Indian ads 2025
In a year that witnessed reels galore, celebrity endorsements and algorithm-driven content, only a handful of advertisements managed to genuinely pause India's restless scroll. These were not the loudest campaigns, nor the ones with the biggest budgets. They were the ones that tapped into something recognizable - a slice of life, a shared laugh, a familiar hope.
These were the campaigns that didn't chase shock value or push a sales message too hard. Instead, they tapped into something familiar - a way of speaking, a shared memory, or a slice of daily life that felt unmistakably Indian.
Here are five ads that managed to do just that.
1. Dream11 - "Aapki Team Mein Kaun?"
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voALGUnxdPQ
Every Cricket season brings with it a flood of cricket-themed advertising, but Dream11 somehow finds a new angle every year. The 2025 campaign struck gold by leaning into friendly rivalry - the kind that happens in living rooms, office corridors, hostel rooms, and across every family WhatsApp group. The exchanges had the same energy as two friends arguing over a playing XI during a rain break.
The spot captured a very Indian kind of competitiveness - playful, loud, and more about bragging rights than logic. And before long, the line "Aapki team mein kaun?" became a casual opener in offices, hostels and neighbourhood matches.
Campaign Impact: Turned Cricket chatter into a cultural hook, embedding the brand directly into everyday cricket conversations and materially boosting top-of-mind recall during peak season.
2. Zepto - "Mithai Wars"
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HDmHETs3g
Just when Diwali advertising was beginning to look predictable, Zepto dropped a campaign that felt like it came straight out of a family living room argument. "Mithai Wars" tapped into the kind of festive debate that never ends - which sweet deserves top honours.
"Mithai Wars" was playful, colourful and cleverly social by design, with Zepto turning the discussion into a friendly showdown. Suddenly, people were posting polls, creators were picking sides, and group chats were accusing one another of having "bad taste" in desserts.
Campaign Impact: Reframed festive quick commerce from speed-led utility to social participation, driving disproportionate organic engagement and creator-led amplification at Diwali.
3. Spinny - "God Promise" ft. Sachin Tendulkar
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbfosWHsX84
Buying a used car isn't just a transaction - it's an emotional gamble. Spinny's 2025 film acknowledged this with a tone that felt reassuring rather than persuasive. Sachin Tendulkar wasn't seen lecturing or playing a scripted character; he sounded more like someone offering steady reassurance.
The ad didn't dramatise the buying journey. It showed ordinary families figuring out what works for them, trying out cars, and discussing the decision with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It felt closer to reality than most automotive advertising, prompting many viewers to share their own car-buying stories online.
Campaign Impact: Elevated trust as the primary conversion lever in the used-car category, strengthening brand credibility and reducing psychological friction in high-consideration purchases.
4. Ratnaafin - "Ratnaafin Hai to Possible Hai"
Watch: https://youtu.be/mIFM9Ywq0Ik?si=3yI74uiNwp0amZDt
Some ads don't shout; they whisper. Ratnaafin's 2025 film was one of those rare ones that built its emotional weight quietly. At a time when finance brands often highlight eligibility criteria, interest rates or repayment benefits, this film took a different route: it told the stories of ordinary Indians who simply needed a small push to begin something of their own.
There's a man reopening his father's old printing press, a woman who deciding to turn her tailoring into a boutique, a shopkeeper starting his own kirana, and a group of homemakers teaming up to sell the savouries they've perfected for years.
None of these moments are dramatic, and that's exactly why they feel real. Many viewers recognised these stories in their own families and the ad sounded like the India most of us grew up around.
Campaign Impact: Shifted perception from "financial product" to "possibility enabler," humanising MSME finance and deepening emotional resonance in a largely rational category.
5. Tata Motors - EVs and the New Indian Imagination
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhdDsdBpJFo
EV advertising usually leans on futuristic tropes, but Tata Motors chose a more grounded approach. The campaign wasn't about showing off gadgets or dashboards; it framed the EV shift as part of the rhythm of modern India. The Tata Curvv is shown driving through a modern urban setting. Vicky Kaushal is inside, calm and in control. Suddenly, an unexpected obstacle appears on the road. The car detects the risk on its own and automatically brakes, avoiding a collision. There's no panic, no drama. The moment passes smoothly. The focus shifts back to the car's bold design and composed drive, reinforcing trust in the technology.
Campaign Impact: Normalised EV technology as calm, reliable, and everyday-ready, reinforcing Tata's leadership narrative while lowering consumer anxiety around adoption.
What 2025's Best Ads Revealed About Us
Looking back at the ads that people discussed most, a pattern emerges - not in style, but in intent. Viewers gravitated toward campaigns that felt familiar, that mirrored the tone of conversations they were already having.
Humour worked when it captured the way we actually joke. Emotion worked when it showed everyday realities instead of grand gestures. And purpose worked when it didn't come wrapped in lectures. These ads stayed in the minds of people because they recognized something simple: people don't remember perfect lines; they remember how something made them feel. And every campaign that mattered this year tapped into that instinct - gently, thoughtfully, and with a sense of India as it truly is.
