Archives May 2023

TCNS to merge with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited

Mumbai, 08 May 2023: TCNS Clothing (TCNS), India’s leading women’s ethnic focused fashion player, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for combining with ABFRL, India’s leading fashion & apparel company, and a part of the Aditya Birla group. The transaction entails combination of TCNS into ABFRL and will be carried out through – (1) Acquisition of the founding promoter’s stake through a SPA and a conditional public open offer followed by (2) Merger between the two entities.

The value of the promoter stake and open offer consideration for TCNS is ~ Rs. 1650 Crores for 51% stake, making this one of the largest deals in the Indian fashion space.

Mr. Onkar Singh Pasricha, Chairman and Executive Director of TCNS, commented “This deal marks a true milestone for our company and its stakeholders. Under the support and guidance of ABFRL, TCNS will surely achieve even greater heights of success and excellence. We are happy that we have been able to pass on our legacy to one of the most prestigious and respected groups – one that is known for its values, ethics, corporate governance and employee empowerment. We believe that all stakeholders of TCNS will benefit immensely from this landmark transaction.”

Speaking on the transaction, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, “This deal is yet another marker of the Aditya Birla Group’s faith in the dynamism and buoyancy of the Indian consumer economy. As India stands on the cusp of a multi-decadal consumption boom, ABFRL is a forerunner in shaping the fashion landscape of our vibrant nation. For ABFRL, the TCNS deal is indeed a significant milestone as it complements our existing portfolio of exceptional brands across the entire spectrum of Indian fashion. By embracing TCNS’s portfolio of loved women’s ethnic brands, we are reinforcing our commitment to ethnic wear, the largest category in the apparel industry. With this acquisition, the fast-growing ABFRL platform is poised for the next phase of transformational growth.”

Over the years, TCNS has evolved into a leading women’s branded apparel company with proven playbook of multiple brand creations and seamless execution across multiple channels.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director, ABFRL said, “As young Indians identify a new-found confidence in their identities woven around Indian culture and heritage, the next set of leading consumer brands will be built in the Indian ethnic wear space. TCNS, through its brands W, Aurelia, Wishful & Elleven, is catering to the Indian women’s fashion needs across markets and price points. Each of these brands have been built over a long period of time and enjoy tremendous consumer love. This transaction is the pivotal piece of our ethnic strategy and marks the culmination of our stated intent of building India’s most comprehensive ethnic wear portfolio.”

Mr Anant Daga, Managing Director of TCNS said, “TCNS has been a pioneer in branded women’s ethnic wear market in the country. Over the last 20 years, we have built India’s most successful women’s franchise on the back of our leading brands. The market continues to offer long-term growth opportunities and our partnership with ABFRL will help us fully realize this potential. ABFRL’s proven brand- building capability, distribution strength and strong ecosystem of partners will help our brands into its next phase of growth and profitability.”

Credit Suisse acted as the exclusive financial advisor and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co acted as the legal advisors for the transaction. Grant Thornton acted as independent valuer for TCNS while ICICI Securities provided the Fairness Opinion to the Board of TCNS.

Transaction Structure

As part of the transaction, ABFRL will make a conditional open offer to acquire up to 29% stake at Rs. 503 per share from public shareholders and acquire the remaining stake from the founder promoters to reach an overall shareholding of 51% in TCNS. Pursuant to the above, TCNS will be amalgamated with ABFRL under the merger scheme wherein public shareholders of TCNS (as on effective date) will receive 11 shares of ABFRL for every 6 shares that they hold in TCNS.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals including approvals from the Competition Commission of India, SEBI, Stock Exchanges, and National Company Law Tribunal.

Zen Technologies continues to deliver strong performance with robust top-line and bottom-line growth in Q4FY23

Hyderabad, May 8, 2023: Zen Technologies Limited, a Hyderabad-based leading manufacturer of sensor and simulator technology-based defense Training systems, Drones, and Anti- Drones solutions with a proven and impeccable track record in building training systems for imparting defense training and measuring combat readiness of security forces has announced its financial results for the Q4FY23.

