MxMIndia

Tag: BBH India

  • Vespa India has appointed BBH India as its creative partner

    Vespa India to ride on BBH creativity

    BBH has won the advertising account for the iconic scooter brand Vespa.  As a part of the global alignment, BBH India has been tasked with the development of communication for the brand to position it as a lifestyle product in the Indian market.

     

    On choosing BBH India as creative partner, Krishna MV, AVP Marketing, Piaggio (Vespa) said “Vespa is an iconic brand and is more statement of personality than a mode of transport. The brand requires strategic thought that’s different from traditional automobile category thinking. We have got BBH on board globally and in India to provide just that.”

     

    Said Subhash Kamath, CEO and Managing Partner, BBH India: “Vespa is a very cool and very stylish brand, we’re thrilled to partner them in India. BBH has always been known for creating ideas that travel across the globe to different markets and cultures. For Vespa too, we’re looking forward to making the global brand idea resonate with Indian consumers through some pathbreaking work.”

     

    Added Russell Barrett, CCO and Managing Partner BBH, “Vespa is a legendary brand that’s somuch more than a scooter. It’s a state of mind. What’s even more exciting, is the kind of modern, cool work we havebeen tasked to create for Vespa.”

     

  • BBH India is Viber's first creative agency and they will be in-charge of developing the brand architecture and positioning for the brand

    Viber India hands BBH its creative biz

    By a correspondent

     

    Following a multi agency pitch, Viber has awarded BBH India its creative mandate for the India business. Viber is one of the largest global free mobile calling and messaging apps. It has other features like sharing videos, photos, messaging using stickers, doodle a message and more. Viber is growing steadily and has a subscriber base of 300 million registered users globally, of which 16 million are from India.

     

    BBH India is Viber’s first creative agency and they will be in-charge of developing the brand architecture and positioning for the brand. And will be rolling out engagement modules across traditional and new age platforms that are consumer focused.

     

    On choosing BBH India as their creative partner Anubhav Nayyar, Country Head, Viber India said, “Viber as a brand has been growing rapidly, especially over the last six months in India. We were looking at a creative partner that understands this category and is disruptive in their thinking. After evaluating a number of agencies, we believed BBH India had the best understanding of our requirements and was therefore the preferred choice.”

     

    On the win Sanjay Sharma, Head Planning, BBH India said, “IM apps are increasingly becoming the most important aspect of a mobile phone and this is creating a lot of energy in this category. We are very happy to partner Viber and look forward to create some exciting work.”

     

    On the pitch, Russell Barrett, CCO and Managing Partner BBH said, “When you have fun, it reflects in the work. And we had a blast on the Viber pitch. The trick is to keep having fun as we go on to create the work that a global, dynamic, exciting brand like Viber needs.”

     

  • The hardback depicts the award winning artwork of Kyoorius Awards, 2O13

    Kyoorius Launches “Great Ideas Sold-Here. There Everywhere”

    By A Correspondent

     

    After the success of the 9th annual edition of Kyoorius Designyatra, Kyoorius, a not-for-profit initiative by Transasia Fine Papers, has launched ‘Great Ideas Sold – Here, there & everywhere’, a hardback showcase of the winning and nominated works of the Kyoorius Awards 2013.

     

    The volume is divided into sections, namely Design for: Identity, Packaging, Communications, Digital, Space, Books, Editorial, Photography and Craft (photography, calligraphy, illustration and typography)

     

    At the awards show held in August this year, the Black Elephant (best of show) winners featured two projects – Dekho by Co.Design and the Temple Pavilion Installation by Abhin Design Studio.

     

    The Blue Elephant winning agencies featured in the book include works by:

     

    O&M, New Delhi, Leo Burnett Mumbai, BBH India, Alok Nanda & Company, NH1 Design Pvt. Ltd, Umbrella Design and DDB Mudra Group amongst others.

     

    Rajesh Kejriwal

    Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO, Kyoorius said, “Good Ideas Sold- Here. There. Everywhere.” is the culmination of the Kyoorius awards initiative to bring to the corporate spotlight the best design work that comes out of the country. Through this platform we hope to reward the finest talent in Indian design landscape and also inspire professionals by setting up a high benchmark of creativity.”

