CRED has built a reputation for creating commercials that are unforgettable, meme-worthy, and often disconnected from its actual service. From Rahul Dravid’s “Indiranagar ka gunda” to celebrity auditions, the fintech brand has repeatedly used oddball humor to capture attention.
CRED X Gautam Gambhir
The Gautam Gambhir Ice Cream Ad
In its latest ad, CRED takes things up another notch. The spot features Gautam Gambhir watching a surreal video: a human head perched on an ice cream cone, which bizarrely forces its tongue into Gambhir’s mouth before morphing into a giant cone. Clearly unsettled, Gambhir smashes his laptop when told the video was created by AI.
This grotesque but humorous storyline highlights both the absurdity of AI-generated content and CRED’s willingness to push boundaries.
Hidden Brand Message
Beneath the chaos lies a simple promotional tie-up: during Asia Cup matches, users who pay their credit card bills via CRED can win ice cream through a collaboration with Instamart. However, as with many CRED ads, the connection to its actual business—credit card bill payments—remains obscure.
Why CRED Chooses Absurdity
CRED’s formula is straightforward: make something so weird that people can’t help but talk about it. This strategy ensures social media buzz, meme creation, and free publicity. But the trade-off is that many viewers still don’t know what CRED’s core service really is.
Final Thoughts
CRED’s new Gambhir ad is bizarre, surreal, and almost grotesque. Yet, it is precisely this oddball approach that keeps the brand in conversations long after the ad airs. Whether this helps people remember that CRED is a credit card bill payment platform, however, remains debatable.
Also Read: CaratLane Launches Pujo Film Maayer Aashirbaad, A Romantic Ode to Bengal