FY23 Vs FY22 (Consolidated)

  •  Total Income stood at Rs. 22609.37 lakhs in FY23 as against Rs. 7,513.07 lakhs in FY22.
  •  Revenues from operations were reported at Rs. 21884.63 lakhs as compared to Rs. 6,975.24 lakhs in FY22; up by 213.75%
  •  Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stands Rs. 7985.86 lakhs in FY23, as against Rs. 994.68 lakhs in FY22. The Company’s EBITDA margin stood at 35%.
  •  Profit Before Tax (PBT) stood at Rs. 6972.66 for FY23 as compared to Rs. 358.28 lakhs in FY22. The Company’s PBT margin stood at 31.86%.
  •  Profit After Tax (PAT) increased to Rs. 4997.08 lakhs crores in FY23 as against Rs. 260.97 lakhs in FY22. The Company’s PAT margin stood at 23%.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Ashok Atluri – Chairman and Managing Director, said, I am pleased to share an update on our performance in Q4FY23. Continuing on the strong start to the year, we have further gained momentum in Q4FY23, where both of our business verticals, AMC and Equipment, have reported growth. As previously committed, we recorded the highest revenue in the history of ZEN TECHNOLOGIES. We also secured new orders of worth ₹141.67 crores during the quarter. We have strong order book of ₹473 crores and expecting good growth in coming quarters.We appreciate your continued support and look forward to updating you on our future progress.

Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences MAHE organised a two-day exhibition, Neyge to promote sustainable fashion

Gandhian Centre for Philosophical

Bengaluru, 8th May 2023: Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences, MAHE organised a two-day unique exhibition, ‘Neyge’ which showcased special talks, documentary screenings, and workshops on Udupi sarees. The exhibition was held at Gandhian Centre, Manipal on 5th and 6th May and was inaugurated by Mrs. Indira Ballal, Philanthropist, at Gandhian Centre, MAHE. Mrs. Mamata Rai, President Kadike Trust, was the Guest of Honour, and Dr. HS Ballal, Pro-Chancellor MAHE, presided over the inauguration ceremony. This was followed by documentary screenings and event also included an exhibition of Udupi sarees, a photo exhibition, a history corner, a Yakshagana Corner, and a sale of Udupi sarees by the weavers.

As a part of the Gandhi-King Exchange initiative, Neyge was launched by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The exhibition of Udupi Sarees aims to bring attention to the significance of sustainable fashion and conversations about conscious consumption.

Speaking about the inauguration, Dr. HS Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, MAHE commented, “This was an attempt to bring Udupi sarees which are close to the philosophy of nature, to the younger generation. We are proud to provide a platform that brought different scholars, academicians, and weavers together to share their ideas and promote sustainable fashion.”

Chief Guest, Mrs. Indira Ballal, Philanthropist said, “Reviving sustainable fashion is a challenging task. It was a delightful experience to be a part of the support system and bringing this closer to the younger generation.”

Mrs. Mamata Rai, President Kadike Trust said, “I am extremely proud to be a part of the movement that aims to combat environmental impacts such air pollution, water pollution, and climate change being caused by the fast fashion.”

Gandhi-King Fellowship has been awarded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, USA. The ultimate goal of the Gandhi-King Fellowship is to inspire and develop a network of aspiring young civic leaders from India and the USA to work together to advance civil rights, social justice, and inclusion locally, nationally, and internationally by exploring the history and legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lavanya N K, who is an alumna of GCPAS, MAHE and Roydon, a commerce graduate from Mumbai are the two recipients of Gandhi-King Fellowship who participated in the training program held at University of Alabama in 2022.

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World Ovarian Cancer Day_ 8th May 2023

Dr. Ritu Sethi,

By Dr. Ritu Sethi, Director, Aura Speciality Clinic, Gurgaon, and Senior Consultant- Gynaecology, Cloud Nine Hospital,

Gurgaon said, ” While all women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer, it’s important that we should know all the symptoms of it. The early symptoms of ovarian cancer are easy to ignore because they are similar to other common diseases. Initial symptoms include abdominal bloating, pressure and pain, abnormal fullness after meals, increased urination, fatigue, indigestion, pelvic and abdominal pain, heartburn, constipation, Back pain and menstrual irregularity. These symptoms can occur for any reason. They are not necessarily due to ovarian cancer. Many women have some of these problems at one time or another. Such symptoms are often temporary and, in most cases, respond to simple treatment. Those symptoms will remain due to ovarian cancer. Symptoms usually become more severe as tumors grow. By this time, the cancer has usually spread outside the ovaries, making it very difficult to treat effectively. However, knowing the symptoms could of ovarian cancer could speed up your diagnosis.”