     

  • India produces digital radio spots to promote The Skoda Rapid Leisure and then converts them to digital to reach a wider audience

    BBH converts radio spots to digital content for Skoda

    By A Correspondent

     

    How do you ensure that a great idea travels far and gets noticed?

     

    BBH India created a series of radio spots to launch the limited edition Skoda Rapid Leisure which comes loaded with a host of features including a rear view parking camera.The spots were received well on radio, but the agency wanted to reach a wider audience. They realised that nobody (outside of advertising) ever shares a radio spot online. The challenge was to convert the audio spots into visually interesting digital content.

     

    Said Russell Barrett, CCO and Managing Partner of BBH India: “It’s clear that to reach a wider audience, your idea needs to be media agnostic. A genuine idea should cut across languages, cultures and media as well. Thankfully with Skoda, we have clients (Kamal Basu and his team) who believe in the same philosophy. They agreed that a video rendition of an audio idea was an exciting, new way to approach communication in today’s age. We also lucked out with the talent we could tap in to at BBH with the likes of Manish Darji, Yohan Daver, Sushma Joseph, Hitesh Kalia and the rest of the team on Skoda. I’m actually really excited about the implications of this kind of project. It’s clear that low budget need not mean low quality.”

     

    Credits:

    Chief Creative Officer: Russell Barrett

    Executive Creative Director: PuneetKapoor

    Director: Sushma Joseph

    Creative Director Art and Illustrator: Manish Darji

    Copywriter: YohanDaver

    Agency Executive Producer: Hitesh Kalia&Sushma Joseph

    Account Director: Anirban Mukherjee

    Account Manager: SuraviPradhan

    Account Planner: Kanishk Kabiraj

  • BBH India will be the creative agency for 'Romedy Now' with credo being LOVE.LAUGH.LIVE

    Times TV to launch Romedy Now in mid-Sep + Jaldi 5 with Ajay Trigunayat, CEO, English Ent Channels

    Ajay Trigunayat, Harsh Sheth & Sunil Lulla at the launch of ROMEDY NOW

    By A Correspondent

     

    It was a well-guarded secret and the invitations didn’t quite reveal what the channel was all about. Media conglomerate Bennett, Colmean & Company Limited (better known as the Times of India group) announced an all-new English entertainment channel: Romedy Now. Catering to urban, upscale audiences, the channel will offer a combination of ‘Love and Laughter’.

     

    Speaking to the media, Sunil Lulla, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Times Television Network, said, “We at Times Television Network, are excited to strengthen our footprint in the English entertainment category with the launch of Romedy Now. The success of Movies Now highlights the tremendous opportunity that the category presents, with both viewers and advertisers.”

     

    Jaldi 5 with Ajay Trigunayat, CEO, English Ent Channels, Times Television: People watching shows through downloads and internet streaming are negligible
     

    01. And we all thought there was a downturn, advertising was bad. Etc, etc, etc. And you are launching a channel, which isn’t mass, it’s not exactly uncluttered though there may be no clear romcom positioning. Comments?

    The downturn is not impacting the English entertainment category – which caters to the urban mass. The category is definitely not niche, 6 crore people watch this category every week and it is growing at a healthy rate of 98%.

     

    We don’t utilise positioning as a brand management tool. The brand identity is pivotal to the insight that life is about love & laughter crystallised in 3 words – ‘Love. Laugh. Live.’ brought to life in Warm golden yellow.

     

    02. Romcom in the English entertainment space has had some trouble with the BCCC and various regulatory complaints. So: how are you going to get around that?

    It is not love and laughter content but voyeuristic content which is objectionable to the viewer. We don’t encourage voyeurism on our channels

     

    03. One of the issues in this genre is people watch shows on the internet much before the show’s aired here. Any thoughts on beating that? How current will be your shows (season-wise)?

    People watching shows through downloads and internet streaming are negligible in numbers. Average downloads per show in India are less than 5000 and the highest ever is 37000. English television reaches out to 6 crore people for 60 minutes.

     

    We will be offering the shows within a short span of 24-72 hours of US/international telecast. Other shows which may be repeated are determined by the popularity of the show and viewer demand.

     

    04. Do we see ‘Made in India’ content?

    Not yet, we have considered this but we will not execute this for some time.

