A day in the life of LIFE

Finally managed to attend the 29th Club Madras Ad awards, yesterday, at the Kamraj hall in Chennai. [information source about the event happening: mali]

The turnout was poor considering the fact that greater part of the audience belonged to the families of the ad agenices participating in the event.

Gautam, a school chum of mine was in the city and I thought I would pull him along too.

A group of office buddies also joined me after I promised them it would be exciting. (only to realize that they would have preferred watching a masala movie or a visit to a theme park). At least I liked the show, since it was different, in many ways.

I have been a great fan of advertising right since I was a kid. (Not exaggerating). In fact, I remember having participated in one of the contests organized by IIM Bangalore way back in 1991 - 92 when I was in Class IV, as part of some exhibition.

There were a lot of audio visuals, and we had to guess the ads correctly.Despite being a fourth grader, I had come out on top in that contest( courtesy : Doordarshan - The only manoranjan of that era) [No bragging : just plain facts :)] And I probably today would have been conceptualizing ads and creating punchlines, had I not been a " qualified Software Engineer".

The anchor of yesterday's show was our very own Lolla Kutty (of Channel V fame)in her bizzare designer saree (1000 disco lights embedded in 6 meters of cloth) and some Jolly Jagan (who ended up being Joker Jagan - The only good thing he did was calling upon the beautiful volunteer in the Red Saree [see photograph - second from above] which drew cheers from the crowds).

A few characteristic Mallu jokes were the order of the day.

There were several categories and a good number of entries, but many categories did not have nominations.

The awards ceremony was interspersed with some entertainment, with a dance troupe enacting how the art of advertising evolved, a Kalaripayattu performance and a "Show of Strength" (including folding a dosa pan, shreading telephone directories with bare hands et. al) by an Indian Body Builder training for the WWF.(World Wrestling Federation)

The best ad of the show award went to the ad featuring Air Deccan ( I love the slogan "Simplifly"). The agency was Orchard Bangalore.

Sharad Haskar( You will find his hoardings all along Mount Road - really good)from the agency "1 point size" won the award for Self Promotion.

There was a special tribute to Mr. K Viswanathan, a textile Engineer from IIT Delhi, Partner RMkV Silks, who passed away in a road accident this January. RMkV is known for its 50,000 colored saree, unique in the world.

The overall award for the maximum number of category wins went to "1 point size" and Mudra South were the runners up with a difference of 90 points.

Overall a good and different evening [you cannot ask for more , having payed 75 rupees], and what I have learnt is that next time not to pull (rather inform) people into something one personally considers "COOL". Each one to his own perception.
After all, not everyone is "Creatively Blessed".

I am leaving you with some images of the exhibition featuring the ads and some nice snaps of the show.

Do post your valuable comments as always.

Ashu.

P.S.- The first image is that of the team of "1 Point Size" receiving the honors from Mr. N Murali of The Hindu.

Also all images featuring the event [except the close up posters] have been shot from 15-20 rows away from the main stage - Just illustrates the power of the Sony Cybershot.