FTCCI’s HR Conclave with the theme ‘Empowering organisational effectiveness’ held

HR Conclave with the theme

Hyderabad, May 8, 2023.…. One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in corporations is to grow leadership beyond leaders said Prabir Jha, a Civil Servant turned India’s one of the top HR Professionals. Delivering a keynote address on “Enabling Organisational Effectiveness Today” at the HR Conclave organised by FTCCI (Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry) in the city at Hotel Park Hyatt Prabhir Jha said you can not solve pediatric problems with geriatric solutions. The new-age problems need new-age solutions. If the purpose of people doesn’t match the purpose of the business in the organization, how do you connect? The salaried job people when they get paid in dollars obviously, jump. It is very important to build a culture of collaboration.

Building effective alignment is very important. He talked about change, structure, cultural innovation, leadership etc. Policies no doubt are important. But they should not be mere guidelines. They should be about enablement. Private organisations shouldn’t work like government institutions. Bureaucracy in fact is a killer. Innovation is key to organizational effectiveness. Innovation only comes when you are willing to disrupt your old practices. Power distance is a problem in most organizations for innovation. Talk of innovation should go beyond products, services, business, supply chain, and HR/ Finance models. We should include innovations within ourselves. How much do we innovate in ourselves, our mindsets and our leadership styles? Without that there is no true breakthrough, he said.

Speaking about culture as one of the key elements of organizational effectiveness, he asked is your culture enabling your effectiveness? Culture doesn’t have to be handcuffed. It is an industry norm that the misfit in the culture is not hired. But, that shouldn’t be the case. We need people who think differently. And that is how you will ensure diversity. If you want to transform the company start with people’s agenda he told.

The problem with most of us is we just think the way we always thought. We must hire people better than us. You must hire more intelligent and smarter than you.

Dysfunctional leadership teams easily wreck the best strategic aspirations. Individuals may be great but collectively they fail. Imagine the cost of having such a team at the top! Unimaginable? Intervene before it is too late, he told.

Prabhir Jha gave 8 leadership commandments for Organisational Effectiveness such as 01. Stay genuine and authentic, 02. Challenge Conventional Wisdom; 03. Keep the flock together, 04. Construct meaningful jobs, 05. Build empathy and connect 06. Bring in inspiration, inclusion and innovation, 07. Upgrade your culture and 08. Grow leadership beyond leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri R. Chandra Shekaram Joint Commissioner of Labour Govt of Telangana said the meaning of industrial relation is changed drastically over the period of time. Today all the stakeholders expect relations to be balanced, mutually respectable and trustworthy. The companies which contribute by way of taxes and a partner in the growth story of the government command respect. The Governments encourage industries. Then only the region can prosper. The human element must be given importance in this relationship he said.

Giving a welcome address Anil Agarwal, President of FTCCI said the theme of the conclave “Empowering organizational effectiveness covering People Management, High Performance, Industrial Relations and Effective Future Leaders” is apt and relevant to the current context as we are working towards achieving $5 trillion economy target by FY 2026 and 2027. But the way things are, I have a feeling that we may cross that milestone even earlier. Recently I was in Chennai and astonished to know that the state of Tamil Nadu put its target as 1 trillion and if all the states compete for economic growth with each other we can easily achieve even 10 trillion. HR is a very important function. It is the backbone of our economy. All organizations must have strong HR functions. HR can play a significant role by creating a culture of empowerment, he said.

HR is no longer merely an administrative job. It is much more. There is strong HR backing behind every successful company. If any company wants to grow, it must put HR in the forefront, said R. Ravi Kumar, Chairman of the HR & IR(Human Resources and Industrial Relations) Committee of FTCCI.