     

    05. Any tie-ups with international production companies/channels for content?

    All key studios, example Warner, Fox, MGM, Regency and 40+ mid/small size distribution tie ups are in place.

     

    Added Ajay Trigunayat, CEO, English Entertainment Channels: “We changed the game in the English movie category by challenging the status quo with the launch of Movies Now. Extensive research has revealed, the audience is seeking highly differentiated and personalised content and the identification of this ground breaking shift of genres and the significant gap between behaviour vs. need, has led to the conception of Romedy Now.

     

    Elaborating on the brand, Harsh Sheth, Associate Business Head, said: “Romedy Now is the go-to destination for the ‘time-pressed’ urban masses who neglect the most important aspects of life -‘Love & Laughter’. Therefore,the essence of the brand, ROMEDY NOW, is crystallised in three words -‘LOVE.LAUGH.LIVE.’ brought to life in warm golden yellow.”

     

    The channel – to launch in mid-September – will be launched in standard definition and high definition (HD) and across all distribution platforms. There is a strong marketing plan as the the channel will utilise the combined strengths of the Times Television Network and the Times group publications at the time of the launch. BBH India is the creative agency.

     

  • DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund has brought on board BBH India to handle its creative mandate

    BBH India wins DSP Blackrock Mutual Fund

    By A Correspondent

     

    DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund has appointed BBH India to handle its creative mandate. The pitch was called for in June 2013 and involved six other agencies:  JWT, McCann, TBWA, Publicis, Ogilvy and Saints & Warriors.  BBH India will now be solely in-charge of developing the brand architecture and the brand positioning with DSP BlackRock, rolling out of the engagement modules across traditional and new age platforms that are consumer and distributor focused.

     

    On the win Aditi Kothari, Executive Vice President and Marketing Head at DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund said, “We believe that marketing can no longer remain a support function in the financial services world. It can truly bring differentiation and deliver business impact in the new world, if done the right way. BlackRock had recognized this last year and hence brought in a strong focus to build the brand globally. We at DSP BlackRock also understand this well and recognized the need to position ourselves the right way to the new, emerging India. Our pitch process was tough, since we knew that our new creative agencywill play an important role in laying down the foundation of a strong communication strategy. We are confident of achieving our objectives with our new partner BBH India”

     

    Subhash Kamath

    On the win, Subhash Kamath, CEO and Managing Partner BBH said, “We are absolutely delighted that DSP BlackRock has awarded us the account, it was a great pitch to win. In today’s economic situation, proper investment planning is becoming crucial for everyone and we are looking forward to partnering DSP BlackRock in meeting these challenges.”

     

    Russell Barrett, CCO and Managing Partner BBH said on the pitch: “All of us here at BBH had an absolute blast working on this pitch. That we had so much fun working on it, reflected in the work presented at the pitch itself. There’s nothing more satisfying than that. Now, we need to translate this win into great, creative, market moving work.”

     

    On the win Sanjay Sharma, Head Planning said, “Financial services communication is a sea of sameness. Despite a challenging regulatory framework we feel there is a definite opportunity to introduce new ideas, new conversations that capture people’s imagination and make them see the category differently. We are delighted to partner DSP BlackRock.”

     

  • The chosen songs bring out the emotion of the situation in the film so evocatively, feels Subhash Kamath

    The Anchor: Subhash Kamath on his favourite Rajesh Khanna songs

    By Subhash Kamath

     

    I do have a list of my favourite Rajesh Khanna songs. I love them as these songs are incredibly well written along with absolutely brilliant lyrics and compositions. These songs also bring out the emotion of the situation in the film so evocatively.

     

    Here goes my list:

     

    Chingari Koi bhadke from Amar Prem
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpM0jPd6-7w[/youtube]
    Kuch to log kahenge again from Amar Prem
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95UdAo4JdJI[/youtube]
    Nadia se daria from the movie Namak Haraam
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Vl6pNCE8U[/youtube]
    Zindagi kaisi hai paheli from the movie Anand
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vgDb4TQneA[/youtube]
    Mainetere liye hi saat rang ke sapne again from the movie Anand
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC8DuvNCjbY[/youtube]
    Yeh Shaam mastani from the movie Kati Patang
    [youtube width=”500″ height=”250″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sZg4EUB3IM[/youtube]

     

    As for the dialogue, the favourite will always remain the one from Anand… Babumoshai, Zindagi ek rang manch hai aur hum sab is rang manch ki kathputliyan hain…. The role played by Rajesh Khanna was really powerful, one of a dying man who had the ability to still laugh and make others laugh. I remember a scene in the movie where he makes light of his illness and Amitabh Bachchan in total frustration says, “Agar main kahoon ki tumhein lymphosarcoma of the intestine hua hai toh?” and Rajesh Khanna just smiled and says, “waah waah, baabumoshai, bimaari ho to aisi.” I think it was incredible how he delivered his dialogues and performed his role in the movie Anand.

