Best ads of the week: Parle G breaks biases for Bappa, Varun Dhawan advocates for Walkaroo

Ads mirror society, reflecting its many imperfections and offering viewers a slice-of-life look into its workings. But many ads have been catalysts of change, challenging society to think differently and break the shackles of oppressive traditions.

The latest multilingual Ganeshotsav campaign for Parle G is one such ad campaign.

As we look back at the last week of August, some ads stood out in terms of execution, creativity, recall and, more importantly, gumption.

Canva

“Misadventure” capitalists and medieval metalheads took over Canva’s 'Hysterical Historical Café series. The online graphic design platform’s “Dil se design tak” campaign is a set of three ads where historical figures navigate their daily designing challenges using the power of Canva.

The overarching message is that anyone from medieval knights to explorers, regardless of their background or expertise in design, can create stunning visual content on Canva.

“By blending humour with practicality, our goal is to highlight Canva’s many use cases as a versatile visual communications platform empowering everyone from individuals to small and large enterprises in India to unleash their creativity,” said Chandrika Deb, Growth and Marketing Lead for Canva India.

“Working on Canva has been a wild creative ride for all of us at Only Much Louder. Our unique ‘Brands As Creators’ framework is all about turning brands into storytellers that can truly entertain in order to connect with audiences. With a sharp comedy writer like Manaswi Mohata on board, we knew we could push the envelope. When we set out to show how Canva makes design accessible to everyone, we figured, why limit "everyone" to just us everyday humans? Why not dinosaurs, mammoths, queens, Nobel Prize winners, and even our prehistoric ancestors? The fun was in exaggerating not just with words, but with over-the-top setups. Honestly, we couldn’t have pulled it off without the trust and conviction of our incredible partners at Canva who didn’t just tolerate our craziness, but encouraged us to go even wilder!" said Manav Parekh, Senior Vice President & Executive Creative Director, Only Much Louder.

Parle G

Thought Blurb Communications’ multi-lingual campaign for Parle G challenges gender biases in Indian society, particularly in the religious context during festive times. The ad film questions the exclusion of women in some religious practices. For instance, the protagonist of the film takes a stance against society prohibiting women from handling Ganesha idols. The ad has also managed to ruffle some feathers with some section of the audience who took umbrage at its progressive messaging.

Mayank Shah, Vice President at Parle Products said, “Parle-G is usually a participant in every festival and celebration in virtually every household in the country. The idea is powerful enough to merit its own expression. The storyline steers it to the brand’s purpose and delivers its message. The underlying Brand message “Genius is the one, who believes that in the Joy of Others lies our own” is delivered beautifully with emotions that leave most viewers moist eyed.”

Vinod Kunj, Chief Creative Officer at Thought Blurb Communications added, “This is the third in a series of long format films we have created for Parle-G that touch upon cultural and social occasions that bring us together. The brief for the strategy and creative team was to shine the light upon an aspect of the event that hasn’t been dwelt on before and deliver the ‘genius’ thinking that is the soul of the brand’s communication.”

Motilal Oswal

‘The Man From Motilal Oswal’ is on a mission to educate people and dole out solid investment advice to those who need it. The ad shows the human embodiment of Motilal Oswal’s brand essence, addressing real-life concerns and constraints of investors with reassuring messages such as, "Investment ke liye hum hain na," and warns people against tips by asserting "I don't give tips, only solid advice".

Sandeep Walunj, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd., said, “With this creative campaign, Motilal Oswal aims to drive its differentiation & underline its leadership position. With a combination of originality, perceptive communication, and a distinct vision, The ‘Man from Motilal Oswal’ highlights the criticality of suitable advice before investors start their investment journeys. As a Call to Action, it offers a helpline with requisite advice.”

Walkaroo 

Walkaroo’s brand ambassador actor Varun Dhawan is known for his comic timing, which he leveraged to the hilt in the brand’s latest ad.  

Donning a lawyer’s robes, Dhawan goes head-to-head with the prosecution, advocating fiercely for his client – a pair of Walkeroo sandals. 

What’s particularly memorable is the verbal duel between the feuding parties, taking on poetic proportions. The ad wins on the back of Dhawan’s star power and good writing. The TVC is part of the brand’s ‘Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk with Walkaroo’ campaign.  

Noushad, Managing Director of Walkaroo International Private Ltd, commented, "We aimed for a fresh and engaging way to present our 'Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk with Walkaroo' campaign. Varun Dhawan’s energy and charm align perfectly with our brand, and this innovative TVC allows us to connect with our audience in a memorable way. His role as a lawyer adds a unique twist and reinforces that Walkaroo+ is the ideal choice for comfort and style."