CARS24 announces international expansion, now operational In UAE & Australia

Deepak Dhar’s Banijay Asia and Ravi Shastri’s Sporting Beyond (founded by Ravi Shastri and Jaiveer Panwar) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at redefining the landscape of cricket entertainment through content and live events.

Announcing the development, Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO of Banijay Asia and EndemolShine India, commented, "This partnership is a pivotal step in reinforcing our newly established sports and live events vertical. Our ambition to dominate the sports content entertainment space has never been clearer. By merging Ravi's extensive cricket expertise with our innovative content creation capabilities, we aim to deliver unparalleled cricket entertainment experiences. This collaboration with Sporting Beyond will craft a new and unique narrative in cricket entertainment in India and across the globe.”

Commenting on the partnership, Ravi Shastri, Founder & Director – Sporting Beyond, added, "My journey in sports and my passion for cricket has always been about pushing the boundaries. Partnering with Banijay Asia is a thrilling new chapter that allows us to blend cricket with entertainment in unique and exciting ways. We are excited to bring our experience to the table and together, aim to captivate the audiences like never before."

Bereft of hype and PR campaigns, the true test of a company’s, or brand’s, claims and genuine caliber is only tested during times of adversity and its response to it. The rains in Dubai was one such opportunity to test the claims of Emirates as the world’s no. 1 airline….and it failed miserably on most counts.

This is not meant to be a comment on Dubai in its moment of crisis. I am sure it is doing a lot to mitigate the impact of this unforeseen event. It is a comment on Emirates (the airline) in particular, and its inability to be transparent, responsive and sensitive to its customers in this moment of crisis. These are such core values which, if compromised, all claims of customer first amount to just corporate snobbery at best, and pure hypocrisy at worst.

A young, close relative was stuck in this mayhem and, since I followed the developments as it happened real time, it is simply shocking how things unfolded. Being a hub, my relative was coming back to Delhi from San Francisco via Dubai. Despite knowing fully well that the state on the ground was serious, the connecting flight was shown to be on time. Quite obviously the incoming flight could not land on time, and finally was allowed to land after 1.5 hours. Anxious passengers rushed to the gate only to find “on time” notification but with no one on the Emirates desk! After an hour they were informed, by mail, that the flight was cancelled and to proceed to the connection desk.

What was to unfold simply epitomizes the complete lack of sensitivity by Emirates. Passengers were made to stand for six and a half hours (from 2230 hrs to 0600 hrs) – standing in a crowd of hundreds – throughout the night (with many senior citizens, pregnant women, kids and with many having done an arduous 16-hour flight from US/Canada)! There was no one at the desk and no information. I wonder how difficult would it have been to keep customers informed that boarding passes would be given later, and for them to check their mail periodically to know the specifics! This would have allowed them to have water, food and relax in the lounge for those with access. And reduce the anxiety manifold apart from simply the pleasure of sitting down somewhere. The photo says it all.

When the connection desk finally obliged by giving the coveted boarding pass at 6 AM with the flight to Delhi being confirmed at 1000 Hrs, passengers finally made their way to the lounges for a quick nap, breakfast and rest after the harrowing standing experience throughout the night. Having checked the terminals to confirm that the flight was on time, they exited the lounge at 0930 hours only to find the usual sight – flight on time but with no Emirates staff at the counter. At 1000 hours came the dreaded, but expected message, that the flight is delayed by an hour. This well-oiled process was reiterated four times and finally the flight departed at 1500 hrs! Again, not even one person was available in this interim, terminals showed “on time” status and messages were sent post the departure time announcing the delay. Once again why did Emirates not find it feasible to announce upfront rather than use the established airline practice of periodic drip feeding hourly? Passengers could have at least rested and subjected to less stress! But that clearly was not the priority.

Once the flight landed in Delhi the inevitable happened – no baggage. This is despite a message sent in Dubai that the baggage was uploaded on the flight! Is there any veracity to anything which is said? The saga is not over yet. The entire flight of distraught passengers were asked to fill in some forms for which no PIR was given with the promise that the PIR would be given in 24 hours through which it would be possible to track the baggage in Emirates’ famed baggage recovery system. A number and email was given for contact too. All well?

Well no! It has been 4 four days and the PIR has not been sent, the emails do not work and the phone number is not responded too! So as of the date of writing the passenger has no way of knowing the status of the lost baggage, no Emirates representative available to at least give any definitive information about the status of baggage despite a highly computerized system! This is despite flights being normal now with four flights arriving from Dubai to Delhi every day for the last three days! It is obvious that Emirates top management has written off this lot of agitated passengers as the cost of doing business, and is now focusing on “full customer satisfaction” to the passengers on its now normal flights!

