MAM
Will OOH industry see a revival during Durga Puja?
KOLKATA: Even with Dashami a week away, the city of Kolkata lacks lustre. The usual crowd of revellers who throng the streets, flitting from one pujo marquee to another, is significantly smaller. There are fewer lights, fewer billboards, and fewer hoardings. Although, the number of pandals has not reduced but the anticipated footfall is expected to go down especially with the latest Calcutta high court order. All of them are strictly adhering to the West Bengal government’s guidelines to check community transmission of Covid2019.
During Puja, these pandals turn into a hub of outdoor and on-ground activities. Brands try to leverage every corner of the pandals to create a visual impact and making their presence felt starting from the overhead gates to pillars, stage, stalls, and other parts of the pandals. Several brands release new campaigns, initiatives and products during this time and leverage the massive footfall at the pandals for sampling of its products.
Clearly, business isn’t booming for out-of-home (OOH) industry in the market as it traditionally does during the festive season.
Vibgyor managing director Ankur Kalra says brands are spending very cautiously for out-of-home activities, even during Durga Puja. Although they have started spending some amount on TV and digital but on-ground reality is different this year. According to him, all of the brands have deferred their marketing spends to 2021. He has noticed a 75 per cent reduction from all the reputed brands in on-ground activities especially.
Ad spends on on-ground activities are moving to virtual modes. Since there are fears of crowd gatherings despite restrictions, one bad incident could lead to a PR disaster, adds Kalra. In overall OOH, if the brands were spending Rs 100, the spending has gone down to less than Rs 40 this year.
R W Promotions owner Venkatesh Srinivasan echoes Kalra’s bent of mind, saying as brands want to maintain safety standards, they have several questions in mind such as: which are the containment zones, which parts of the city are safe for activations. However, he is more sanguine of a revival. His view is that spends on outdoor are slowly coming back and should go up more during Durga Puja since the government is also supporting celebrations with safety standards.
He goes on to add that outdoor activations are key, despite digital campaigns. In his view, many people are still not comfortable seeing a product in digital ads and buying it later.
Moreover, coming off the downturn of the last seven months, the market is considerably more enthusiastic right now with the onset of festive season. FMCGs and automobiles are currently the top spenders in outdoor campaigns, followed by consumer durables and mobile manufacturers. Other than that, beauty brands are spending but very less. Overall, marketing spends could take a 50-60 per cent dip in terms of outdoor and 70-80 per cent in on-ground activation.
Another executive who is extremely gung-ho about the revival of the outdoors is Laqshya media group CEO Atul Shrivastava. Says he: "The spirit of Calcuttans during Durga Puja is indomitable. The festive spirit started late, but with the government’s go-ahead for puja pandals, everyone has become quite enthused. Keeping in mind the precautionary measures, people are out on the roads and market areas are seeing a healthy flow of customers. As per data generated through Sharp, Laqshya’s in-house measurement tool, traffic in Kolkata is currently 89-92 per cent of normal times. So, we see that situations are coming back to normal, aided by the festive season."
According to him, most brands have come up with communications catering to the sentiments of Notun Pujo. He adds that no brand wants to miss the opportunity to advertise during Durga Pujo in Kolkata. Even in the current situation, many brands in the jewellery, textiles, retail, garments, footwear, automobile sectors are spending their pent-up OOH budgets. FMCG brands are also advertising, especially for sanitising products. In addition to that, OTT platforms and entertainment channels have stepped into OOH media to promote new shows and programs. Although clients are not spending 100 per cent as compared to last year, current spends stand at 60-65 per cent.
While Shrivastava speaks about entertainment brands, the biggest Bengali OTT platform Hoichoi has undertaken an outdoor campaign this year too. The brand’s campaign for Durga Puja speaks of situations which everyone is facing daily due to the ongoing pandemic and how Hoichoi can make them feel better with its vast offering of personalized entertainment, Hoichoi co-founder Vishnu Mohta shares.
The entire campaign has been replicated on the out-of-home format also. The streaming platform has erected temporary banners all over the city during pujo days. A mix of 600 banners and 100 big facades have been used for this promotional activity.
However, just three days ahead of the festival, the Calcutta High Court passed a verdict declaring Durga Puja pandals to be no-entry zones for visitors. Only organisers will be allowed inside the pandals, limiting the number to 25 for big pandals and 15 for the smaller ones. The order can negatively impact the brands that were supposed to finalise outdoor spends this week.
For larger pujo committees which rely largely on corporate sponsorships, this slump in ad spend is a worrisome turn of events. Ekdalia Evergreen, which is among the top draws every year, has seen nearly a 50 per cent drop in sponsors, club secretary Gautam Mukherjee says. Usually, 60 per cent of the expenditure is covered by sponsorships every year but the number has gone down to 10 per cent this year.
Another mid-budget puja committee, Telengabagan, has witnessed the same trend. Amrit Shaw, a puja committee member, says that the usual sponsors have also backed out leading to more than 50 per cent decline in sponsorships. Among the few brands which have come on-bard, he names Coca Cola, ITC, Kwality Walls.
While there is derring-do spirit amongst some players, others seem worried. Hopefully, goddess Durga, will come to their and West Bengal's rescue and smile benevolently on her worshipping followers. And there will be no looking back thereafter.
