MUMBAI: Did you know that more than 80% germs on hands are infections and you can be carrying millions of bacteria on your hand at any given time? To give us protection on the go, Godrej Protekt a leading brand of Godrej Consumer Products Ltd., today announced the launch of its ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign, to make consumers aware of the need for hand hygiene to prevent diseases. Bollywood?s popular actress Raveena Tandom flagged off the Godrej Protekt ?Freedom to Touch? Van along with Dr. Anjali Shetty, Consultant Microbiologist, Hinduja Hospital.

The ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign will have the Godrej Protekt ?Freedom to Touch? Van educating consumers on good hand hygiene practices at vantage locations like railway stations, shopping malls and Colleges in key metros of the country.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Tarun Arora, Executive Vice President ? Marketing, Godrej Consumer Products, said, ?In our everyday lives we visit food courts in malls, public toilets, hospitals, travel by public transport, etc where our hands are exposed to harmful germs which can give us infections and diseases. To offer the consumers an easy solution to combat the onslaught of germs, Godrej Protekt is today launching the ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign. As the awareness of Hand Hygiene and the use of hand sanitizers in India is very low, this Campaign is an attempt to build awareness amongst consumers on the need for protection on the go. We are confident that consumers will greatly benefit from this initiative as we contribute to keeping them healthy and happy?.

Said Dr. Anjali Shetty, Consultant Microbiologist, Hinduja Hospital, ?80% of germs on our hands are infectious. More than 1500 germs reside on each square centimetre of our hands. The monsoon brings a host of illnesses and diseases, some of which can be life threatening. The humid weather is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and germs. I am happy that Godrej Protekt has launched the ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign as I strongly believe that clean hands are safe hands?.

Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon, flagged of the Godrej Protekt ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign, and shared, ?It is impossible to live in a city like Mumbai and stay clear of germs and diseases. When I am outdoors during shoots etc, I often come across situations where I need to sanitize my hands, but don?t have access to a wash basin, soap or water. So, to get instant protection against germs while I am on the move, I always carry a hand sanitizer in my purse while travelling. I am honoured to be a part of Godrej Protekt?s ?Freedom to Touch? Campaign which offers us the freedom to do what you want to, where you want to without the worry of germs?.

The Godrej Protekt range of hand sanitizers offers you the ?Freedom to Touch? and maximum protection by killing 99.99% germs within 15 seconds, providing an instant hygiene solution to users, while on the go. This range is available at all leading chemists, general stores and supermarkets and is a must have when out of home.

So, now get instant protection from germs wherever you go! Look out for the Godrej Protekt ?Freedom to Touch? Van in your city to learn about good hand hygiene practices. Go ahead and enjoy life to its fullest!

MUMBAI: One of India‘s most well-known Bollywood actors, Anil Kapoor has carved a name for himself not only on the subcontinent, but also overseas in markets like the United States. Most moviegoers in the west will recognize Anil for his role in the Academy Award-winning film, "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2008. His performance in the film earned him a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.

But, long before his breakthrough role for western audiences in "Slumdog Millionaire," Anil was one of the biggest celebrities in India. He first won acclaim for his role in the 1984 film "Mashaal" and three years later was part of another critical success in "Mr. India." Anil went on to appear in a number of highly lucrative films during the 1990s and was given several "Filmfare" awards during his career.

For Anil and his family though, it seems that the acting bug runs in the family. Anil‘s daughter, Sonam is also one of the country‘s biggest Bollywood stars. Born in 1985, Sonam has appeared in a number of blockbuster hits, including the smash hit "Delhi-6," opposite Abhishek Bachchan.

Anil and Sonam Kapoor spoke to Becky Anderson on CNN International?s ?Connect the World? about Slumdog Millionaire, nepotism in movies and working together as a father-daughter duo amongst other things.

MUMBAI: Close on heels to announcing its exclusive national music awards property with the Indian Music Academy ? The BIG IMA Awards, and its local music awards through the BIG Bengali Music Awards and BIG Kannada Music Awards for the Bengali and Kannada industry respectively, Reliance Broadcast Network?s radio arm 92.7 BIG FM announces the ?BIG MARATHI MUSIC AWARDS 2010?, an exclusive platform to recognize and celebrate outstanding talent in Marathi Music.

Co-inciding with Maharashtra?s 50th anniversary celebration year, BIG Marathi Music Awards 2010 takes audiences on a journey from golden yester years to the today?s latest music. The property, conceptualized by 92.7 BIG FM and marketed by BIG Live (the experiential marketing arm of Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd), will see all its media verticals coming into play to ensure this music award permeates into consumers? lives through multiple touch points. The property will air across the cities of Mumbai, Solapur, Goa, Indore, Baroda & Gwalior. The grand finale, scheduled for August 26th will witness a gala Awards Night graced by stalwarts from the Marathi music & entertainment industry and will be aired on ETV as a special offering.

Maharashtra has been the birthplace of some great music and musical legends down the ages. Not just locally renowned talent, but singers and musicians of national and international fame have sprung forth from its soil. Marathi music offers a lot of different flavors in the form of Natya sangeet, Lavani, Tamasha and main stream movie music. However, Marathi Music has never received the kind of recognition it deserves. Recognizing this need, 92.7 BIG FM which is known for its superlative music promotion in India, has instituted the BIG Marathi Music Awards 2010 to recognize and honor Marathi Music and its torch bearers.