     

    Subhash Kamath is the Managing Partner at BBH India. He is also passionate about music and is part of a music band called Wanted Yesterday.

     

  • The Publicis Groupe’s 100 percent acquisition of BBH will not impact India operations, we are told

    It’s business as usual at BBH India

    By A Correspondent

    It is business as usual at BBH India post the agency’s acquisition by Publicis Groupe. The Publicis Groupe which previously held 49 per cent stake in BBH has upped its stake to 100 per cent. In another related development, Publicis Groupe has also acquired 100 percent stake in NEOGAMA/BBH.

     

    Partha Sinha, Managing Partner, BBH India, told MxMIndia: “Nothing changes as far as BBH India is concerned. The shareholding pattern remains the same and we continue to report to BBH global leadership based out of London.”

     

    In an official communique on the BBH site, Nigel Bogle, Founder of BBH, said: “The decision was very clear. We were looking for an opportunity that would ensure that our agency maintained a high degree of autonomy and could continue to abide by the values characterized by the black sheep. The key point for us was the preservation of our operational independence in managing the BBH brand, which has produced almost uninterrupted growth for thirty years. The new ownership not only ensures our autonomy, but brings us considerable advantages through Publicis Groupe’s resources and global infrastructure.”

     

    BBH was launched officially in India in the year 2008 with much fanfare with Priti Nair, Partha Sinha and Subhash Kamath taking the role as managing partners. However, Nair has since moved on to her own venture. Mr Sinha and Mr Kamath continue to steer the India ops.

     

    Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) is known for its creative work. Founded in 1982 by John Bartle, Nigel Bogle and John Hegarty, the agency has been steadily expanding its footprint and now has offices in London, New York, Sao Paolo, Singapore, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Mumbai.

     

    Read Advertising Age interview with Mr Nigel Bogle where he says: “Publicis Groupe can never merge us with another agency. They can’t make us take business we don’t want to. We’re not obliged to pitch for anything. They can’t move us into one of their buildings.”

     

    Link: http://adage.com/article/global-news/questions-bbh-s-nigel-bogle-publicis-deal/235781/

     

  • Four leading media agency heads pick their top print ads of last year… in an extract from Dainik Bhaskar's Mosaic 2011

    The Best of Print Ads – 2011

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    You may have seen only a few of them and probably even forgotten the underlying message that the campaigns had to tell. But now you could make a dash to have a hard copy of MOSAIC, a compilation of the Best in Print (campaigns) to have hit India n shores in 2011. The compilation has been put together by 23 creative agencies who have submitted their best pieces of work for the category in 2011. Conceptualised by Sanjeev Kotnala and team from the Dainik Bhaskar Group, the initiative has been made special through the “insights” and “personal favourite” sections that have been provided by Media agency bosses. These include Lynn de Souza of Lintas Media Group, Mallikarjun CR, CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group, PM Balakrishna, Chief Operating Ofiicer, Allied Media and Punitha Arumugam, Director – Agency Business, Google India.

     

     

    Lynn de Souza, Chairman and CEO, Lintas Media Group, Chairman, Aaren Initiative and Director, Karishma Initiative

    “An excellent idea to recreate interest and remind all about the power and impact of the print medium. My only reservation is that there were too many submissions of ‘pretty pictures-pithy headlines’ work that may or may not have been published and did not appear to fully grasp how the medium must be used effectively.”

