NEW DELHI, INDIA – While 2020 is over, we are far from life as we knew it before the pandemic. As we strike a new balance between live and livelihood in the New Year, United Colors of Benetton, continuing its legacy and commitment to encourage unity, social harmony, peace and cohesiveness; launches the second leg of #UnitedByCause, marking the prestigious occasion of the 72nd Republic Day of India. Demonstrating a powerful message as we look ahead with hope and optimism, in its second phase, the campaign crafted by Taproot Dentsu, aims to draw light on how we the people of India, must stay united to help the country progress and shine brighter. Whether it is prayers or precautions, India as a whole should stay in concord and every individual should remind themselves to continue doing all that is necessary to win the fight against this pandemic.
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The stark black and white film, set to an engaging track that begins with an Azaan, blending fluidly into a temple prayer. The film starts with showing two hands extended in the prayer gesture adopted by the Muslim community, and as the water pours, the hands wash for cleansing and finally come together into a ‘Namaste’ gesture, enunciating a simple yet significant message ‘to continue to do what we have been doing with hope and stand united’. The film leaves us, sparking an emotion of hope and optimism, showcasing how we are in this together and we are all #UnitedByCause.
Speaking about this campaign, Mr. Sundeep Chugh, CEO Benetton India Pvt. Ltd, said: “As the nation marches forward in its fight against the pandemic, Benetton India’s latest campaign #UnitedByCause aims to remind one and all that our unity and grit is what will make us stronger. We are all fighting the same cause, for a better and a brighter future. And we can only do this if we continue to follow the protocol for some more time, which will eventually lead us to a path of victory. We are delighted to launch this thoughtful initiative on the prestigious occasion of India’s 72nd Republic Day, which is celebrated as an epitome of a strong & a progressive nation with unity in diversity. We hope the message reaches the masses and soon we all rise and prosper again”
The creative was born out of an open brief to Taproot Dentsu, urging the agency to speak to the moment and help elevate the spirit of the nation. Santosh Padhi, aka Paddy, Chief Creative Officer & Founder of Taproot Dentsu added “With a multitude of constantly changing sentiments around us, the challenge was to be sensitive and yet stay true to the brand. The power of the idea we had lied in its sheer simplicity. And be it in life, or advertising, achieving simplicity is often the toughest thing to do. We invested all our energy in retaining the starkness of the message, be it through the visual narrative, the music or the direction. In the end, I have a sense of pride sharing this message with the nation.”
Over the years, United Colors of Benetton has established #UnitedBy as an impactful platform that has been instrumental in strengthening its commitment to voice social issues through a series of thought-provoking campaigns such as #UnitedByPlay, #UnitedByFaith, #UnitedByHalf and #UnitedByHarmony that have taken a bold and optimistic stand on causes that affect the society such as Women Empowerment, Integration, Harmony, Unity, Diversity etc.
CREDITS
Agency: Taproot Dentsu
Chief Creative Officer: Santosh Padhi
Creative Director: Yogesh Rihjwani
Director & Camera: Prashant Godbole
Music: Dhawal Tandon
Camera Assistants: Arya Wadwalkar, Soham Godbole, Tiya Padhi
Editor: Fareheen Shaikh