The other speakers of the day-long conference include Mr F Israel Inbaraj, Head-HR Compliance, Adani Group, Ahmadabad. He spoke on Achieving Organizational Effectiveness through sound Industrial Relations. He said there are no laws to protect productivity. But how do you ensure productivity? It can only happen through organisational effectiveness through sound Industrial relations.

;Sri Rajorshi Ganguli, President and Global HR Head, Alkem Laboratories Ltd, Mumbai spoke on Nurturing Future Leaders. Sri Mohan R. Sharma Managing Partner, Thought Leaders Academy, Hyderabad spoke on Coaching for High Performance and Mr Arun Leslie George Executive Vice President & Head of Retail Business, Coromandel International Ltd, Hyderabad talked about People Management for Business Development

A panel discussion on Innovation and Digital Transformation in Industry. The panelists were Sri B S Murthy Director, IIT Hyderabad and Mr Saravana Janardhanan, Director of Plant Operations, Schneider Electric India Pvt ltd.

In a changed work environment, leadership serves a variety of purposes in ensuring the smooth operation of an organization. Effective people management practices help in empowering employees, enhance their skills and abilities, maintain a positive work environment, facilitate collaboration and teamwork, foster employee engagement and retention and drive optimal performance observed the speakers.

The first-ever Purvanchal Samman samaroh to be held in Delhi on May 7th

The first-ever Purvanchal Samman samaroh

New Delhi, May 8, 2023 : Rashtriya Purvanchal Mahasangh and Mangalia Arts will organize a grand event on May 7 at the Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, where they will honor Purvanchal Samman and Mangalia utkrishtata Samman. This information was provided by the organizers of the event, Manish Singh, the coordinator of the program and the president of Rashtriya purvanchal Mahasangh, and Rishi Kumar Mangalia, the co-coordinator of the program and the founder of Mangalia Arts, at a press conference held at the Delhi Press Club. Along with Manish Singh and Rishi Kumar Mangalia, the press conference was attended by Rahul Ranjan, the General Secretary of the rashtriya Purvanchal Mahasangh, and Rahul Trivedi from the Delhi BJP Media Cell.

Manish Singh, the coordinator of the event and the national president of Purvanchal Mahasangh, said that the inauguration of the program at the Purvanchal Samman Samaroah will be done by Delhi BJP state president, Virender Sachdeva, and BJP national vice president and Delhi BJP in-charge, Vijayant Panda, along with the renowned singer and MP, Manoj Tiwari, who will also be the chief guest of the program. Famous actor and MP Ravi Kishan and popular singer and MP Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua will also be present at the event.

In addition to these distinguished guests, the program will be graced by the presence of several eminent personalities, including Union Minister Giriraj Singh RK Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, among others.

Manish Singh said that the objective of the Purvanchal Samman Samaroh (Purvanchal Honor Ceremony) is to honor those who have increased the respect and reputation of Purvanchali by doing excellent work in India and abroad. This is the first occasion in Delhi when a Purvanchal Samman Samaroh is being organized on a large scale. 25 Corona Warriors who have done outstanding service in Purvanchal without caring for their own lives during the pandemic will also be honored. Apart from this, people associated with every field are being honored.

Rishi Kumar Malangiya, the program coordinator and founder of Malangiya Arts, said that the purpose of the Purvanchal Samman Samaroh is to provide protection and conservation to folk literature, folk art, and folk traditions. This year, we are jointly organizing the Purvanchal Samman Samaroh and Malangiya Excellence Awards. The 2023 Purvanchal Honor and Malangiya Excellence Awards will be given to people like Dr. Uday Narayan Singh Nachiketa, Umesh Kumar, famous young singer Deva Nand Jha, Khushi Goswami, Swastik Bharadwaj, renowned stage artist Dr. Prakash Jha, Kumar Saurabh, Dhukar Pandey, Sakhi Bahinapa Maithilani group, and others who have illuminated the name of Purvanchal through their outstanding work. Hundreds of people from Purvanchal living in India and abroad will be present at the program. Honors will be given to various people in the program.