The core questions I raise through this episode is about corporate behavior which a large corporate encourages down the line (obviously with its tacit approval) to the hapless, full fare paying customer? What is the meaning of oft touted values of transparency, responsiveness, fairplay and customer satisfaction of the world’s best airline? What is the role of our regulatory and licensing body – the ministry of civil aviation? All messages to the Hon’ble Minister Jyotiarditya Scindia and his PS have been met with stony silence.

I guess in the world we live in customer satisfaction is, and will continue to be, an illusion till we have a strong regulatory environment with defined SLAs, penalties built in and, above all, accountability.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views of exchange4media.com

Reliance Jewels has released a new collection inspired by the Ujjain and Sanchi Stupa, Gwalior and Orchha Fort and the Bateshwar Temples in Madhya Pradesh for Akshay Tritiya. 

The film launching the collection is brought to life by Team Scarecrow M&C Saatchi and tells the tale of two girls who are architects, living in a modern apartment away from their hometown. They receive a parcel from their mother along with a note reminding them that Akshaya Tritiya is the perfect occasion to bring home prosperity.  

The film is produced by Tandem Films and directed by Shamik Sen Gupta. 

Aman Pant has composed the soulful music, while Manish Bhatt, Co-founder of Scarecrow M&C Saatchi, has penned the lyrics that bring warmth to the melody. The melodious voices of Madhubanti Bagchi and Sanah Moidutty lend magic to the music.

Rid Burman has shot the Print Campaign. 

Founder Director, Manish Bhatt, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi expressed his thoughts on the campaign, stating “Akshay Tritiya as an occasion and Madhya Pradesh as an ancient culture both are prosperous in terms of history and aesthetics - creating a cinematic and musical concoction of rich culture and an opulent occasion. It is a magnificent opportunity and enriching experience for Team Scarecrow M&C Saatchi - who has crafted creative communication ensembles of six different cultures in the last four years for the brand Reliance Jewels. 

Sunil Nayak, the CEO of Reliance Jewels, also shared his perspective, saying “The launch of the Vindhya Collection this Akshaya Tritiya marks our commitment to celebrating India’s diverse cultural heritage. Inspired by the rich traditions of Madhya Pradesh, this collection is the ninth in our ‘Jewels of India’ series and stands as our testament to showcasing Indian art and craftsmanship.”

He further added “Akshaya Tritiya is the ideal occasion for buying jewellery as it symbolises wealth and prosperity, and this year, we offer our customers a unique opportunity to bring home prosperity through the Vindhya collection! The exquisite collection symbolises not just prosperity and elegance but also the enduring celebratory spirit of Akshaya Tritiya and our brand, Reliance Jewels.”

Philips has launched the limited-edition Signature Series Airfryer equipped with Smart Sensing Technology in India and has collaborated with Orry and Chef Ranveer Brar. But the best part is, the all-new Philips Airfryer will do the cooking, and Orry gets to go home with the credits. 

In its new campaign, Orry will be attempting to cook with the Philips Signature Series Airfryer under the expert guidance of celebrity chef Ranveer Brar. This playful approach humorously highlights the airfryer's user-friendliness – if Orry can do it, anyone can! Chef Ranveer Brar showcases the appliance’s versatility and ability to transform anyone into a capable home cook. 

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Commenting on the new campaign, Pooja Baid, Chief Marketing Officer, Versuni India Home Solutions Ltd (formerly known as Philips Domestic Appliances), said, “The Philips Signature Series Airfryer is our top-of-the-line Airfryer, boasting an impressive tech stack that includes Smart Sensing Technology, Rapid Air Technology, and Fat Removal Technology. With its captivating design and the endorsement of Chef Ranveer Brar, it's like having a personal chef right in your own kitchen. Teaming up with Orry and Chef Ranveer Brar for this launch was a bold decision, one that has proven to be nothing short of brilliant. As leaders in the category, this campaign marks our commitment to furthering the Airfryer revolution in the country”. 

The campaign starts with teasers and engaging comments on Instagram by Orry and Chef Ranveer Brar, piquing the audience's curiosity and building anticipation. 

It's easy to justify tossing our wrappers when there's no bin in sight. What’s harder is holding onto those wrappers till you find a dustbin! In their latest for Britannia, Talented celebrates a milestone for the brand – 2 years of 100% plastic neutrality with a film on adopting a simple habit. Their choice of protagonist is an 8-year-old.

Har Pocket Ab Dustbin (Every Pocket, now a Dustbin) is an attempt to encourage millions of Britannia consumers to be cognizant of their surroundings and join the brand in its commitment towards efficient plastic collection and processing, leading to 100% plastic neutrality. 

Britannia has been actively working around various measures such as sustainable sourcing of ingredients & packaging, enriching the products with vitamins and minerals, natural resources efficiency to minimise environmental impact and much more. One of many steps the company has taken is processing over 43,000 metric tonnes of plastic in FY 22-23 alone and being 100% plastic neutral for over two years.

