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Chtrbox’s stellar 2023: Awards, mega brands, and influencer triumphs: Karan Pherwani & Mrunali Dedhia
Mumbai: As we bid farewell to 2023, Chtrbox reflects on a year of resilience, growth, and innovation. The dedication and hard work of our team have led to significant achievements, including winning Entrepreneur India’s Influencer Agency of the Year Award and Best Brand Engagement Campaign for National Geographic India. Additionally, Mrunali Dedhia, vice president of Chtrbox, secured the Emerging Leader Award by Indian Television.
Diversification and expansion defined our journey in 2023, as we welcomed brands like Kotak Life Insurance, SBI Card, ICICI, Piramal Finance, Samsung, and Vivo into our portfolio. Our strategic brand partnerships flourished, with highlights such as leading Warner Music India’s College Campus Ambassador program, resulting in a crossover brand collaboration with Flipkart Fashion for the exclusive Gen-Z collection, Spoyl and exclusive tracks released by WMI, ensuring both brands’ marketing objectives were met!
For global tech giants like HP and Samsung, we spearheaded associations with leading Bollywood celebrities such as Kiara Advani, Varun Dhawan, Vijay Verma and more! Our tactical campaigns, such as the one for Pilgrim’s Hair Growth Serum, demonstrated our ability to drive a threefold increase in product sales. Furthermore, we mobilized 100 student ambassadors to amplify awareness for Bata’s ‘Sneaker Studio’ launch.
Through ChtrForGood, we led strategic creator-led campaigns for Girl Effect, an international non-profit in the NGO sector dedicated to supporting girls through adolescence and empowering them to make positive choices about their health, education, and economic future. We collaborated with creators to curate impactful campaigns, particularly focusing on sensitive topics like sexual and menstrual health, to raise awareness and advocate for the well-being of girls in these communities.
Chtrbox Represent onboarded over 30 creators in 2023, leading to impactful campaigns with brands like Estee Lauder, NYX Cosmetics, Tomorrowland, Coke Studio, and more. Our exclusive creators were part of groundbreaking campaigns, collaborating with celebrities and participating in on-ground events for renowned brands. For example, Shantanu Dhope was part of Estee Lauder’s ‘My Shade My Story’. The dancing duo Sonal Devraj and Nicole Concessao collaborated with celebrities like Hrithik Roshan for International Dance Day, Tiger Shroff for Heropanti 2 , Vicky Kaushal for Zara Hatke Zara Bachke and The Great Indian Family. Our creators from Represent were invited for on-ground events for brands like Nars, Tira X Hermes, Cerave, NYX, Benefit Fanfest Mascara Event, Rare Beauty, MamaMia x NMACC and Lancome.
2023 witnessed brands increasingly delve into hyper-local strategies through campus ambassador programs, fostering relatability with Gen-Z audiences. Collaborations with nano-micro influencers are increasingly becoming a must-have in brand campaigns. A significant shift was observed as brands transitioned from traditional digital creatives to influencer-led content for performance marketing, humanizing communication and concurrently driving conversions.
As we enter 2024, we anticipate a significant shift in brand strategies. Brands will increasingly recognize the impact of content creators and strategically appoint them as brand ambassadors to leverage their influence beyond traditional forms of creator-led content. Social commerce will gain momentum, transforming social media platforms into virtual marketplaces. Long-term partnerships with influencers will replace one-off collaborations.
Under our newly launched social wing, ChtrSocial, we aim to empower brands to become creators. Collaborating with Spotify Premium’s India team and working with Tyaani by Karan Johar, ChtrSocial generated compelling content to boost engagement. Some other notable collaborations also include associating with Bata to design custom merch for their North Star Sneaker Squad and partnering with Tata Steel Nest-In to curate topical brand films.
Looking ahead, we foresee an increase in AI-made hyper-personalized content in marketing. Advanced copy, video and image generation tools will make content interactive and more immersive. Humanized content will rule with authentic voices and relatable personalities driving engagement. Brands will need to collaborate with relevant creators, build personal brands and story tell to reach their target audience. Short-form content will continue to attract new audiences, but a growing emphasis on long-form content will be crucial for building brand affinity and loyalty. As the landscape evolves, Chtrbox remains committed to driving innovation and success for our clients in the dynamic world of digital marketing.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
