MUMBAI: It was McCann Erickson all the way at the Mirchi Kaan Awards that were held last night in Mumbai. The agency bagged 13 out of the 28 awards that were handed out. The agency also won the Radio Agency of the Year and the prestigious Crystal Award of the Year for its client Hanes (Sara Lee Apparels).
McCann-Erickson regional creative director (South and South East Asia) Prasoon Joshi took home the award of the Radio Writer of the Year. McCann's client Sara Lee Apparels walked away with the Client of the Year award. Salim Ghouse bagged the Radio Voice of the Year award for lending his voice to NDTV's "Juban Pe Sach, Dil Mein India" spots. (NDTV is also handled by McCann). And if that was not enough, McCann was also doused with the Production house of the Year award.
While speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Entertainment Network (India) Limited (ENIL) CEO A P Parigi said that the winning agency at the Mirchi Kaan Awards - McCann - will be nominating two people from the agency who will be representing India (and not McCann) at the Cannes International Advertising Festival, which will be held in June.
The evening started with stand up comedian Veer Das (who seems to have become a permanent fixture at any advertising awards) taking digs at the voices of Simi Grewal, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Connery, Usha Uthup and Marlyn Brando. He had the audience in splits especially when he was mimicking Marlyn Brando's voice.
As the evening progressed, awards in various categories were given out. In the beverages segment McCann and Leo Burnett won the joint Bronze for Coca-Cola Coke (Gabbar) and Complan (Father and Son) respectively. The Silver in the category was bagged by Leo Burnett for Complan (Nimbu) ad. No Gold was awarded in this category; however, the Silver in the campaign of the year in the beverages segment was bagged by Leo Burnett for Complan.
In the foods category, the bronze was bagged by Leo Burnett for Heinz Tomato Ketchup (Tapori) whereas the bronze in the campaign of the year in the foods segment was bagged by McCann, Delhi for Chatar Patar. In the toiletries and household care segment, Leo Burnett walked away with the bronze for Tide (Telephone), whereas Lowe bagged the sliver in the campaign of the year for Pepsodent Flexipick Toothbrush.
In the business product and services Lowe took home the bronze for Indiatimes (chat announcer). In the clothing, footwear and accessories McCann walked away the gold, sliver and bronze for Hanes (Shaadi - Panditji), Hanes (Mamaji) and Hanes (Stephney) ads respectively. No doubt the gold for the campaign of the year in this category also went to McCann for Hanes.
In the media segment, McCann yet again bagged the joint bronze for NDTV India (Zubaan PE Saach - Aankhen and Zubaan PE Saach - 4). The agency also won the silver for NDTV India (Zubaan PE Saach 2 - Duniya Ka Bazaar). The bronze in the campaign of the year in the media segment was also bagged by McCann for NDTV India.
In the home, décor and leisure category, Leo Burnett bagged the bronze for the Bajaj Bulbs (Sonu) ad. Redifussion DY|R walked home with the gold in the automotive and accessories category for Royal Enfield (Heart beat). In the sports, entertainment, travel and leisure segment RMG David bagged the silver for Great Singapore Sale Saleh.
In the public service/charity-fund raising, Leo Burnett bagged the gold and the silver for Promotion for Self Sufficiency of Dead & Mute Children (Man) and Promotion for Self Sufficiency of Dead & Mute Children (Woman) respectively.
Post the handing out of awards, Parigi pointed out that the audience must have noticed that there were many categories in which there were no awards given out. "The jury for the Mirchi Kaan Awards is the custodian for setting standards for excellence. The best will always win and there will be no compromise even if that means that there are no awards given out in certain categories."
The jury comprised Enterprise Nexus chairman Mohammed Khan, Prasoon Joshi, Contract Advertising chief creative officer Ravi Deshpande, Gangadharan Menon and Rekha Nigam. The official notaries of the awards were Ernest & Young.
When queried by Indiantelevision.com as to whether Indian radio ads stood a chance at the global level, Parigi said, "We sent some of the Radio Mirchi programmes and innovations to the Asian Global Awards and while last year we won the bronze, this year we bagged the gold. So it is just a matter of time before we take on competition globally."
"Global awards focus on television and print and now radio as a category has re-emerged. If Indians can win a Lion in the print and television segment, it is a matter of time when the same will be reflected in radio too," he added.
In its second year now, the Mirchi Kaan Awards received close to 340 entries as compared to the 245 received last year.
ENIL chief operating officer Prashant Panday said, "The objective of the Mirchi Kaan Awards is to salute excellence in radio creativity and it is very encouraging to see the originality and ingenuity of the creative guys in these award-winning entries. We at Radio Mirchi particularly endorse the awards as a mission to encourage radio advertising by honouring the people who have crafted excellent radio commercials based on writing, production and overall creativity."
