India at 75: Brands pay an ode to the nation

India at 75: Brands pay an ode to the nation

A pick of some of the campaigns that light the nationalistic fervour.

India at 75

Mumbai: As the country gears up to celebrate its 76th Independence Day, marking 75 years of the country's independence from British rule, brands go all out, wearing their patriotic hearts on their logo-emblazoned sleeves in a bid to connect with their consumers. From campaigns that celebrate our nation’s diversity, to videos that convey heart-warming narratives and an awareness of financial independence, to shedding light on social issues, this year’s Independence Day communications are filled with messages of hope and empathy, along with pride.

Here are a bunch of campaigns and initiatives that stood out to us:

JSW Paints added colour to India's Independence Day celebrations with a film that drives home the brand's promise – "Thoughtful is Beautiful." Conceptualised by TBWA\India, the film captures India's struggle and India's originality in the same breath. Taking on a challenge that most Indian neighbourhoods face - a problem that no amount of fines, warnings, or well-intended public advisory has been able to solve. Until JSW Paints decided to change the canvas of solutions and presented a bright new answer in blazing tricolour.

Ahead of the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, Godrej Group released #SoundsOfMakingIndia, the sequel to its Independence Day campaign from 2019, that captured all the industrial sounds that signify progress in the manufacturing ecosystem. The film narrates the story of the Godrej Group’s journey of being an integral part of our nation’s progress while integrating the different businesses of the national brand.

HDFC Mutual Fund has extended its #BarniSeAzadi campaign (first launched in 2021) to promote financial independence for women. Through this campaign, the company urges women to free their money from traditional savings methods and invest in mutual funds (MFs), so as to give their hard-earned money a chance to grow. The campaign is based on the insight that Indians have always saved money in traditional instruments like "Barnis", pickle jars, lockers, FDs, etc.

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Furthermore, HDFC Mutual Fund is organising a unique outdoor activity wherein a gigantic barni will be installed near Mumbai’s Carter Road from 13 to 15 August, where the company will take a pledge from women to not put their money in barnis anymore and use the suitable instrument to grow their money.

Robin Hood Army (RHA), a zero-funds volunteer organisation that works towards getting surplus food from restaurants and communities to the plates of those less fortunate, has teamed up with media conglomerate ABP Network for Mission75 on India’s 76th Independence Day, where they are serving 75 lakh meals across India. To start conversations about the initiative and the sad reality millions of Indians face, the NGO has partnered with a creative agency, The Minimalist.

Based on the topic that never goes out of trend, weight loss, The Minimalist conceptualised a clever, provocative film-#KhaaliThaali. The film utilises ‘Khaali Thaali’, a simple tool to depict the brutal reality of many Indians, and delivers a hard-hitting message.

The static posts were disguised to look like ads for people who have experienced transformative weight loss, only to reveal the grim reality of how they did not have a choice in the matter.

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LAFZ is a culturally conscious, Halal certified brand headquartered in Singapore and a part of global FMCG conglomerate Believe PTE. To mark the occasion, the brand has released a video that’s a tribute to India's 76th Independence. The idea was inspired by a famous Islamic saying, "Hubbul Watan Minal Iman," which means "Loving one’s own homeland is a part of faith." The video was conceptualised internally by the team. The film reaffirms that love for one's homeland is unconditional and unbiased, irrespective of religion, colour, caste, and societal status.

Watch the video here –

Looking back to the unprecedented time when covid-19 outbreak brought the world to a standstill, and our  defence and police forces stayed on duty, regardless of the deadly pandemic, Hamdard Laboratories launched a national campaign ‘SEHAT HAI TOH WATAN HAI’, paying homage to their valiance. As the eight-month-long campaign launched on 26 January approaches its culmination on India’s 76th Independence, Hamdard celebrated the health of India with multiple activities across its wellness centres from 10 – 14 August 2022. The brand has conducted 75 health camps and touched more than 15,000 lives of brave heroes.

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Watching patriotic movies and catching the parade on TV never gets old on Independence Day, but why not try out something new this time—like OTT listening? On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Pocket FM brings to you a special audiobook collection to celebrate 75 years of independence and feel your pride and honour for the nation.

Here’s a list of the top five audiobooks to share with your kin on the occasion: Amar Krantiweer Chandra Shekhar Azad - get to know the courageous tale of the freedom fighter during the Indian Independence movement, My Experiments With Truth-In this audiobook, Mahatma Gandhi has given reminiscences of his childhood, relations with his wife and parents, experiences at school, his study tour to London, his journey to South Africa, experiences of colour prejudice, and his quest for dharma, Jhansi Ki Rani- The audiobook speaks about how the Queen had to repeatedly face gruelling challenges but still drew strength from her adversity. Annihilation of Caste - Listen to this audiobook to hear B.R Ambedkar’s searing takedown of the caste system, Why Am I An Atheist -  an essay written by Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh in 1930 in Lahore Central Jail. Tune into this book and understand why the freedom fighter was an atheist.

Finally, is it ever a celebration without having an equivalent one in the metaverse? As we are all set to commemorate India’s 76th Independence Day, digital solutions provider Kiya.ai will be celebrating the occasion in the metaverse. In what the brand claims to be a ‘first-of-its-kind’ initiative, Kiya.ai will celebrate Azadi Kaa Amrit Mahotsav with Har Ghar Tiranga on Bharatmeta, a dedicated zone of Kiyaverse, "India’s first metaverse" on www.bharatmeta.in.

A virtual experience in Bharatmeta allows visitors to observe the Tricolour hoisted on a virtual monument and explore the zone while listening to patriotic songs.

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