MAM
SBI General Insurance launches an integrated brand campaign with Pankaj Tripathi as its Brand Ambassador
Mumbai: SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading general insurance companies, has announced acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi as its Brand Ambassador and unveiled an integrated brand campaign ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’. The association unites a personality known for credibility and authenticity with a brand rooted in trust and transparency. Pankaj Tripathi’s grounded persona makes him a natural embodiment of the brand’s core promise – “Trust” that feels personal and reassuring.
The brand has launched a new health insurance film as part of its ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ campaign, highlighting its promise of being a trusted partner in safeguarding families. The campaign is rooted in the belief that true assurance is built through quiet, everyday acts of care, the small, consistent gestures that reflect responsibility, protection and unwavering support.
Featuring Pankaj Tripathi, the film presents him as a quiet pillar of strength within his family who is deeply attuned to their needs and expressing care through thoughtful, everyday actions. His presence reflects responsibility, empathy and steadfast commitment, qualities that strongly resonate with Indian households. The narrative mirrors SBI General Insurance’s role as a constant source of protection, standing by families with confidence and care when it matters most. The film has been conceptualized and executed by TBWA Lintas.
This philosophy is increasingly relevant in today’s healthcare landscape. In an increasingly uncertain environment, rising medical costs and growing health awareness have made comprehensive health insurance a vital pillar of financial planning. SBI General Insurance is focused on making the category more meaningful, by integrating product innovation, technology, and offering transparent claim settlements.
Speaking on the collaboration,Mr. Naveen Chandra Jha, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance, said, “India is witnessing a clear shift in how families approach healthcare and financial security. With rising medical costs and increasing health awareness, comprehensive health insurance has become essential rather than optional. Through the ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ campaign and our partnership with Pankaj Tripathi, we aim to raise awareness about the need for proactive health protection while reinforcing our commitment to making insurance simple, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of Indian households.”
Mr. Pankaj Tripathi, Brand Ambassador, SBI General Insurance, said, “I am thrilled to be associated with SBI General Insurance, one of the strongest brands in the General Insurance industry as their brand ambassador. What truly moves me is the brand’s unwavering commitment to providing protection and the trust that it has among the customers. What touched me to the core is the campaign’s heartfelt narrative, ‘Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa’ – a promise that radiates warmth, deep responsibility, and an unbreakable sense of family and belonging. Through this film, the brand is igniting nationwide awareness about the critical necessity of health insurance, ensuring families across India are protected when it matters most.”
Mr. Rathin Lahiri, Head – Marketing & CSR, SBI General Insurance, further added, “We are delighted to welcome Pankaj Tripathi as our Brand Ambassador and to be the face of our new brand film. The film celebrates the quiet heroism of the common man, who does everything to improve the quality of life for his family as does SBI General Insurance to provide protection via Health Insurance.”
The comprehensive integrated campaign will be amplified across Print, TV, OOH, OTT platforms, and social media platforms. Leveraging compelling storytelling, and sustained engagement initiatives, the Company aims to take the campaign “Chuniye Bharosa, Apno Sa” to audiences across the country. This integrated approach is designed to strengthen brand recall, deepen emotional connect, and reinforce SBI General Insurance’s position as a dependable partner in financial protection.
View the film –
SBI General Insurance, one of the fastest-growing private general insurance firms, backed by the robust support of SBI, upholds a legacy of trust and security. We position ourselves as India’s most trusted general insurer amidst a dynamic landscape. Since our establishment in 2009, our expansion has been substantial, growing from 17 branches in 2011 to a nationwide presence in 146 branches. In FY 2024-25, SBI General Insurance reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of INR 14,140 crores, recording a YOY growth of 11.1%.
The company received numerous prestigious accolades, showcasing its excellence across various domains. Key honors include being named as the Domestic General Insurer of the Year – India and Claims Initiative of the Year – India at Insurance Asia Awards 2025 Singapore, Large General Insurance category at the Mint BFSI Summit & Awards, the 3rd InsureNext Awards 2024 for Best Claims Settlement, and India’s Best General Insurer of the Year at the 7th Insurance Conclave Awards. At the India Insurance Summit & Awards 2024, the company secured titles for General Insurance Company of the Year and Leading Implementer of Analytics Technology in Insurance. Additionally, it was honored as the Best BFSI Brand at the ET NOW Best BFSI Brands Conclave 2024 and included in BW BusinessWorld’s India’s Most Respected Companies. Certified as a Great Place to Work in 2024, the company also excelled at the ETBFSI Exceller Awards 2024 with recognition for Best Claims Management in Insurance and Best CSR Campaign of the Year, further highlighting its commitment to social responsibility and innovation.
With a team of over 9,000+ employees and our multi-distribution model covering Bancassurance, Agency, OEM, Broking, Retail Direct Channels, and Digital collaborations, we are committed to providing both Suraksha and Bharosa to all our consumers. Leveraging a vast network that includes over 22000+ SBI branches, plus agents, financial alliances, OEMs, and digital partners, we extend our services to even the most remote areas of India. Our offerings cater to Retail, Corporate, SME and Rural segments, and our diverse product portfolio ensures accessibility through both digital and physical channels.
