Scarecrow hosts AAM AADMI PARTY; felicitate unsung heros of Indian advertising
Passionate, dedicated and undoubtedly talented - are some of the words that come to mind when we think about the behind-the-scene heroes who have contributed immensely in moulding and bringing the Indian advertising industry to where it is today.
They belong to diverse and unique fields where they create their magic. From talented voiceover artists, speciality colourists, hair stylists, exceptional musicians, product window 
Given that the list of such deserving heroes is almost endless, Scarecrow got in touch with some of the stalkwarts of the fraternity and got their views and votes on why and who would they nominate as a true unsung hero.
On the evening of 6th February 2014, Scarecrow invited leading lights of the advertising fraternity, the marketing industry, film production, print production and other services to attend this momentous evening. The chief guests invited to hand over the award to the 24 deserving unsung heroes, included Bhaskar Das (CEO Essel Group), Rajiv Rao (NCD Ogilvy & Mather), Manisha Lath Gupta (Ex Executive Vice President and CMO - Axis Bank), Ajay Kakkar (CMO Aditya Birla Financial Services), Ajay Chandwani (Director, Percept Limited), Prashant Godbole (Founder – Ideas@work) and Ravi Deshpande (Founder – Whyness), Vikram Gaikwad ( Underdog ) and Rajesh Kejriwal ( Kyoorius ) amongst others.
The AAM AADMI PARTY was introduced by sending out the AAP Topis along with the invites. This created quite a bit of buzz on social networking sites and people started putting up their display pictures on Facebook with the AAP Topis.
1st colourist in India and the 1st Indian to operate the telecine machine. Started his career with Doordarshan as Asst. Engineer for maintenance and operation of broadcast equipment. In his 33 years of experience, has worked on over 15,000 ad films, from Mile Sur Mera Tumhara to Sony Cybershot.
Shyam Salgaonkar (Sally) - Editor
Began his career as an apprentice on Manmohan Desai’s movie ‘Toofan’, after which there was no stopping him. In his 25 year career he has worked on over 7000 ad films including unforgettable ads like Incredible India and Kerala Tourism. His BPL Live Wirefree film was screened internationally as a case-study for budding editors.
Deelip Khomane - Illustrator
Hailing from Khandali, a small village in Latur, did his G.D Art from Sir JJ School of Art. (First Class First, every year) and then started his 32 year long career as an intern with Ravi Paranjape. He has won over 20 international and national awards, including 4 Cannes Lions and also is the winner of the French Scholarship from the Central Government. His work for Mentos Sour Marbles ranks amongst India’s finest illustration-based campaigns of all time.
Milind Aglave - Retouching Artist
He started out with Ambience and has been with them for the last 18 years.
He is the first Indian to top the Luerzer’s Archives illustrator (re-toucher) list for both 5 and 10 years. His eye for detail and obsession for perfection makes him the most sought-after re-toucher in the country.
Some of his most celebrated work includes campaigns for Mentos, Maxwell Industries (VIP Hosiery), Lakme Elle 18, Hanes Innerwear, Daygum Tooth Gum, Western Union Money Transfer, Parachute Hair Oil and Sanctuary Magazine.
Joel & Gemma Fonseca - Product Window Stylists
His 30 year career started as a spot boy in Prahlad Kakkar’s production house and today he enjoys virtual monopoly in the world of pack-shot styling. Worked on almost every product category, with every DOP, food stylist and leading production houses in his career, by being a product stylist for over 5000 ad films. Creates his own rigs, customising them as per the nature of the product – there is a different one for pouring milk, water, salt etc.
His team comprises his wife (one of the industry’s most efficient and most-loved production manager), elder son (DOP) and a younger son who is assisting him.
Pratap Rath - Percussionist
One of the oldest and most sought-after percussionist in India. He started playing tabla at the age of 9 and gave his first stage performance at 12. He can play over 100 national and international innovative percussion instruments.
With 40 years' experience, he has worked with legendary music directors like Laxmikant-Pyarelal, R.D. Burman and Khayyam. Also on movies spanning from Jait Re Jait to the recent Dhoom 3.