Media Invitation

Rashtriya Poorvanchal MahaSangh & MALANGIA Arts

Cordially Invites you

“ Poorvanchal Samman Samaroh & Malangia Utkishtata Samman 2023”

On

Sunday, 7th May 2023, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

At

Talkatora Stadium,New Delhi

Chief Guest:

Shri Giriraj Singh
( Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj ,GoI)

Shri Manoj Tiwari
( Member of Lok Sabha )

Shri Virendra Sachdeva
( Delhi BJP, President )

Guest Of Honour:

Shri Baijayant Panda
( National Vice President and Spokesperson of BJP )

Shri Ravi Kishan
( Member of Parliament, Gorakhpur and Famous Actor )

Shri Dinesh Lal Yadav
( Member of Parliament and Famous Actor & Singer )

Bank of India Announces Audited Financial Results for the Quarter and Year Ended 31st March 2023

The Board of Directors of RBL Bank Limited approved the audited financial results for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2023 at its meeting held on Saturday, 29th April 2023.

Results Summary for Q4FY23 and FY23

· Highest Quarterly and Annual Net Profit:

  • Net Profit grew 37% YOY & 30% QOQ to `271 crore for Q4 FY23; Net Profit for FY23 was `883 crore vs Loss of `75 crore for FY22
  •  ROA of 1.00% vs 0.78% for Q3 FY23
  •  Operating profit was `594 crore
  •  Total Revenue grew 15% YOY and 7% QOQ to `1,885 crore
  •  Net Interest Income grew 7% YOY and 5% QOQ to `1,211 crore; NIM was 5.01% vs 4.74% for Q3 FY23
  •  Other Income grew 32% YOY and 9% QOQ to `674 crore
  •  Cost to Income was 68.5%

· CASA and Deposits Growth:

  •  CASA grew 14% YOY and 6% QOQ to `31,717 crore. CASA ratio at 37.4% vs. 35.3% as at 31st March 2022
  •  Total deposits grew 7% YOY and 4% QOQ to `84,887 crore
  •  Retail Deposits (as per LCR definition) grew 18% YOY and 4% QOQ to `36,319 crore

· Advances Growth:

  •  Net Advances book grew 17% YOY and 5% sequentially to `70,209 crore
  •  Retail Advances book grew 21% YOY and 8% sequentially to `37,778 crore
  •  Retail disbursement for Q4 FY 23 at `4,391 crore against the disbursement of `2,685 crore in Q3 FY 23
  •  Retail: Wholesale mix at 54:46
  •  Housing loans grew 86% YOY; Rural vehicle finance crossed the `1000 crore mark milestone
  •  Bank introduced new retail asset products like Gold loan, Working capital/ term loan for MSME, Vehicle loans etc. in the last financial year
  •  5.5 Lakhs credit cards issued in this quarter; Total cards outstanding at 4.4mn
  •  Total customers grew to 12.91mn, an increase of 16% in the last financial year

· Well capitalized with sound liquidity:

  •  Overall capital adequacy was 16.9% and Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 15.3%
  •  Average Liquidity Coverage Ratio at 126%

· Asset quality:

  •  Gross NPA ratio improved to 3.37% vs. 3.61% as at 31st Dec 2022 and 4.40% as at 31st March 2022, improved by 103 bps over FY 22
  •  Net NPA ratio improved to 1.10% vs. 1.18% as at 31st Dec 2022 and 1.34% as at 31st March 2022, improved by 24 bps over FY 22
  •  Provision Coverage Ratio including technical write offs was 85.0% vs 84.7% as at 31st Dec 2022
  •  Credit cost 29 bps against 39 bps in Q3 FY 23 and 71 bps in in Q4 FY22; Credit cost at 149 bps in FY 23, 70% lower than FY 22

· Network

  • s of 31st March 2023, the Bank has 517 bank branches and 1,166 business correspondent branches, of which 298 are banking outlets. RBL Finserve Limited (“RBL Finserve”), a 100% subsidiary of the Bank, accounts for 821 business correspondent branches

