MAM
Vivek Modi takes on brand solutions & impact role at Jiostar
MUMBAI: Vivek Modi has transitioned from his position as business head and SVP of Viacom18’s Bangla and Odia cluster to JioStar as head of brand solutions and impact.
Modi, who shepherded Colors Bangla Cinema to the number one spot in just seven months, brings nearly two decades of media and marketing expertise to the fledgling streaming service. His shift comes after a relatively brief 16-month stint managing the regional television portfolio.
Before his Viacom18 spell, Modi spent five years as co-founder and director at Fickle Formula whilst simultaneously running YellowBulbs, a marketing venture he co-founded in 2015. His career trajectory includes a four-year run at Radio Mirchi, where he climbed to regional director for north and east India.
The seasoned executive previously cut his teeth at Vodafone, J. Walter Thompson and ABP Group’s The Telegraph, amassing expertise across telecoms, advertising and print media before finding his groove in broadcasting.
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.
