The Hindu Business Line : Kaan Kholo

The call for entries for the Kaan awards (awards for excellence in radio advertising) from Radio Mirchi certainly has a very different creative touch. Designed as a booklet, it has illustrations of its very eminent jury. Or should we say, illustrations of a very pertinent part of the face of the eminent jury... the ear.

So, can one identify the jury member by the illustration of his or her ear?

Well, since we pay far more attention to other parts of the anatomy (like the face, we meant), we could not. Yet we enjoyed seeing the booklet, and must share our views on it with all you wonderful people.

Ganga (Gandharan Nair) was identifiable because of his characteristic flowing locks. So was Prahlad Kakkar, and the profile of his trademark Stetson made our job even easier. Piyush Pandey did not have his handlebar moustache in the illustrator's frame. Balki had a little of his unkempt beard along with his ear, Mohammed Khan had a little of his well-trimmed beard, Elsie as the only lady was easily identified. We didn't know Ravi Deshpande had such a small ear, and Prasoon Joshi such a shiny one.

Yet, all in all, everyone's listening. If we make it to the awards show, we'll talk about something other than ears.

Patrika Awards

The Concerned Communicators awards were presented by Rajasthan Patrika at the JW Marriot. There were a mix of creative, media (agency media types) and some agency heads present. The Kothari family (father and two sons) played the perfect hosts and the actual awards show began only closer to 9 p.m.

Actually, it must be quite a challenge organising an awards show where only a limited number of awards are to be presented, and the recipients are not expected to be stars. It needs the mandatory fillers like a song and dance routine, a couple of speeches and some repartee from the emcee(s). The show had all that. Gulab Kothari, Piyush Pandey and Anupam Kher did the honours as the speakers. Pandey reminisced that though his picture is seen in every paper (thank you for your modesty and honesty, Sir), he still treasures his first picture in a newspaper. Incidentally, for all you lovers of advertising trivia, it was a picture of Piyush as a promising Ranji Trophy cricketer that appeared in the Rajasthan Patrika.

Since the Patrika does not collect any money for its entries, this is something unique and could be encouraged. And yes, a team from O&M walked away with the winners' prize.

Awards games

Talking about awards and the games people play, we are still not 100 per cent sure of what is going on in what is now openly referred to as the Ad Club Bombay vs. the AAAI game. I don't think anyone knows. The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) sources seem to hint that Balki (Lowe) has not sent entries to the Ad Club Awards show. Ad Club sources do not deny that fact. They seem to take consolation from their hope that he will not enter the AAAI awards as well. Newspaper reports indicate he intends sending entries. If you ask us, the real scenario is precisely what your favourite column has been predicting all the while. It's really a battle of Pandey vs the Rest of India. If you can't beat Piyush at the Abby show, try and hijack the whole show. Those who are not entering the Abbys (Leo Burnett, Contract, McCann, Ambience, Enterprise, Mudra, TBWA and probably JWT) are secure in the knowledge that O&M will not enter the AAAI award.

One wonders what would happen if Piyush suddenly decided to enter all his work for the AAAI awards as well. What emotions would it evoke amongst those entering the AAAI award? Satisfaction, or fear?

So the final tally of those entering the Abby awards is what we have always said. O&M, Rediffusion, Grey, FCB. All the rest could be termed incidental. So does one call the Abby the most coveted national creative award or not? What a tragic turn to a brand lovingly built up over all these years by successive Presidents and their committees.

AAAI

ARVIND SHARMA

Of course, Arvind Sharma, the Chairman of the AAAI awards function, and Srinivasan Swamy, the President of the AAAI, have their own point of view. They have led the concept of the single award from the very beginning. The AdClub has not wanted to join hands, this year at least. They are now perfectly within their rights to host their own show in a bigger, grander way and carry on with life. Well, that sounds logical too. Anyway, would someone tell me if the AAAI has branded its award? As of now it is the Triple A Award, but we hear they are thinking of a new name and shape for their award.

Victoria

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