Key Financials:

in crore Q4 FY23 Q4 FY22 YoY Q3 FY23 QoQ FY23 FY22
Net          Interest Income 1,211 1,131 7% 1,148 5% 4,451 4,027
Other Income 674 511 32% 618 9% 2,489 2,341
Net               Total Income 1,885 1,643 15% 1,767 7% 6,941 6,367
Operating Profit 594 657 (10%) 567 5% 2,202 2,745
Provisions (other than tax) 235 401 (41%) 293 (20%) 1,022 2,860
Net profit (after tax) 271 198 37% 209 30% 883 (75)

 

in crore March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 YoY Dec 31,

2022

QoQ
Advances (Net) 70,209 60,022 17% 66,684 5%
Retail Advances

(Net)

37,778 31,329 21% 34,977 8%
Deposits 84,887 79,007 7% 81,746 4%
CASA 31,717 27,879 14% 29,948 6%
Investments

(Net)

28,875 22,274 30% 26,777 8%

 

Key ratios:

Particulars (in %) Q4 FY23 Q4 FY22 Q3 FY23 FY23 FY22
Net Interest Margin 5.01 5.04 4.74 4.67 4.45
Cost to Income 68.5 60.0 67.9 68.3 56.9
Return on Assets 1.00 0.77 0.78 0.83 (0.07)
Return on Equity 8.11 6.35 6.25 6.69 (0.60)
Gross NPA 3.37 4.40 3.61 3.37 4.40
Net NPA 1.10 1.34 1.18 1.10 1.34
PCR incl. Technical Write- offs 85.0 83.4 84.7 85.0 83.4
PCR 68.1 70.4 68.0 68.1 70.4

Commenting on the performance, Mr. R Subramaniakumar, MD&CEO, RBL Bank said “We have completed Q4 and FY23 on a strong note with our highest quarterly and annual profit. We are confident of continuing this momentum into the next year with our strong leadership team and committed employees. Our business growth, driven by granular advances and deposits growth, continues to improve, in line with our strategy and execution. New initiatives undertaken in FY23 on new secured product launches, and scale up of granular retail products are also starting to bear fruit. With the scale-up of these products and introduction of new products (both digital and branch based) in the coming year, we expect growth to become more broad based. Our asset quality parameters have further improved and capital position continues to be healthy giving us the runway to accelerate sustainable profitable growth.

 

Singer Shaan to make his acting debut with Ilaiyaraaja’s multi-lingual musical ‘Music School

Singer Shaan to make his acting

The prowess and talent of Shaan as a singer need no introduction, but as he steps foot into the acting world with his debut with filmmaker Paparao Biyyala’s upcoming musical ‘Music School’ the singer-turned-actor expresses his gratitude.

Recently the trailer of Music School was unveiled in Mumbai which not only offered insights into the musical adventure that unfolds in the film but also piqued our interest with the glimpses of Shaan on screen.

While the actor has faced the camera earlier for his unforgettable music videos and multiple cameos over the years, Music School marks his first film as an actor playing a pivotal character.

Expressing his delight and gratitude, Shaan says, “When I first began working on a song for Music School, I had no idea I would end up starring in it as well. It so happened that when I was recording the song, the director of the film Paparao Biyyala felt I would be the perfect match for the character they were looking at and proposed the idea to cast me. I had an idea of the story as I was recording the song, but when Paparao sir narrated the script I was instantly on board. It was an extremely beautiful journey shooting for the film, we majorly shot in Goa and it added to the beauty and lively experience. I am extremely thankful to Paparao sir for giving me this opportunity and making me a part of his passion project.”

Director Paparao Biyyala shares, “We were looking for a flamboyant, energetic and lively person for the character but had no luck in finding the perfect match. I then saw Shaan recording one of the songs from the film, he was so excited and happy, he was literally dancing while recording and I immediately felt we found our guy. Shaan is not just a brilliant singer but also an effortless actor and most importantly a wonderful person. His positive aura and charming attitude convinced me to cast him in Music School.”

Shaan has recorded an original song in the film that is set to be released this week and he plays a pivotal role in the film which also stars Shriya Saran, and Sharman Joshi as the lead along with an ensemble cast comprising of respected and experienced senior actors as well as a bunch of talented newcomers as child artists.

