Aravind Laboratories

Aravind Laboratories is an Indian cosmetics manufacturing company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Its history is closely associated with Eyetex, a traditional and mass-market beauty brand built around kajal, kumkum, liquid saandhu and related products used in Indian personal adornment. The company traces its origins to 1938, when K. Vasudevan opened a small store in Triplicane and began producing kajal under the Eyetex name. Vasudevan had worked as an assistant to Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi, but the company’s subsequent development was driven by the commercialisation and manufacture of traditional cosmetic products rather than by a celebrity-led brand strategy. In its early period, Aravind Laboratories made kajal and kumkum in glass bottles. Its product range included kanmai, a shiny black substance applied around the eyes, and saandhu, a deep-red liquid used to draw bindis. The early business therefore connected established Indian cosmetic and cultural practices with packaged, branded retail products. The company’s products were initially sold through Pushpavanam Stores in Triplicane, providing a local retail base for its manufacturing activity. A significant ownership and management change took place in 1958, when the company was acquired by A. V. Srinivasan, a chemist. Aravind later established its first manufacturing unit at Ramapuram in 1968. That facility became the company’s principal factory and remained associated with its operations in later accounts. Manufacturing scale allowed the business to extend its traditional-product portfolio while retaining Eyetex as its principal consumer-facing identity. One of the company’s notable product innovations was the 11-in-one product, introduced in 1981. It presented eleven colours of liquid saandhu in a circular package, combining a traditional bindi-related cosmetic format with a broader choice of colours and a distinctive multi-item presentation. The product became one of Aravind’s better-known offerings and illustrates the company’s approach of modernising familiar Indian cosmetic categories through packaging and assortment. Aravind Laboratories broadened its activities beyond traditional eye and bindi products in 2002 by introducing Dazller colour cosmetics. The range included eyeliner, nail polish, lipstick, mascara, face wash, scrub and lip gel. According to the company information reported in the reference material, Dazller contributed 45 percent of Aravind’s turnover, making it an important second business line rather than a minor extension of Eyetex. The move positioned Aravind in more contemporary colour cosmetics and basic facial-care categories while preserving its connection to established Indian beauty products. The company has also been associated with value-oriented packaging and promotional practices. A 2007 report cited a turnover of ₹24.50 crore for that year and described Aravind as claiming an early use of a buy-one-get-one-free approach through a two-in-one pack sold for the price of one. That claim reflects the company’s emphasis on accessible pricing and promotional pack architecture, although the available material does not establish that Aravind was definitively the first business to use the strategy in the wider market. Eyetex continued to receive mainstream media exposure through entertainment sponsorship. In 2019, Eyetex was identified as the cosmetics partner of the ninth season of Star Plus’s dance reality programme Nach Baliye. The partnership connected the brand with a nationally visible television property and extended its marketing beyond retail packaging into branded entertainment. Available reference material does not provide sufficient information to document Aravind Laboratories’ current ownership structure, revenue, export footprint, executive team or detailed recent strategy. It is best characterised on the available evidence as an Indian, unlisted cosmetics manufacturer with a traditional-products heritage and a br…

Aravind Laboratories began in 1938 as a small cosmetics business in Triplicane, Chennai, established by K. Vasudevan. Vasudevan developed kajal under the Eyetex name and produced traditional Indian cosmetic preparations including kumkum, kanmai and liquid saandhu. Early products were packaged in glass bottles and sold through Pushpavanam Stores in Triplicane. The business’s initial identity was therefore rooted in eye cosmetics and bindi-related products that were already familiar in Indian beauty and adornment practices. In 1958, the company was acquired by A. V. Srinivasan, a chemist. Aravind subsequently expanded its manufacturing infrastructure, establishing its first manufacturing unit at Ramapuram in 1968. The Ramapuram site became associated with the company’s factory operations in later descriptions. This transition from a small retail-linked operation to a dedicated manufacturing business supported wider distribution and the development of packaged product formats. The company introduced the 11-in-one product in 1981. The circular pack brought together eleven shades of liquid saandhu, offering a larger colour selection in a single consumer product. It became one of Aravind’s notable products and represented the company’s continuing effort to refresh traditional cosmetic categories through packaging and product variety. Aravind expanded beyond its traditional Eyetex categories in 2002 with Dazller, a colour-cosmetics range. Dazller included eyeliner, nail polish, lipstick, mascara, face wash, scrub and lip gel. The range accounted for a reported 45 percent of Aravind’s turnover in the available reference material, indicating that contemporary makeup and related personal-care products had become a substantial part of the business. The company’s commercial approach also included multi-product packs and value promotions. A report concerning 2007 described Aravind as claiming an early use of a buy-one-get-one-free marketing strategy, implemented through a two-in-one pack sold at the price of one. The same material reported turnover of ₹24.50 crore for 2007. These figures and claims are historical and should not be interpreted as current financial information. Eyetex later used entertainment sponsorship to maintain consumer visibility. In 2019 it was the cosmetics partner for the ninth season of Star Plus’s Nach Baliye. The available material does not establish a detailed current corporate structure, export strategy, current leadership roster or present financial performance. On the documented history, Aravind Laboratories is an Indian cosmetics manufacturer whose portfolio combines the long-established Eyetex traditional-cosmetics franchise with the more contemporary Dazller colour-cosmetics line.