     

    TOP 5 Choices:

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    1) DNA – ISKCON (Scarecrow India)

    Reasons for choosing: The intelligent use of the cigarette-turned-food visual immediately targets the smoker and invites him/her to contribute in a very simple way to a cause that benefits both beneficiary and the giver – something not easy to achieve. I like the simple, clean look of the ad and the directness of the headline and copy.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    2) Flying machine “What an Ass” (Lowe)

    Reasons for choosing: This is my idea of perfect ad! One that has used all the elements of the print medium – headline, visual, copy to present a bold, modern attitude through a perfectly harmonised contribution of all three. It’s an unmissable ad whether you are a guy or a gal.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    3) Parker – Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards (Lowe)

    Reasons for choosing: A stark headline supported by the simple bottle of ink that says it all. An attention grabbing reminder of the power of the pen to influence the world. Perfect synergy for the subject – Journalism awards and the ‘always memorable’ image of a gold Parker fountain pen.

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    4) The Times of India – A day in the Life of India (Taproot India)

    Reasons for choosing: Fantastic art direction – great visual appeal that hooks you into reading the whole ad. The contemporary feel, using India n kitsch, with attention to detail, is riveting. (Check out the dog lifting his leg to pee on the bed of nails!) Bright, colourful, crowded yet not messy. I could read it again and again!

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    5) Vaseline ‘Dear Mr. Vaughan’ (BBH India)

    Reasons for choosing: The kind of ad that every Creative Director who woke up to it that morning would have said: “I wish I had written this”. There are some things you can do impactfully in a topical yet ‘permanent’ medium like print that you can’t do anywhere else, and this ad fits the bill. Nose-thumbingly outstanding!

     

     

    Mallikarjun CR, CEO, Starcom MediaVest Group

    “This is a fantastic initiative. As media agency professionals, our lenses to view the world are different. However, what comes across is that great creative work is universal. Really enjoyed it.”

     

     

     

    TOP 5 Choices:

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    1) Audi – World Cup (Creativeland Asia)

    Reasons for choosing: Great connect with the Champion’s Trophy ’85 win. Most of the target audience that can buy an Audi will connect immediately with that moment. For a lot of us India ns, that was the first moment of connect with Audi.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    2) DNA ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (Scarecrow)

    Reasons for choosing: A nice calculus linking smoking to food relief. Very innovative, eye catching visuals.

     

     

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    3) Indigo Campaign (Weiden+Kennedy)

    Reasons for choosing: Stark, consistent visuals. The colours, space everything reflects the qualities of the airlines. Nice word play that grabs your attention and makes you read the copy. The reference to price is as value and not cheap.

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    4) Nissan Micra (TBWA\ India)

    Reasons for choosing: Simple stark visuals. Driving home the relevance of a small car without talking price, affordability etc. Great, understated use of a celebrity.

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    Reasons for choosing: Great expedient use of Michael Vaughan’s comment. Superb cut through and great visuals.

     

     

    PM Balakrishna, Chief Operating Ofiicer, Allied Media

    “I think this is a wonderful initiative and exposes the fantastic creativity. It is a very different platform as it is more an appreciation of great work rather than a competition as I believe each creative is great on its own.”

     

     

     

    TOP 5 Choices:

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    1) Bajaj Fans (Leo Burnett)

    Reasons for choosing: The best part of this creative is the way it has integrated everyday common issues and weaved them into the core communication of the product. The creative is also very well crafted visually using the very cause of the product making it very effective.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    2) Birla Cellulose (Salt Brand Solutions)

    Reasons for choosing: The sheer aesthetic treatment to the communication draws you and I like the beautiful and colourful way the creative has used nature and the human body (woman). It brings out the environmental friendly nature of the product in a very soft and appealing manner.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    3)Fuji(Grey)

    Reasons for choosing: Colour and background are intrinsic material for any great creative and nothing better than drawing inspiration from Mother Nature and wildlife. The beautiful use of the animals brings the message home effectively and creatively and connects with any photographer or photo enthusiast.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    4)NipponPaints (JWT)

    Reasons for choosing: They say a great picture is worth a thousand words and the effect is breathtaking when it is beautifully woven into the message making the communication very compelling and effective. In this case the product USP, a central factor in the category has been brought home very beautifully for correct impact.

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    5) Zee 24 Taas (Draftfcb Ulka)

    Reasons for choosing: Ganpati Bappa has a significant connect with the India n diaspora and especially with Maharashtrians who revere the elephant God. I like the way the creative has beautifully engaged the viewers in an innovative and personal manner and makes it unique and different.