Music School is a musical narration of the sensitive and prevailing concern of academic pressure subjected to young students by society, parents, and teachers. Of eleven songs in the film, three of them have been recreated from The Sound of Music, situationally woven beautifully in the film to suit the sensibilities of the Indian audience.

Directed and produced by IAS officer turned filmmaker Paparao Biyyala, the musical film employs an ace team of technicians.

The grandeur look of the film was captured by ace cinematographer Kiran Deohans. The cast includes Shriya Saran, Sharman Joshi and Prakash Raj in lead roles in addition to debutant Ozu Barua and Gracy Goswamy in critical roles. Other cast comprises of Benjamin Gilani, Suhasini Mulay, Mona Ambegaonkar, Leela Samson, Bugs Bhargava, Vinay Varma, Sreekanth Iyengar, Vaquar Sheikh, Phani and many other child actors.

Presented by Yamini Films, Hyderabad, this multi-lingual film is shot in Hindi and Telugu, and dubbed in Tamil. It is releasing on 12th May 2023 by PVR in Hindi – Tamil and Dil Raju in Telugu.

Nostalgia: Unlocking Storytelling in Indian Ads- Dr Prachetan Potadar

 Dr Prachetan Potadar

As a creative advertising director who has witnessed the evolution of the industry from a copywriter to a creative director, I have observed a significant shift in storytelling techniques. One trend that has consistently gained traction and captivated audiences in the Indian market is the use of nostalgia. In this interactive blog, I will delve into the reasons why nostalgia has become one of the most popular trends in storytelling through advertisements, exploring its emotional appeal and its impact on brand engagement.

  1. Eliciting Emotional Connections: Nostalgia holds the power to transport individuals back to a cherished time in their lives, evoking emotions and memories associated with the past. Advertisements that tap into this emotional connection resonate deeply with audiences, creating an instant bond between the brand and the consumer. By crafting narratives that trigger nostalgia, brands can establish a sense of familiarity and build a lasting emotional relationship with their target audience.
  2. Tapping into Collective Cultural Memories: Nostalgic advertisements often tap into shared cultural experiences and memories, reminding audiences of moments that shaped their lives. By referencing iconic events, trends, or cultural symbols from the past, brands can ignite a sense of collective nostalgia, fostering a feeling of unity and relatability among diverse audiences. This approach not only resonates with the older generation but also attracts younger viewers who are curious about the history and heritage of their culture.
  3. Creating a Sense of Authenticity: In an era dominated by digital marketing and fast-paced consumerism, nostalgia brings a sense of authenticity to advertisements. By harking back to simpler times, brands can project a genuine and relatable image, standing out amidst the sea of promotional noise. Authenticity is crucial in building trust and credibility, and nostalgia serves as a powerful tool in achieving this, allowing brands to connect with consumers on a deeper, more personal level.
  4. Reinventing the Past for the Present: Nostalgic advertisements not only celebrate the past but also reinterpret it for the present. By infusing modern elements into nostalgic narratives, brands can bridge the gap between generations and appeal to a wide range of audiences. This approach not only creates a sense of novelty but also allows brands to adapt to changing consumer preferences while staying true to their roots.

Some Indian Ad Campaigns on ” Nostalgia”

Fevicol “Har Umar Ki Masti”: Fevicol’s “Har Umar Ki Masti” (Fun at every age) campaign took a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The ads portrayed individuals of different age groups engaging in playful activities and bonding over their shared love for Fevicol. The campaign aimed to capture the spirit of fun and innocence that transcends age and resonated with audiences.

Rasna “I Love You Rasna”: Rasna, a popular soft drink concentrate brand in India, had a campaign in the 1990s that was based on the theme of nostalgia and childhood memories. The ads featured children playing and enjoying Rasna drinks, accompanied by the catchy jingle “I Love You Rasna”. The campaign’s nostalgic appeal and catchy jingle made it a favourite among Indian audiences.

Tanishq “Remarriage”: Tanishq, a renowned jewellery brand in India, created a poignant ad campaign that highlighted the theme of remarriage. The ads portrayed older couples finding love again and embracing the idea of starting a new chapter in their lives. The campaign celebrated the resilience of love and relationships, striking an emotional chord with viewers and generating nostalgia for enduring connections.

