·
The powerful film reinforces that mosquitoes as unwelcome
intruders and urges households to prevent their breeding inside and around
their homes
Mumbai : Mosquitoes
and the diseases they spread continue to pose a serious public health challenge
in India. Yet their presence has become so routine that it is often ignored.
With the belief that mosquitoes should not be treated as harmless visitors, Godrej
Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has, as part of its CSR initiative Elimination
of Mosquito Borne Endemic Disease (EMBED), launched a public service film
titled ‘Machar Hai, Mehman Nahi’ urging households across India to rethink how
easily mosquitoes are allowed into everyday spaces. This CSR initiative is in line
with GCPL’s impact-oriented culture that focuses on creating real change for
communities.
Mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya
continue to affect millions across India each year. According to national
health data, India reported over 1.13 lakh dengue cases in 2025 alone, underlining the urgent need for stronger community
awareness and preventive action beyond the monsoon season.
Inspired by India’s deep-rooted tradition of hospitality, where
guests are welcomed with warmth and respect, the campaign turns this cultural
instinct on its head. ‘Machar Hai, Mehman Nahi’ (A mosquito is not a guest)
reminds households that not every visitor deserves an invitation. The film
creatively reinterprets the iconic phrase ‘Padharo Mare Desh’ into ‘Na Padharo
Mare Desh’, reinforcing the message that mosquitoes should never be welcomed inside
homes. It draws attention to how everyday habits, such as stagnant water in
coolers, uncovered buckets, or neglected corners around homes, can unknowingly become
breeding grounds for mosquitoes. By reframing mosquitoes as unwelcome intruders
rather than harmless visitors, the film encourages families to adopt simple
preventive practices to keep their homes and communities safe.
Commenting on the film, Sudhir
Sitapati, MD and CEO, Godrej Consumer Products
Limited, said, “Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major public health
concern. It requires collective awareness and sustained behavioural change.
Through ‘Machar Hai, Mehman Nahi’ we wanted to use a cultural insight that
resonates deeply with Indian households. By rethinking the idea of hospitality,
we hope to inspire people to take simple but effective preventive steps that
keep their homes and communities safer.”
Creative storyteller Swati Bhattacharya, who conceptualised and wrote the campaign film, said, “ In India,
hospitality is not just a tradition - it is an instinct. Just like we welcome
guests, we also welcome mosquitoes with stagnant water and open rubbish bins. Lets
unfriend the mosquito and have an anti-hospitality qawwali - machhar hai
mehmaan nahin.”
At the heart of the campaign is a thought-provoking video film
that uses storytelling and cultural symbolism to encourage families to become
vigilant hosts by preventing mosquito breeding inside and around their homes. ‘Machar
Hai, Mehman Nahi’ will be activated through a multi-channel awareness program
including school engagement initiatives, community outreach drives, large-scale
wall art across Maharashtra, radio storytelling, and a national digital
movement encouraging citizens to ‘Unfriend the Mosquito’.
Link
to campaign video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LNO4OP9c_A