     

    Punitha Arumugam, Director – Agency Business, Google India

     

    “This initiative continues the long tradition of Dainik Bhaskar – breaking boundaries and setting new trends in the industry.”

     

     

     

     

     

    TOP 5 Choices:

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    1) DNA Mumbai Marathon (Scarecrow)

    Reasons for choosing: The power of long copy. It brings back memories of the old era, which was marked by a great headline and the power of long copy. It inspires and bonds with its audience.

     

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    2) Murphy Richards epilators (Contract)

    Reasons for choosing: The power of a picture. The visual intrigues, makes you pause, demonstrates the benefit and brings a smile – all this without a single word.

     

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    3) MTR Spicy Pickle (Ogilvy)

    Reasons for choosing: The power of insight. A true South India n like me will see this ad and can only say “How true!” Equating spicy with ‘tears’, the way the ad captures the cultural nuances – awesome!

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    4) Parker – Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards (Lowe)

    Reasons for choosing: The power of words. While most entries used the power of the picture, this ad stands out because it uses print for what it does best – leverage the power of words and intriguing headlines.

     

     

     

     

    Click on the picture for larger view

    5) Saffola Healthy Heart (McCann)

    Reasons for choosing: The power of an innovation. A great collaboration between the creative agency, the brand team, the media agency and the publication to convey the brand message interestingly and inclusively so as to trigger an action from the reader.
    Best of Print in Dainik Bhaskar Group’s MOSAIC
     

    Some may see India’s performance of bagging just four Press Lions at Cannes out of the 30 that were shortlisted as a drab effort, but then there are some who would like to think of it as being otherwise. After all, Press Lions as a category managed to get India its largest tally of four metals versus any other category at the awards – a valiant effort considering that India finished 2012 with just 14 metals in its kitty.

     

    While the category may have received its fair share of fame at the pinnacle of creative awards, many would agree that Indian adland has failed to laud the finesse that stems out from Print creatives over the years. While such is not the case in some large international markets where creative works across categories gets noticed and rewarded that gesture seems to be missing when it comes to India. Luckily for the creative frat in India, an opportunity to showcase their best works – besides the awards shows – were given a fillip by the Dainik Bhaskar Group that released the first of its kind creative compilation of the finest works produced in Print in the form of MOSAIC 2011.

     

     

    Elaborating on the initiative, Sanjeev Kotnala, VP & National Head, Dainik Bhaskar Group said, “This has been a first year for MOSAIC, which is a rich collection of 150 creative units part of 77 campaigns that have been submitted by 23 agencies.” The creative showcase has been made special through some individual comments and insights that have been posted by creative leaders of individual agencies.

     

    Elaborating on the thought process behind the compilation, Mr Kotnala said: “As a group, we believe that the Indian creative across mediums and media is of international standards, in its thinking, relevance and in its execution. Unfortunately there has been no single reference point for the same. MOSAIC bridges this gap and we would want it to be referred by the creative, clients, media and trade.”

     

    As for the method that was adopted in getting the agencies to submit their campaigns, Mr Kotnala said that it began with Dainik Bhaskar requesting the creative heads at the agency to send their best Print work. “They know better than us – as by placing it in MOSAIC affirms it to be their best work. Though we did have constraints on the number of campaigns we could place in Mosaic from a single agency. This has all been a by-invitation. On the other side, there were few agencies that sent lesser number of creative units as they felt others were not up to the standard to feature in such a compilation. So it was created and evaluated by the creative teams themselves.”

     

    On how print has evolved over the years as a medium, Mr Kotnala said: “Today print ads are working on all fronts of communication. They are not just for the purpose of awareness building or as a source of providing tactical information; they engage and involve the readers and are very result-oriented in their approach. We always held that the idea is more important than the medium. And it will automatically find its right medium for better efficiencies and effectively delivery of the message.”

     

    In fact, the compilation has been made special with the involvement of four media agency heads who’ve provided their assessment of the campaigns. They include Lynn De Souza, Chairman and CEO, Lintas Media Group, Chairman, Aaaren Inititative and Director, Karshma Initiative; Mallikarjun CR, CEO, Starcom Mediavest Group; PM Balkrishna, Chief Operating Officer, Allied Media and Punitha Arumugam, Director- Agency Business, Google India.

