GECs
Zindagi campaign breaks the story-telling code
BENGALURU: Zindagi, a premium mass Hindi GEC from the bouquet of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zeel), kick-started its marketing campaign with brand films highlighting Zindagi’s channel proposition ‘Jodey Dilon Ko’.
The channel is upbeat about its pan-India launch. “Probably for the first time in the country, a Hindi channel launch is being announced in the south,” said Zeel marketing head (national channels) Akash Chawla in Bengaluru. “We have seen increase in consumption of Hindi entertainment content in the Hyderabad-Bengaluru-Chennai regions in recent times. The south is now an important market for Hindi content,” he added.
The channel has brought on board Askme.com and Fogg as brand partners. “Talks are on with other partners as well, and we are sure to have more brands tying up with us,” revealed a source at Zeel.
The marketing campaign created by FCB Ulka comprises two brand films directed by ‘Kai Po Che’ director Abhishek Kapoor. The objective behind the campaign is to showcase the similarities in different cultures and emotions despite the differences in language, attire and lifestyle of people across the borders.
FCB Ulka NCD KS Chakravarthy said, “The insight behind the whole campaign is as simple as it is powerful – we may come from different countries, different cultures, but our emotions, our joys, our triumphs are all surprisingly similar. And it is this simple human truth that the two launch television commercials capture in a simple, believable manner. The device of literally cutting mid-sentence from one protagonist to the other brings this alive in a vivid manner – and leads beautifully into the summing up thought for the channel, Jodey Dilon Ko.”
Director Abhishek Kapoor added, “My family traces its roots to pre-partition to Pakistan. I grew up to stories of shared lives and times, subsequently lost to borders. Deep within, there was a heart-felt hope that this cultural legacy would one day find its way back, reunited. My association with Zindagi is a manifestation of this.”
Chawla said, “Zindagi’s brand proposition ‘Jodey Dilon Ko’ has been the key thought around every medium of communication. The storytelling possesses an ability to convey beauty and emotion in a way that no other medium can. The films also use language that is heartwarming with a story that is rich in human elements such that it inspires empathy, makes us think differently, appreciate something more, and understand something more thoroughly. Abhishek Kapoor and FCB Ulka have done a brilliant job of creating profound and touching films that clearly translate our vision on screen. It’s heartening to know that the freshness of this campaign has become the talking point everywhere. The TVCs exhibit our distinct promise of Zindagi being a category creator in the GEC space.”
Detailing the concept behind these films, Akash explained, “The narrative approach adopted in the storytelling begins with a ‘universal truth’ or situation that transcends culture or language. Also, the use of emotion conveyed in every situation portrayed in the brand films plays an important role as it captures the real emotion that we can trust. Viewers want to connect with their innate human nature. We believe that with Zindagi, we have something universally relatable, emotional and powerful to showcase and that is reflected in the films.”
The TV campaign is ably supported by its promotion in print, OOH and digital mediums.
GECs
Sebi sends show-cause notice to Zee over fund diversion, company responds
Regulator questions 2018 letter of comfort and governance lapses; company vows robust legal response
MUMBAI: India’s markets watchdog has reignited its long-running scrutiny of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, issuing a sweeping show-cause notice that drags the broadcaster and 84 others into a widening governance storm.
The notice, dated February 12, has been served by the Securities and Exchange Board of India to Zee, chairman emeritus Subhash Chandra and managing director and chief executive Punit Goenka, among others. At its heart: allegations that company funds were indirectly routed to settle liabilities of entities linked to the Essel Group.
The regulator’s probe traces its roots to November 2019, when two independent directors resigned from Zee’s board, flagging concerns over the alleged appropriation of fixed deposits by Yes Bank. The deposits were reportedly adjusted against loans extended to Essel Group entities, triggering questions about related-party dealings and board oversight.
A key flashpoint is a letter of comfort dated September 4, 2018, issued by Subhash Chandra in his dual capacity as chairman of Zee and the Essel Group. The document, linked to credit facilities availed by certain group companies from Yes Bank, was allegedly known only to select members of management and not disclosed to the full board—an omission SEBI believes raises red flags over transparency and governance controls.
Zee has pushed back hard. In a statement, the company said it “strongly refutes” the allegations against it and its board members and will file a detailed response. It expressed confidence that SEBI would conduct a fair review and signalled readiness to pursue all legal remedies to protect shareholder interests.
The notice marks the latest twist in a saga that has shadowed the broadcaster since 2019. What began as boardroom unease has morphed into a full-blown regulatory confrontation. The final reckoning now rests with SEBI—but the reputational stakes for Zee, and the message for India Inc on governance discipline, could scarcely be higher.