Commenting about the initiative of #HarPocketAbDustbin, Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer, Britannia said, “Britannia is on a mission to be known as a responsible global total foods

company. With the efforts of all our functions, we have been 100% plastic neutral for over two years, and on the occasion of World Earth Day - we wanted to bring light to our efforts. We wanted to extend the initiative to all our consumers because despite working at this scale, the individual efforts that you and I can make cannot be undermined. #HarPocketAbDustbin is an effort to tackle the plastic problem together with our consumers.”

On the campaign, Gajraj Rao, Director, CodeRed, adds, “This is the first time we’ve crafted an entire film for a brand without ever showing their product. We had more products on the snack tray of this shoot than in front of the camera. Kudos to team Britannia on their efforts to be sustainable. I look forward to watching them continue on their path of plastic neutrality, not just because I’d like to make them more films for future milestones!”

Shedding light on how the insight came to be, the team from Talented, Sanket Audhi, Balaji Padmanabhan and Pearl Alex commented, “We noticed many of us were already performing the ‘fold it, hold it, wait, dispose it’ with our own litter. We also noticed we started it young. #HarPocketAbDustbin is our attempt at compounding the effect this habit had on us and our surroundings, by keeping it going through a movement that kids and India alike can follow! How we deal with today’s plastic problem will take small actions like this and larger systems like Britannia’s efforts. This was a first taste at zero waste, and we’re glad to play our part in it!”

foundit, a talent platform in APAC & the Middle East, has announced its partnership with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). This strategic collaboration aims to amplify foundit’s brand presence while championing the spirit of excellence embodied by badminton players worldwide, the company said.

The partnership was unveiled during a global virtual media meet in the presence of Sekhar Garisa, CEO foundit, Saurabh Srivastava, CMO foundit, Thomas Lund, Secretary General, BWF, Owen Leed, Director of Commercial and Communications, BWF. As the governing body for badminton, BWF oversees prestigious events such as the Thomas and Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup, and World Tour Events, boasting a global fan base exceeding 700 million.

“Through this collaboration with BWF, foundit aims to tap into the excitement and passion surrounding badminton, one of the most followed and played sports. This partnership will enhance foundit’s brand presence and enable it to connect with a diverse audience of job seekers and employers across various industries. foundit will be the Official Talent Partner for 20 significant championships throughout the year, including the highly anticipated Thomas & Uber Cups, All England Open, Malaysia Open, Singapore Open, and the India Open,” satetd a press release.

Speaking about the partnership, Sekhar Garisa, CEO of foundit, emphasised the shared values of agility, perseverance, and pursuit of excellence that unite badminton players and foundit. “This partnership is a testament to foundit’s unwavering commitment to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities. Badminton’s immense popularity in our core markets, particularly among young professionals, makes this partnership a powerful tool for engaging with the millions of job seekers and recruiters across the markets.” he added.

Commenting on the association, Thomas Lund, Secretary General/COO, BWF, said, “We are thrilled to partner with foundit, a leading talent platform that shares our passion for excellence and talent development. Badminton is a sport built on dedication, hard work, and the pursuit of success — values that resonate deeply with foundit’s mission. By joining forces, we aim to inspire individuals to reach their full potential and make a lasting impact in their careers.”

The Fabulous Lives of the OG Bollywood wives, Maheep Kapoor, Neelam Kothari Soni, Bhavana Pandey and Seema Kiran Sajdeh were visited by KFC's Colonel Sanders, with ‘A limo for the ladies!’ Turns out the 4 divas who are known foodies & burger lovers were surprised with the limited edition KFC Limo Zinger Box with 5 new Zinger burgers inspired by flavours from across the globe.

Expressing her love for KFC & the Zinger burgers, Bhavana Pandey said "I’ve always been obsessed with burgers – and I’m always experimenting new flavours. The moment I laid eyes on the KFC Limo Zinger Box, I was zinged into a frenzy! This range has something for everyone – which makes it such a fabulous hit."

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Seema Sajdeh said "Joining forces with KFC for the International Zinger Fest range is like adding a dose of zest to our fabulous lives! It's a match made in Bollywood heaven, with KFC bringing the flavour while we bring the sass."

Neelam Kothari said "When Colonel Sanders pulled up in front of us in the limo, I thought to myself, it can't get any chicer than this. But then, there’s the KFC Limo box which has this whole range of delicious burgers – I mean who can say no!”

Maheep Kapoor said “The KFC Zinger is iconic. The idea of 5 new Zingers is fabulous. And everyone knows we love all things fabulous. It’s a collab that's been waiting to happen, and of course, in our typical style – it's absolutely fabulous.”