In a world where content flows every nanosecond, viewing, registering and remembering have become the ultimate gold standards for relevance in the advertising and marketing world.
Understanding this growing shift, ad houses produced some stellar content that cut through the clutter with a narrative-first, product-next approach. Brands moved beyond mere product promotion to craft narratives that resonated deeply with audiences. What made this year’s campaigns truly stand out, other than the timely shift, was the fact that they were founded on cultural symbolism, emotional storytelling, and digital-first strategies meeting the gold standards of relevance.
By this point, we are sure you are super curious to know which brands hit the bull’s eye. So, without further ado, shall we take a quick recap of V Green Media’s 5 best ads of 2025 and gather some interesting takeaways? So, grab your pen and paper and let's go!
Vinsmera Jewels - Mohanlal Ad
This tops our list simply because it is something you would never expect. When you’ve witnessed the ad, you will never forget. Precious jewellery brands that typically cater to women on a large scale must take notice of this brilliantly conceptualized ad by Vinsmera Jewels featuring the iconic Malayali superstar, Mohanlal. The ad revolves around the experience of Mohanlal in quietly admiring the jewellery set’s beauty away from the noise of a busy shoot set. Challenging the traditional gender norms of beauty, masculinity, and their connection, the ad puts forward a strong, noteworthy message. The commercial was directed by acclaimed ad filmmaker Prakash Varma, known for his bold, unconventional campaigns.Cadbury’s 5 Star 2025 – Destroy Valentine’s Day
Cadbury’s 5 star never disappoints when it comes to tickling the funny bone. When all brands go all mushy and lovey-dovey on Valentine’s Day, Cadbury’s 5 star advertising agency, Ogilvy, took a hard left turn, debunking the myth of having a rosy Valentine. Instead, the brand focused on doing nothing by recruiting uncles to deflate the trend of Instagram’s typical love obsession.Spinny ‘God Promise’ with Sachin Tendulkar
Often, when things around you are loud, the quiet ones steal the show. This phrase could not be truer in the case of Spinny’s ‘God Promise’ series of ads featuring the ‘GOD’ of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar himself. Leo Burnett India, the advertising agency behind these ads, leaned into the concept of trust that is so seamlessly Sachin. The storytelling was calm, reassuring, less noisy and more of substance; everything you need from a brand that is trying to make a mark in the pre-owned car market. The campaign also resonated with a lot of millennials, given how the colloquial term ‘God Promise’ was used in establishing trust.
Spotify ‘What’s on Your Wrapped’
Ok, now we switch gears to how a brand can peak by staying relevant using the magic strategy of data storytelling with creative advertising. Using the stardust of celebrities but not showing them as these mammoth stars and as relatable human beings makes this campaign extremely down-to-earth and engaging. Relatable, humorous, memorable, and personalized, this campaign was an innovative testament to the brilliance of script writing created from app-derived listening data. Spotify is always known to push boundaries through its witty approach to product integration, and this year was no different.Kaju Katli vs Soan Papdi | Zepto Mithai Wars
What's our breakdown of the best ads of 2025 without a contender from the Diwali season? And, this Diwali, Zepto and Haldiram, under the stewardship of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, took the last mithai. So, why was the Mithai Wars ad such a hit? Simply put, it steered far away from what the app sells and steered close to a highly memorable mini-election story. Pitting the infamous Soan Papdi and the Kaju Katli, traditional Diwali sweets against each other, the ad showcased how audiences are not mere recipients but active participants in the engagement campaign announced by the ad.Conclusion:
As you can see, our list of the 5 best ads of 2025 brought together a vibrant spectrum of creativity—humour that made us laugh out loud, emotion that tugged at our hearts, satire that held up a mirror to society, and innovation that pushed the boundaries of what advertising can be. Yet, despite their differences in tone and style, one common thread ran through them all: engaging storytelling. Each campaign proved that the true power of advertising lies not just in selling a product, but in telling a story that resonates, entertains, and stays with the audience long after the screen fades to black. These ads remind us that in 2025, brands weren’t just competing for attention—they were competing for connection, and the winners were those who mastered the art of narrative.Pandey ji ke ‘anmol ratan’ – the man who gave advertising its soul, back!December 9, 2025
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