1. 2019Eyetex became Nach Baliye season 9 cosmetics partner

   Eyetex partnered with Star Plus’s ninth-season dance reality programme Nach Baliye.

   Source
2. 2002Dazller launched

   Aravind entered broader colour cosmetics and related facial-care categories with Dazller.

   Source
3. 198111-in-one introduced

   The company launched a circular package containing eleven colours of liquid saandhu.

   Source
4. 1968First manufacturing unit established

   Aravind set up its first manufacturing unit at Ramapuram in Chennai.

   Source
5. 1958Ownership transferred to A. V. Srinivasan

   Chemist A. V. Srinivasan acquired Aravind Laboratories.

   Source
6. 1938Business founded in Triplicane

   K. Vasudevan started the business with a small store and began making kajal under the Eyetex name.

   Source

An Indian cosmetics manufacturer combining traditional kajal, kumkum and bindi-related products with accessible contemporary colour cosmetics. Its market identity is anchored by Eyetex, while Dazller extends the portfolio into mainstream makeup and selected facial-care products.

• EyetexTraditional eye and Indian cosmetics1938

  Eyetex is Aravind Laboratories’ best-known product identity and originated with kajal production in 1938. The broader range is associated with kajal or kohl, kumkum, kanmai and liquid saandhu used for eye definition and bindi-related adornment. Its significance lies in converting familiar Indian cosmetic practices into packaged, branded products for retail sale.

• Eyetex 11-in-oneBindi and liquid saandhu cosmetics1981

  Introduced in 1981, the 11-in-one product combined eleven colours of liquid saandhu in a circular pack. It gave consumers a range of colour choices within one presentation and became one of Aravind’s identified popular products. The format reflects the company’s use of packaging and assortment to update a traditional cosmetic category.

• DazllerColour cosmetics and facial care2002

  Dazller was introduced in 2002 as Aravind Laboratories’ expansion into contemporary colour cosmetics and selected facial-care products. The documented range includes eyeliner, nail polish, lipstick, mascara, face wash, scrub and lip gel. The range was reported to contribute 45 percent of Aravind’s turnover, making it a substantial business line alongside Eyetex.

• 2019Nach Baliye season 9 cosmetics partnership

  India

  Eyetex was the cosmetics partner of the ninth season of Star Plus’s dance reality show Nach Baliye, giving the brand visibility through a nationally distributed entertainment programme.

  Outcome. The available material confirms the partnership but does not provide measured audience, sales or return-on-investment results.

  Source

• 2002Expansion into contemporary colour cosmeticsStrategy

  Aravind was historically associated with Eyetex kajal, kumkum and related traditional cosmetics.

  What changed. The company launched Dazller products including eyeliner, nail polish, lipstick, mascara, face wash, scrub and lip gel.

  Aftermath. Dazller was reported to contribute 45 percent of Aravind’s turnover.

  Source
• 1981Launch of the 11-in-one productProduct launch

  Aravind’s heritage included traditional liquid saandhu and bindi-related products.

  What changed. The company introduced a circular pack containing eleven colours of liquid saandhu.

  Aftermath. The product became one of the company’s identified popular offerings.

  Source
• 1958Acquisition by A. V. SrinivasanM&A

  The business had originated as a small Triplicane cosmetics operation founded by K. Vasudevan.

  What changed. Chemist A. V. Srinivasan acquired Aravind Laboratories.

  Aftermath. The company later expanded its manufacturing base, including a Ramapuram unit established in 1968.

  Source

• 2019Eyetex partners with Nach Baliye season 9

  Eyetex served as the cosmetics partner of the ninth season of Star Plus’s dance reality programme Nach Baliye.

  Campaign
  Source
• 2007Reported 2007 turnover

  The company was reported to have turnover of ₹24.50 crore for 2007. The figure is historical and is not a current financial measure.

  Other
  Source
• 2002Dazller colour-cosmetics range introduced

  Aravind expanded into colour cosmetics and selected facial-care products under the Dazller brand.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1981Eyetex 11-in-one launched

  Aravind introduced a circular pack containing eleven colours of liquid saandhu.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1968Ramapuram manufacturing unit established

  The company established its first manufacturing unit at Ramapuram, the site later associated with its factory operations.

  Other
  Source
• 1958Aravind Laboratories acquired by A. V. Srinivasan

  Chemist A. V. Srinivasan acquired the company, marking a change in its ownership and subsequent development.

  M&A
  Source
• 1938Aravind Laboratories founded in Triplicane

  K. Vasudevan began the business with a small Triplicane store and started producing kajal under the Eyetex name.

  Other
  Source

1. Aravind Laboratories
2. Aravind Laboratories v. V. Annamalai Chettiar
3. Aravind Laboratories v. V. A. Samy Chemical Works