The Millennials vs. Gen Z debate just got a stylish upgrade, thanks to Myntra.
FWD by Myntra, the brand’s Gen Z-centric fashion hub, capitalised on this generational rivalry while also riding the wave of chess fever.
The result was a witty, engaging commercial featuring chess grandmasters Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh Dommaraju. It was a mix of humour, fashion, and pop culture references, making the audience not click the ‘skip ad’ button.
The commercial playfully highlights the divide between Millennials and Gen Z, with Anand struggling (and failing) to nail Gen Z lingo—mispronouncing “Skibidi” as “Kabaddi” and “Scooby-Doo”.
But the OG grandmaster knows how to serve a checkmate.
When Gukesh brags about his World Chess Championship trophy and generously offers Anand a chance to touch it, Anand casually responds, “I have five of them.”
Later, as Gukesh gets a tattoo to commemorate his win, urging Anand to do the same, Anand quips, “Both my arms—and even my legs—would be covered!”
The commercial ultimately ties back to fashion, positioning Myntra’s FWD collection as the bridge between the two generations.
The effortless humour, the layered sarcasm and the rare sight of Gukesh stepping out of his usual calm and collected demeanor stand out.
No one saw the collaboration between ‘Gukesh and Vishy sir’ coming. And, the audience is in awe of their acting skills. They are now asking for the behind-the-scene shots of the commercial.
The ad, with over 6 lakh views on YouTube and nearly 3 million views on Instagram, has been conceptualised and directed by Vishal Dayama of Braindad, which has previously been in the news for creating Boldcare campaigns featuring Ranveer Singh and Johnny Sins.
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Trendsetters
CRED, an Indian fintech company, revolutionised the way brands used sports stars in advertisements with its unique, witty campaigns.
Instead of the traditional, serious portrayal of athletes as icons of discipline and excellence, CRED showed them in a quirky, offbeat light.
Anand has also, previously, featured in one of CRED’s advertisements, titled ‘Unreleased Cred ads’. It also had Anil Kumble (former Indian cricketer), Sunil Chhetri (Indian football team captain), Jhulan Goswami (former Indian cricketer) and Mary Kom (Olympic boxer).
The CRED ad featuring Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, where the sports star is seen playing multiple roles like that of a filmmaker, banker and news reporter among others and how they react around him, is iconic.
By casting these athletes in absurd, light-hearted roles, CRED created a strong emotional connection with consumers. The messaging is on point: rewards, exclusivity, and the perks of paying credit card bills on time.
Credits:
Brand: Myntra FWD
Agency: Braindad
Writer and director: Vishal Dayama
Producer: Devarsh Thaker
(Edited by Ratan Priya)