Team News Riveting
With its catchy jingles and quirky products, Popy Kuda or umbrella has become a household name across Kerala.
From baby size to Bluetooth connectivity, Kerala’s Popy umbrellas have explored every level of innovation in the past two and a half decades. It has transformed the identity of the umbrella from being a mere commodity into a ‘must-have’ product.
The product that has grabbed the fancy of entire state has a fascinating story, especially about the brand name “popy”.
The history of Popy traces back to the 1950s when Thayyil Abraham Varghese, fondly known as ‘Kuda Vavachan’ started the St George umbrella manufacturing brand in 1954 at Alappuzha.
Abraham Varghese passed away in 1968 resulting in the splitting of Kerala’s local umbrella industry’s first family – the Thayyils. Two grandsons of Thayyil Abraham Varghese branched out. Davis Thayyil formed Popy Umbrella Mart and his cousin Joseph Thayyil created Johns Umbrella Mart.
The two brands have been churning out the quirkiest of umbrellas, enjoying the lion’s share of the market at over 70 per cent together and with a turnover of over Rs 100 crore each in recent years.
Davis Thayyil’s son, Kevin Thayyil, stepped into the family business last year.
“My grandfather’s younger brother was diagnosed with down syndrome and couldn’t speak until the age of 8. One of the first words he said was ‘Popy’ referring to his favourite colourful tangy fruity candies- Poppins,” says 24-year-old Kevin. This is how the name of the brand came into being.
Ever since its inception in 1995, Popy has been on top of their game when it came to marketing and were one of the first few brands in Kerala in the 90s to go with catchy jingles and ads that caught the attention of adults and children alike.
“Mazha Mazha, Kuda Kuda, Mazha Vannal Popy Kuda (Rain rain, umbrella, umbrella. When the rains are here, it’s time for Popy umbrellas) – this jingle became an anthem for 90s kids in Kerala. Over the years popy umbrellas, which developed 150 models in two decades, became a cultural icon for Malayalis all across the world.
When Tata launched the Nano car in 2009, Popy was quick to launch their very own ‘Popy Nano’ umbrella which the brand claims to be the ‘world’s largest small umbrella’. Priced at Rs 600, this three-fold umbrella measures up to a palm’s size (16cm), and became a big hit that season.
very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you