Titan “Raga Timeless”: Titan, a leading watch brand in India, created a nostalgic ad campaign called “Raga Timeless” that celebrated the timeless beauty of Indian classical music. The ads featured renowned classical musicians and showcased their emotional connection with their music and the elegance of Titan Raga watches. The campaign struck a chord with audiences by evoking a sense of nostalgia for traditional Indian music and cultural heritage.

Cadbury Celebrations “Kuch Achha Ho Jaaye”: Cadbury Celebrations, a brand of chocolate gift boxes, had an ad campaign called “Kuch Achha Ho Jaaye” (Let something good happen) that captured the essence of festive celebrations and nostalgic family gatherings. The ads depicted joyful moments of people coming together during festivals and special occasions, exchanging Cadbury Celebrations boxes, and creating happy memories. The campaign struck a nostalgic chord by reminding audiences of the warmth and happiness associated with festive celebrations.

so we can say, Nostalgia has emerged as a dominant trend in storytelling through advertisements in the Indian market for its ability to forge emotional connections, tap into collective cultural memories, convey authenticity, and reinvent the past for the present. As a creative advertising director, I have witnessed firsthand the power of nostalgia in captivating audiences and fostering brand engagement. By leveraging the emotional appeal of nostalgia, brands can create compelling narratives that resonate with consumers and leave a lasting impact.

So, the next time you come across a nostalgic advertisement, allow yourself to be transported back in time and embrace the flood of emotions. Nostalgia is not just a trend; it is a powerful storytelling tool that enables brands to create meaningful connections and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

realme completes 5 Years in India – Now ready to leap forward with ambitious plans for future growth

8th May 2023, New Delhi – Marking its 5th anniversary in India, realme, India’s leading, and most trusted technology brand, today showcased the camera of their upcoming smartphone 11 Pro series that comes with an outstanding 200MP OIS camera featuring 4X In-sensor zoom technology and lossless zoom: an industry first in its price segment. The announcement comes on the occasion of the completion of five glorious years in India and solidifies the organization’s commitment to democratizing cutting-edge technology and design for all users.

Looking ahead, realme aims to sell 20 million smartphones, including 7 million 5G-enabled products, and reach 50,000 distribution stores in 2023. The company plans to open 200 new service centers across 532 cities, bringing the total to 727 service centers in 2023 to provide best-in-class aftercare service. Also lined up for 2023 – realme plans to invest in bringing out more cutting-edge features across its smartphone series while also localizing its product portfolio even further. realme continues to grow as a reliable brand in India that specializes in providing high-quality products with excellent design and exemplary performance for customers.

Over the past five years, realme has expanded its user base to over 160 million worldwide, of which 70 million are in India alone. In the past five years, realme has been at the forefront of introducing many industry-first technologies. These include, among others, the world’s first 64MP camera, the cutting-edge MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset featured in our exquisite realme X7 5G, the advanced MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G processor showcased in our exceptional realme 8s 5G, world’s first 64MP quad-camera phone, Starry Time-lapse Video and Tilt-shift Time-lapse Video in the realme 8 Pro, MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor embodied in our remarkable realme 9 Pro+ 5G, and the first 5G smartphone in India.

Already in 2023, Quantic India has recognized realme for its commitment to technological excellence and sustainability with the Sustainability through Technology Award. Similarly, ET Retail has also recognized realme as the Mobile Handsets & Accessories Retailer for 2023. realme 9 Pro+ was awarded ‘Best Camera Phone of 2022 – Mainstream’ at the Indian Gadget Awards, and finally realme also bagged Best Affordable Tablet of the Year at Gadgets Now Awards 2023 to name a few.

India was the first country from where realme started its journey. Today, realme looks back with both pride and gratitude at the people, fans, and all supporters who helped make it a successful brand in India in such a short time, and consequently helped the country emerge as its #1 market worldwide.

realme owes its success to its customers and has emerged as one of the most sought-after smartphone brands in the country. With a strong commitment to democratizing cutting-edge technology and design, realme is proud to celebrate its 5th anniversary and looks forward to continued success in the future.