His famous ads include Ambuja Cement (Boman Irani), Chotta Coke (Aamir Khan) and Cadbury’s Pappu Pass Ho Gaya.
Mili Fernandes - Hair Stylist
In her 40 years of experience has worked on ober 3000 ad films. She has styled the hair of every Indian glam doll. Kareena, Katrina, Anushka, Bipasha, Vidya, Malaika, Lara, Prachi Desai, Chitrangada, the list is endless. And now is offered work at an international level as well.
Shivananda Mohili - Rain Machine Operator
His 30 years of experience has made him the unofficial ‘Rain God’ of Indian film and advertising industry. He likes his job because it fascinates him that he can create rain; something that is only controlled by nature.
He developed love for films while accompanying his father to the Madras Studio, where the latter was the Chief Electrician. He created rain for the all-time classic love song featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Smita Patil – ‘Aaj rapat jaayein..’ The rain in films like 3 idiots and Hassi toh Phassi (upcoming) is also created by him.
Santosh Kharade - Illustrator
With 8 years of experience, he has sketched storyboards for over 1000 TVCs. Known for his impeccable detailing, his ability to exactly understand what the director has in mind and the value addition he does to each brief. Started as a freelancer, today runs a setup of 5 illustrators. He has also done storyboards for a feature film and illustrations for an animation film.
Tufail Ahmed - Producer
One of the youngest producers in the business with only 5 years of experience and has already worked on over 100 commercials. Two of his renowned works include Lifebuoy (Gundappa) and Silent National Anthem. Has also handled films for brands like Idea, Surf Excel, Tata Sky, Bajaj Discover.
Daisy Joseph -Production Coordinator
She began her career on the client side (Cadbury) after which she moved to O&M and soon started handling production. In her 19 years of experience, she has worked on almost every brand possible. She is the kinds who will go to any length to ensure that her job gets done impeccably. Be it hitting the streets to find fresh faces for Vodafone campaigns, finding a horse that could sleep or even a filmy chase of a red convertible because she was keen on using it in one of the films.
Some of her successful projects include: Vodafone Hutch Campaign, Cadbury (Girl dancing in the stadium ad), Hutch 2 numbers – Twin Campaign, Social awareness campaign – Adoption, Visa Go campaign.
Sahebrao Hare - Illustrator
His first project was for Western Union, where he was asked to give wind effect to national heroes on currency notes. It won him a One Show, got nominated in Cannes and got published in the Archive magazine. He has also done memorable campaigns for Elle-18, Union Bank and has designed the Scarecrow logo as well.
He also does Fine Arts and has his exhibitions in various art galleries like Nehru Centre of Art, Jehangir Art Gallery etc.
In his 14 year career, one of the most unusual gifts that he has ever received was a real bull from the client, for illustrating a bull for Fanta.
Miten Udeshi - Colourist
He trained in the Da Vinci colour grading system in Miami, Florida and then started his career at Prime Focus as an offline editor, before becoming one of the top colourists. In his 15 year career and with over hundreds of film under his belt, he has worked with the crème de la crème of the industry. Abinay Deo, Ram Madhwani, Bharat Bala, Prasoon Pandey, Aiyappa, Prakash Verma, Vinyl Mathew and Gajraj Rao to name a few.
He got his ‘big break’ when Abhinav Deo offered him a chance to work on Tata Sumo and Tata Safari commercials.
His most appreciated television commercials include: Nike – Traffic & Parallel Journeys, Tata Safari – Recliam your life, Tata Sumo Victa – Kuch log Sumo chalaate hain, Pepsi IPL Holi – Koi Nahi Bachega.
Sunil Yashwant Chalke- Studio Manager
Joined McCann in 1993, the year when the agency bagged the Coke account. He handled national level campaigns for Coke in the era when there were no computers or internet. In his 32 years of experience, he has lived day and night at Comart to ensure great quality of work.