BANGALORE: Suvarna created the biggest friendship band as part of World?s Friendship Day celebrations and Classmates promotions. Measuring 1200 meters in length, this supposed to be the lengthiest friendship band ever created. Though the attempt was to create 2000ft (610metres), the team ends up with 1200metres band covering the National College Grounds, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. Limca Book of Records have accepted this as a valid entry for LBR 2011 edition.

Shankar Bidiri, Commissioner of Police, Bangalore, appreciated Suvarna for such an initiative which further spreads awareness about importance of friendship. Kannada Film celebrities like Srinagar Kitty & Neetu and Classmates team were present at the event. Thousands of students gathered at the event, lined up like a human chain and stood across the huge friendship band.

Classmates, a serial on Suvarna, is based on school going students and their friendship

? We are happy to implement such a novel idea and we are glad that we managed to fix 1200metres of friendship band covering entire grounds. Friends are forever, that?s the insight based on which Classmates is made. This initiative is to further spread the awareness of friendship? adds Anup Chandrasekharan, Business Head, Suvarna.

Classmates is being telecast during weekdays at 7.30pm on Suvarna.

MUMBAI: Xylys, the premium Swiss made watch brand from the house of Titan, redefines itself with an all new campaign that embodies the irrational desirability of the brand. The new creative expression is carefully designed to reflect the effect Xylys watches have on their consumers.

The stunning designs have captured the hearts of many watch connoisseurs. The brand thought is encapsulated in the words ?You don?t possess a Xylys, it possesses you?.

Post the launch in 2006, the brand has seen the volume doubling between 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 and is growing at about 33% since then. Xylys is all set to sharpen its positioning that is expected to connect with its consumers at a deeper level. The new identity reflects the attitude, lifestyle and personality of the new generation consumer.

New Xylys Campaign ??Obsessive Desire?

The new Xylys film is about a popular and happening man becoming completely withdrawn and besotted with the object of his fascination, a Xylys watch. It is a story of a man?s obsession, with his Xylys watch. He is so magnetically attracted to the watch that he becomes oblivious to the world around him. Falling in love can do strange things and that is perhaps what happens to him after he acquires his beautifully crafted Xylys watch.

According to Ms. Suparna Mitra, Global Head - Marketing, Titan Watches ?Following the successful launch of Xylys in 2006, we have decided to re-invigorate the brand and give it an imagery that will enable us to engage, entertain and connect with our consumers better. The new campaign communicates a simple story while reinforcing the brand?s enhanced positioning.?

?You see it all around you, people treating their bikes, cell phones, etc as their sweethearts. I?ve even heard of a woman who married her laptop! That?s where the idea comes from,? says Mr. Mukund Sharma, Creative Head, Rediffusion Y&R Bangalore.

Adds Mr.Arun Kumar.R., Creative Head, Rediffusion Y&R, Bangalore: All of us have lost a friend to love. And the only person who doesn‘t notice he has changed is the one in love. This irrational obsessive behaviour is what we have tried to capture visually.

?In all consumer researches the strongest thing that came out was the product design and the irrational pull it created. We have tried to weave a story on this product truth and push the limit on what Xylys can do to the user,? says Paritosh Srivastava, Vice President ? South, Rediffusion Y&R.

The new Xylys TVC is conceptualised by the creative team at Rediffusion Y&R, Bangalore.

MUMBAI: The CMO Council, USA and CMO Asia conferred the Master Brands to Brands that have Leadership and continuous Innovation as their forte at Suntec, Singapore. Star News has won Big by taking home 3 CMO Asia Awards for Excellence in Marketing & Branding.

Star News has won the Popular News Channel of the Year, the Campaign of the Year for 24 Ghante, 24 Reporter and Award for Brand Excellence in Media/Entertainment for Saas Bahu aur Saazish.

The Awards are instituted by CMO Asia, Hosted by World Brand Congress and Supported by Marketing Institute of Singapore. The World Brand Congress will be among the largest rendezvous of best brains behind some of the worlds most successful and sought after brands. The Wall Street Journal Asia is the Official Business Newspaper partner- Print, Online and Mobile.

The CMO Asia is dedicated to high level knowledge Exchange through Leadership & Networking amongst senior CMOs and brand decision makers across industry segments. Over 30 Countries participated in the Awards including China, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Phillipines.

Some of the other Asia‘s Best Brands in alphabetical order were Adidas, Asian Honda Motor Company, Dell, McDonalds Restaurants Hong Kong, Microsoft, Nokia, Singapore Airlines, Sony Corporation, Starbucks Coffee Asia Pacific Ltd and HSBC.

"The Awards are International recognition of an Indian News Channel highest rated programmes," according to Mr Neeraj Sanan, Head of Marketing of Star News. "24 Ghante, 24 Reporter is a crisp, fast-paced pioneering effort in news programming. This bulletin delivers 24 stories in 30 minutes in a rapid-fire, reporter-led, never before attempted format. The No 1 afternoon daily, Saas Bahu aur Saazish, captures all the excitement and news of popular serials across channels and the tele-world. These programme helped Star News win the Popular News Channel of the Year."