     

    With the first edition already finding appreciation within the industry, the Dainik Bhaskar group have their task cut out for the next year too. On his plans for a sequel, Mr Kotnala said, “We would want to see more regional and language work in the collection – and they still should meet the standards set. We would and could try getting clients and media owners also picking their favourites and definitely may wish to incorporate a section on media innovations. Though we have taken the task and brought out the book, in our mind it is an industry level initiative and we would want to keep it that way.”

     

    Mosaic 2011 can be accessed and downloaded at http://i10.dainikbhaskar.com /dainikbhaskar2010/books/ Final_Book.PDF

     

  • Five Indian entries found their way in the shortlists for four categories announced on Friday

    5 more shortlists give India some hope for an average finish

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    The current metals tally (wins) for India stands at 12 but the contingent is still trying its best to up the ante and get the number to a respectable position. With six more shortlists being announced from India on day 5, it looks like India would have to settle for its 2010 score of 17 metals, or less. But luckily, it would not be as bad as 2007 where it managed only 12 metals against its name.

     

    The big news for the day came from Taproot India as its works received three shortlists against its name with the best being an Integrated shortlist for ‘A day in the Life of India.’ There is high probability that the entry will strike a metal this year.

     

    In the Film Craft Lions category, India received two shortlists including BBH India’s entry for its client Google Chrome under the category of Art Direction. The second entry to be nominated was Ramesh Deo Productions’s entry for its client The Times of India titled ‘I am Mumbai’. The entry has been nominated under the category of Direction.

     

    Making its first appearance, the Branded Content & Entertainment Lions was the other category to have announced its shortlists. The category had received a total of 18 entries from India. Of the lot, just a single entry by Bacardi India for its work around ‘The Dewarists’ has been shortlisted. A total of 800 entries from 52 countries have been submitted into the Branded Content & Entertainment Lions category in its launch year.

     

    In the Film Lions category, of the 56 entries that were sent from India – last year it was 61 – only one entry has been shortlisted. Taproot’s ‘I am Mumbai’ campaign for Bennett, Coleman & Co is the only Indian entry that has found favour with the judges so far. A total of 257 entries have made it to the final shortlist of the Film Lions category this year out of the 3,475 entries that were sent.

     

  • It's time for the 59th Cannes Lions, the true festival of creativity. Presenting a curtain-raiser and a kickstart of MxMIndia's coverage

    Heading high towards Cannes 2012

     

     

    By Shubhangi Mehta

     

    In its 59th year, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which will take place from June 17 till 23, is considered the largest worldwide gathering of advertising professionals, designers, digital innovators and marketers.

     

    Every year in June, around 9,000 registered delegates from 90 countries visit the fest to celebrate the best of creativity in brand communication, discuss industry issues and network with one another. Thousands of ads from all over the world are showcased and judged.

     

    Inspired by the International Film Festival, staged in Cannes since the late 1940s; a group of cinema screen advertising contractors from the Screen Advertising World Association (Sawa) felt that the makers of advertising films should be recognised similarly. They established the International Advertising Film Festival, the first of which took place in Venice in September 1954, with 187 entries from 14 countries. The lion of the Piazza San Marco in Venice was the inspiration for the Lion trophy.

     

    Cannes Lions juries are drawn from experts in each field from around the world. Each jury is headed by a jury president. They judge submissions in Film, Film Craft, Media, Press, Outdoor, Cyber, Promo & Activation, Direct, Design, Radio, PR, Creative Effectiveness and Titanium and Integrated.

     

    Inspiring creativity is at the heart of Cannes Lions. The Festival is where creative professionals come to debate, learn and be inspired; where the greatest industry honours are bestowed; where those pushing creative communications forward are celebrated. Amongst the featured agencies this year are names such as BBDO India, Leo Burnett India, DDB Mudra, TBWA India, JWT India, BBH India, Taproot India, Publicis India, Contract Advertising, Grey India , Happy Creative Service and Ogilvy India.

     

    Since the past couple of years, India has been doing fairly well at Cannes due to which the expectations are increasing with each passing year. Hence MxM India tried to find out what the experts think are India’s chances in the run for metals at Cannes Lions this year.