He reportedly didn’t have a single meal at home for one and a half years. A phase when his life had a single-point agenda – come what may, “Coke ka ad jana hai”
Ninad Karkhanis – Print Production Expert
After completing his Diploma in printing technology from Sir JJ School of Arts, he used to work on a scanner and later shifted to the digital medium. There are very few people in the industry who can match his sense of colour and aesthetics.
With 25 years of experience, he is one of the key factors of Comart’s success, and the man behind the flawless printing of zillions of campaigns.
Joseph Paul – Print Production Manager
He is one of the most efficient and reliable print production manager in the business.
With 18 years of experience under his belt, he is a total team man who is equally loved and respected by his team and the industry. It is said, once he gives his word, he will go to any length to stick to his commitment.
Brij Bhushan Mehru – Legendary composer, producer and voice artist
With over 60 long years of experience, Brijji has been in the field of television since its inception in India. He is the man behind one of the most memorable tunes in advertising – the Lifebuoy tune, which also got adapted by 5 countries. He has scored music for 12 feature films and is currently producing shows from Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Pogo and Sony.
His awards and accolades include Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Lifetime Achievement Award by Abby’s and RAAPA and International Film Festival of Documentaries.
Jagdish Agarwal - Founder of Dinodia
A professional photographer, an entrepreneur and a visionary. He has travelled all over the country with BNHS and has taken over 10,000 pictures in 10 years.
In 1987, he founded Dinodia Picture Agency (DPA) to fulfill the need of Indian images in advertising and help fellow freelance photographers market their pictures. Today, DPA houses over 5 lakh images; from the year 1876 to present. Created a platform for over 200 professional and semi-professional photographers to market their work.
Shankar Narayan Iyer - Animal Trainer
An avid animal lover, his 20 year career began when a neighbour asked for one of his dogs for an ad film shoot. He got his big break when he cast his pet labrador ‘Tiger’ for Prahlad Kakkar’s Pepsi ad with Shahrukh Khan.
Today, he supplies animals of all kinds - dogs, cats, rats, butterflies, monkeys, cockroaches, worms, marmots, you name it. He has rendered services for over 200 movies and hundreds of ads.
His most challenging assignment includes finding 500 rats in 10 days, for the bakery scene in the movie Josh.
Worked as a trainer and actor for a Dutch movie – Zoop in India. And a Malayalam film, inspired by his life, will be launched soon.
Bipin Pandit – COO, The Ad Club
His 16 year career started by being an Executive Secretary and has got him to being the COO of Ad Club today. He has been honoured by Effies New York & Singapore, Ad Asia Korea & Singapore and National Institute of Event Management, for his exemplary handling of high-scale events.
Under his leadership, the Ad Club has transformed into an organisation that is in sync with modern technology. The automation of judging process, for instance.
This man of many talents, is extremely passionate about music and has launched a band called “Khumaar’ which performs live shows and has authored a coffee-table book on music as well.
Aarti Shirodkar – Manager, The Ad Club
She has been with The Ad Club since 1984, since a time when there was just 1 file in the whole office. The filing process, memberships, employee and member records have all been manually entered by her. Be it compiling complicated reels for Goafest, following-up with judges to ensure they turn up for judging- come what may, she can get any job done. Which is why, Mr. Ajay Kakar calls her 'the backbone of the Ad Club.'
Ratnakar Gowda - Voice Artist & Music Coordinator
He developed a love for the audio medium while working in Mehboob Studios as a canteen boy. In his 46 years' experience, he has worked with legends from all eras - Laxmikant-Pyarelal to A.R. Rahman. Currently he is working with names like Shantanu Moitra, Amit Trivedi and Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy.
Famous projects include: Parineeta, Bunty aur Babli, Taare Zameen Par.
Lalu Jaisingh – Founder, Lalu’s
Founded Lalu’s Audio Video Centre in 1982. Computerised and preserved over 100,000 commercials. Archived every commercial aired in India since 1982.
Today Lalu’s is the one-stop production company. Also caters to agencies from countries like Bahrain, Dubai and Sri Lanka.
Share
Facebook
YouTube
Tweet
Twitter
LinkedIn