Unforgotten Brands: Zandu
From its modest origins to its widespread recognition, Zandu has become a household name especially in pain relief
An Ayurvedic physician, philanthropist, and name connected with pain alleviation in India, Vaidya Zandu Bhatt is the progenitor of Zandu Balm. Vaidya Bhatt was well-known as the Maharaja of Jamnagar’s personal physician. After being impressed with Vaidya Bhatt’s extensive knowledge and expertise in Ayurveda, the Maharaja gave him the task of curing the illnesses of the people of the realm. The legacy of Zandu Balm began with this.
The Maharaja bestowed a substantial financial bequest upon Vaidya Bhatt in 1864, acknowledging his competence, so that he could found the first Rasa Shala in Jamnagar. Many people believe this Rasa Shala to be the oldest Ayurvedic medicine factory in India. It is a one-of-a-kind establishment that prepares Ayurvedic medications. The creation of popular, Ayurvedic pain management methods that did not have any harmful side effects was made possible by Vaidya Bhatt’s extensive knowledge and expertise.
His descendants carried on the work of Vaidya Bhatt, whose Ayurvedic remedies were widely used for many years. But because they didn’t go for grand growth ambitions, their business was limited to Jamnagar. When Jugatram Sankarprasad Vaidya, grandson of Vaidya Bhatt, had the idea of turning the Rasa Shala into a massive pharmaceutical company serving a worldwide audience in the early 1900s, everything changed.
It was Jugatram Vaidya’s intention when he established Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd in 1910 to manufacture an assortment of Ayurvedic goods according to the guidelines in venerable books such as Charaka and Sushruta. In just ten years, Zandu Pharmaceutical has become well-known throughout the Indian subcontinent for its reasonably priced and highly effective pharmaceuticals.
Zandu Balm, the principal product of Zandu Pharmaceuticals, became well-recognised as an effective means of alleviating pain upon its introduction in the 1930s. Zandu Balm, made with classic Ayurvedic components like menthasatva, eucalyptus oil, and gaultheria oil, quickly became a staple in Indian kitchens. It became a household brand because of innovative marketing methods, such as catchy radio jingles.
The long history of Zandu’s traditional Ayurveda-based pain management remedies has carried over into other offerings from the brand. Zandu has grown over the years to provide a variety of Ayurvedic medicines, including syrups, vitamins, and more, all made in line with Ayurvedic principles.
With a history spanning five generations and forty million customers, Zandu Balm has earned a reputation for being safe and effective. Renowned for its flexibility in treating headaches, body pains, and colds, the balm has retained its position as a market leader in pain reduction. Zandu Balm is a trusted product among customers of all ages, especially millennials and Gen Z, for a variety of uses, such as relieving backaches and headaches or creating a steam inhalation when combined with water.
The 2008 acquisition of Zandu Pharmaceutical by Emami Ltd changed the parentage of Zandu Balm. The acquisition opened up new avenues for the brand’s expansion and development.
Munni
Another reason Zandu Balm became famous in 2010 was because it was mentioned in the lyrics of the song “Munni Badnaam Hui” from the movie “Dabangg.” “Main Zandu balm hui, darling tere liye” helped bring the balm to the forefront. The unauthorised use of the brand name led to an initial trademark violation case, but the parties involved eventually settled out of court. Emami signed Malaika Arora, who sang the song, as a brand ambassador, making use of the song’s success for marketing purposes.
Even while Zandu Balm had a solid reputation, to begin with, the link to the hit song increased its profile and ultimately its sales. In keeping with the inventive spirit of its originator, Vaidya Zandu Bhatt, and the lasting impact of his successors, Zandu Balm is still widely used as a pain cure today.
From its modest origins to its widespread recognition, Zandu has become a household name in over 5 crore households in India alone, thanks to its 2 million outlets. In many households, Zandu goes beyond being a mere brand—it becomes a reliable ally on the path to complete wellness.
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