     

    Russel Barret
    Ashish Khazaanchi
    Kartik Iyer
    KV Sridhar
    Rajiv Rao
    Senthil Kumar
    Jishnu Sen
    Josy Paul

    Russel Barret, Managing Partner, BBH India, said: “India matches up to any other country when it comes to creativity. What we lack is the space between ideas and execution. The factors that affect it are probably budget and time. I am really hopeful that we will win just like any other agency which sends their work. Though out of all the Indian work that I have seen, the Tide (print) by Leo Burnett India and OOH Iconic poster by Mudra are my favourite works.

     

    Ashish Khazaanchi, NCD, Publicis Ambience was optimistic: “Our country has had some good and some not so good years at Cannes, but there has never been an extremely dreadful year for our country. India is amongst the countries having ‘great creative talent’ and the proof is the Grand Prix in the past. Our agency has done wonderfully at Cannes, but this year our focus was mostly on agency growth. My preferred work for this year would be Fox Crime ad and Gandhi booklet by Leo Burnett.

     

    Karthik Iyer, Owner, Happy Creative Service felt awesome: “Any agency would, to get recognition from the world’s best creative leaders on a global scale. India never lacked ideas, for sure. But I think more attention can be paid to craft. That’s an area we always get beaten, either because of the lack of time, budget or both. When it comes to my favourite work, there are so many it would be unfair to point a few. But a few that come to mind – Coke Studio Entry of the music from Coke bottles DM, I absolutely love that piece, Fox Crime should pick up something, Bajaj Exhaust fans and Sour Marbels to name a few.

     

    KV Sridhar aka Pops, NCD, Leo Burnett, India maintained: “The only place where our country lacks is exploring the new medium ideas such as digital. We focus more on the conventional mediums rather than the non-conventional ones, unlike countries in Latin America. The chances of India collecting metals at Cannes Lions are more in the categories like design, photography and sound design. For me the magic creators are Killer Jeans, Tide and Bajaj. I feel this will be a good year and we might get close to 20 odd metals, but we cannot regard it as a record breaking year. I’m hoping for the best for Leo – especially for properties like Tide, Coke Studio, a couple of Radio spots and Thums Up for branded content.

     

    Rajiv Rao, NCD, Ogilvy India said: “I think Indian work is absolutely fantastic, hence it does so well in the Indian market. The scenario in our country is such that we need to do a specific kind of work to appeal to our consumers, hence we do not appeal to the global jury at times. But that is not because of the quality of our work. All we need is to bridge our work in such a way that we appeal to the local masses as well as the international juries.”

     

    Senthil Kumar, National Creative Director JWT India was of the belief that they can only do their best and hope for God and the jury to do the rest: “Sure we have the potential but until the jury agrees, we won’t be striking heavy metal there. I have always believed that Indians are the most creative people on earth. We have to be more unabashedly Indian in our ideas and even in our ‘God is in the details’ execution. If only we’d stop aping the West and strive to unleash something very Indian every time, we’d have better chance at hunting down Gold Lions. This year, our creative hopes would ride on the following ideas: The Times of India Kerala Launch, RIN Eraser, Lifestyle’s Baddie bags, Nokia Recycle Films, and some other ideas that may just surprise the audience.

     

    From a potential point of view, these ads are the ones that could hunt down a few Lions for India this year: Google Chrome Tanjore, Mumbai Mirror, The Times of India Kerala Film & IPL 5 Carnival in Film Craft, The FOX Crime Series in Digital, the Nokia Recycle Viral Films, the Coffee House print work, the 3D Audi Website…

     

    Jishnu Sen, chief operating officer, Grey India, put forth his view: “The reason that the metal tally for India isn’t as high as some Latin American country is because of the international jury. Our work is always great and creative. Grey has done some great work this year with Killer Jeans and Cupid Condom. We are hoping to pick up some metals.”

     

    Josy Paul, Chairman and NCD, BBDO India felt: “India is a late entrant at Cannes, and taking that in consideration, we are doing fairly well and growing year by year. I am expecting the Gold and Silver winners from Abbys to do well at Cannes as well. As for my agency, Cannes is like a lottery, last year we did not expect to do so well, but we did. This year too, we are hoping our Gillette campaign would do well.”

     

     

    Main image: www.CannesLions.com