Guest Article: Why India needs a Nano - Suhel Seth
When the Nano is launched at the venerable Parsi Gymkhana Grounds in Mumbai by Ratan Tata on Monday, March 23, it will not just be the launch of a car. Instead, it will be the launch of a million possibilities. And in these troubled times, India needs a symbol of hope and one which can show the world that Made In India is no longer about off-shoring or about inexpensive services.

When the Nano, the world’s cheapest car, is launched at the venerable Parsi Gymkhana Grounds in Mumbai by Ratan Tata on Monday, March 23, it will not just be the launch of a car. Instead, it will be the launch of a million possibilities – Indian possibilities; Indian engineering; Indian ingenuity; and finally, a vehicle for Indian aspirations. And in these troubled times, India needs a symbol of hope; a symbol of the possible and one which can show the world that Made In India is no longer about off-shoring or about inexpensive services, but instead, about the capabilities that India has to not just dream out of the ordinary, but also make that dream happen.
There has already been enough noise in the media about the Nano. In fact, in many ways, it has many firsts to its credit and the price is not the only one. From a marketing perspective, it has already gone into the lexicon of India’s people and the fact that Tata called it a ‘people’s car’ is even more suggestive of the transfer of ownership of the brand from a company to its users: the people. How many brands can claim this? And how many brands have ever used this form of positioning? It is rare in times such as these to avoid paid advertising and yet launch a brand that has a lot riding on it. But then again, Nano is one car that needs no definition. It has been embraced as a vehicle of change, but even more critically, as a vehicle of empowerment and it is here that the Tatas have provided that huge leap as it were.
India is in the throes of an election that will possibly throw up a rag-tag alliance; our political leadership has been fraught with social and communal tensions and the meltdown of the economy has not helped either. Add to that the continuing suspense over whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament will happen or not (The IPL has now been shifted outside India). It is in these uncertain times, that the Nano represents a certainty that the Indian can touch and feel. The average Indian is still reeling under poverty and lawlessness in many parts and the so-called economic boom has only embraced the very few at the cost of the many. For a lot of these people, the Nano is what will drive them up the value chain of status, and status is an important tool for the enhancement of self-esteem so in many ways.
The Nano will also take care of the self-esteem gap that exists in large parts of India, not to mention the realities of connectivity that have escaped many swathes of India. It is this bridge that the Nano will build. A bridge that will suddenly connect India and Indians much like the low-cost carrier Air Deccan did with civil aviation in India many years ago. But then, the Nano is different. It is a car, which the average Indian equates with ‘badgification’. For a country that for years has gifted motorcycles and scooters as part of marriage trousseaus is today being provided a choice and in India, one can never understate the importance of this social behaviour either.
So, while on the one hand, the Nano represents raw mobility, on the other, it also symbolises social mobility: both of which are critical consumer drivers. For me personally, the Nano will herald a revolution like we haven’t seen before. And this is not a debate about service and profitability; it is indeed not even a story of brands and automobile marketing. It is in a sense the story of a dream that a fellow Indian had and then worked to make it happen despite all the odds, and believe you me, there are many in India. From lobbies at work to competitors trying to browbeat at every step. For many in India, the Nano is indeed a David, which will now wrestle with the Goliaths of the world. And win. Because the people of India will hardly let their heroes fail. Especially, when the promise is not just about a car, but about a dream that has finally been realised.
What is even more telling is that the people’s car will be launched amidst the people. On grounds that otherwise see cricket matches and marriages; it will thus merge with the Indian milieu in a manner like no other and be seen on roads with awe and pride. Both of which India needs so desperately as we begin our march with chains of economic shackling that have been imposed on us by the world. It is at this time, more than any other in our history, that India needs a Nano.
(Suhel Seth is Managing Partner, Counselage.)
Suhel can be reached through email at suhel@counselage.com
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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