Sylvestor da Cunha, creator of Amul Girl, passes away

Advertising industry veteran and creator of the iconic Amul Girl and the ‘Utterly Butterly’ campaigns, Sylvestor da Cunha has passed away. He had been MD of ad agency ASP.

It was in the year 1966 that Sylvestor da Cunha, along with illustrator Eustae Fernandes and Usha Katrak, and a few others, created the Amul Girl. The iconic moppet didn’t don her polka dotted dress in the first topical ad, but was seen wearing riding gear atop a racing horse with a slice of buttered bread in her hand. “Thoroughbread” said the ad in what has become clever play of words in every Amul Butter ad.

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The Amul Girl turned 50 years in 2016. She continues to give her tongue-in-cheek commentary on all things topical. The campaign is spearheaded by Sylvestor da Cunha’s son Rahul daCunha, who inherited the Amul campaign in the early 1990s.

Pavan Singh, General Manager – Marketing, Amul India, has announced the passing away of Sylvestor da Cunha in his LinkedIn account and has paid a touching tribute to the doyen of Indian advertising.