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‘The Godfather’ resurfaces in Grasim Venetia’s ad
MUMBAI: Grasim has launched a new brand Venetia and Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) New Delhi, has rolled out a new print campaign for the same. The interesting part here is that the ad marks the return of the evil into the world of advertising. Also notable is the fact that a few months back, Onida’s green horned devil resurfaced in the brand’s ads after a long hiatus.
This nationwide campaign for Venetia is dark, evil and wicked, which is a far cry from the brand actually stands for. And that’s precisely where the message lies, the agency insists.
Venetia, a fine polysynthetic fabric that has been brought to India from Italy, comes in powerful designs like razor sharp pinstripes, bold windowpanes and grim solids in dark, moody colours such as classic black, brown, grey and blue.
The advertising stems directly from what Italy has long been famous for (or rather infamous for, as the ad campaign puts it) – the Mafia.
Mario Puzo’s classic The Godfather makes a quiet, cold comeback through this campaign. In each release of the campaign, he exudes raw power. While one-ad shows the man slicing off a marble bust, the other shows him strangulating a man on the cover of a book. The campaign conceived by Nitin Srivastava and Titus Upputuru of O&M, has been shot by Prasad Naik.
Upputuru says, “We wanted the campaign to showcase power like it has never been shown before, both visually and through the copy. For the lighting, photography and look, we were inspired by The Godfather. There is no better manifestation of it than the Italian Mafia. Ultimate power can’t be without a streak of evil. Power corrupts, sooner or later.”
Grasim brand manager Abhijit Ganguly says, “Today designs have taken paramount importance when it comes to suitings. And Venetia offers a range of designs, which are in vogue all over Europe. The Indian consumer is exposed to world fashion and being one of the fore players in the men’s fashion segment, it is only imperative for Grasim to launch this kind of a collection.”
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.
