming narrative, Vivo released a Diwali special digital film communicating the “Joy of Homecoming”. Starring actor Kanwaljit Singh, the ad film conceptualised by Dentsu Impact encapsulates the role of the smartphone in rekindling the joy of connection.
Another ad from Anand Sweets also highlights the simple joys of attending the rituals and traditions with family members. The ad takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane showcasing the fun activities that defined festivity during one’s childhood. The script drafted by Norm creative strategic agency brings out the emotions, love, and lore of Diwali.
With their new Diwali campaign video ‘Kissa Kaaju Katli Ka’, online poker platform, PokerBaazi gave a sweet twist to enjoying a game with family, where members apply their Poker skills to understand and read their opponent while trying to win a pot of sweets.
In a message which would resonate with today’s generation, telecom operator Vodafone Idea’s Diwali campaign #LookUp says mere physical presence is not enough if one is not mindfully present in the moment. Vi has launched a digital video highlighting the importance of virtual platforms, yet encouraging real conversations during special occasions. The campaign throws light on how one can miss out on the special times despite being there and gives out a call: ‘it’s time to shut our screens’ and truly be there to celebrate with our loved ones.
Taking a dig at all the other so-called ‘cliched’ Diwali ads, tech brand DIZO realme’s released a new ad – “Not-So-Clichéd Diwali Ad”. The ad executed by White Rivers Media is a light-hearted take on the most commonly used format of storytelling in Diwali campaigns while going on to do just that even as it cleverly integrates the tech brand’s product into the narrative.
Taking a step further is surfacing solutions brand, Greenlam Industries which has rolled out a digital campaign that humorously underlines the importance of taking time out to ‘celebrate at home and celebrate home’, this Diwali. The short film conceptualised by Mirum India showcases an American boss delegating work to his team in India over a video call on Diwali while stressing that the timeline is crucial and needs to go out immediately. The team manages to get out of the sticky situation by pulling a fast one over the boss unitedly. Watch how they do it:
AD Agencies
Publicis acquires AdgeAI to sharpen predictive measurement in advertising
Deal integrates AI-driven content intelligence with Publicis production platform
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe is doubling down on data-led creativity with the acquisition of measurement and content intelligence firm AdgeAI, a move aimed at helping brands understand what truly works in their campaigns.
Announced on March 12 in Paris, the deal brings AdgeAI’s analytics technology into Publicis’ AI-driven production ecosystem, allowing brands to measure and predict creative performance in real time. The company said the integration will help marketers move beyond guesswork and focus on content that delivers measurable business outcomes.
AdgeAI’s platform analyses engagement and conversion data across video and digital campaigns to pinpoint which creative elements resonate most with audiences. By identifying patterns that drive results, the system provides insights that guide content strategy and improve returns on marketing investment.
The acquisition comes at a time when brands are producing more content than ever before. While the tools to create campaigns have become faster and cheaper, many marketers still struggle to determine which messages actually drive sales.
Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun, said brands today need clarity rather than just volume. “In the AI era, brands do not simply need more content. They need to know what works, and why, so they can scale their messaging across audiences, markets and platforms,” he said. He added that the acquisition turns creative measurement from a backward-looking report into a forward-looking capability that predicts outcomes.
Publicis production chief executive officer Deepti Velury, said embedding predictive intelligence into the production process will allow brands to create fewer but more effective assets. According to her, AdgeAI’s technology can analyse creative components at a granular level and identify patterns directly linked to campaign performance.
AdgeAI co-founder and CEO Eyal Ben Shalom, described the deal as a shift in how the industry approaches creative intelligence. By plugging its technology into Publicis’ broader platform, he said brands will be able to move at the speed of digital algorithms without losing the spark of strong creative ideas.
With the addition of AdgeAI, Publicis is positioning itself to close the gap between creativity and data, giving brands a clearer view of what clicks with audiences and what drives the bottom line.
