/Issue 2/2007

e-newsletter of

Percept Out-of-Home

Table of Contents

In the News 2-3

Awards & Accolades 4

Up Close 5

Special Feature 6

1 IN THE NEWS

Percept Profile bags 2 new significant PR mandates Ajay Chandwani inducted into 'Hall of Fame' from Maruti Suzuki Indy's, an Percept Profile bagged 2 new PR mandates from Maruti Suzuki - a w a r d the visit of Mr. O Suzuki, Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation to f u n c t i o n , India in February '07 and the annual Maruti Suzuki Rally Desert constituted to award excellence in Storm to be held from February 14 - 18, 2007. mass communication, was held on January 12, 2007 in Mumbai. The event Though being handled on a pan Indian basis, the assignments will saw the top creative and media persons primarily be driven out of the Percept Profile Delhi office. in the industry rub shoulders with mass Said Ms. Rahat Beri, COO, Percept Profile, “We are extremely communication students. A seminar on happy to be a partner of choice for Maruti Suzuki in handling both 'Trends in Marketing, Advertising and the assignments; especially the mandate of Mr. Suzuki's visit. It is Public Relations', was presented by by and large the most prestigious assignment that Maruti has ever industry stalwarts, including Ajay Chandwani, CEO, Percept/H, awarded to any PR agency in India.” and was followed by the awards presentation. “Our strategic approach coupled with expertise of handling Ajay Chandwani, CEO, Percept/H, in his presentation, explained mandates which involves huge logistical support helped us in the power of impact and exaggeration in advertisements by winning these assignments”, added Ms. Kavita Puri, Senior Brand showing some international as well domestic advertisements. The Consultant and Branch Manager, Percept Profile Delhi. Indian advertisements showcased, included the Happydent White and Xbox 360 commercials, while some advertisements of Honda P9 Integrated helps 'Guru' with brand associations and Sony were featured in the international section. Some of the industry stalwarts were inducted into the Hall of the P9 Integrated Fame. They included high-profile names like Ajay Chandwani, h a s c r e a t e d Amit Khanna, Prasoon Joshi, Sam Balsara and Marzban Patel. b r a n d associations for DLF appoints four creative agencies in its roster brands like Blackberry and Intex with Abhishek- Ash starrer 'Guru', which DLF, the Delhi-based real estate was launched on January major, now plans to go national and 12. has added three creative agencies Blackberry allotted close to Rs 1 crore for the TV FCB-Ulka, Capital Advertising and and print campaign Lintas Personal to its roster, while around this association, retaining its incumbent agency, while Intex has media spends of Rs 75 lakh on the TV, radio, print and retail activation Percept/H. The four agencies will (POP/POS) mediums. handle different projects for the company. Media duties will be Branded love on Salaam-E-Ishq handled by Percept Media.

Branded entertainment has picked up in a big way in the country, with Percept Picture Company's ad film division eyes INR specialized agencies 100 million turnover in 2007 dedicatedly working on associating brands with films. Brands like ESPN, Percept Picture Company's ad film division is Zee TV, ICI Dulux and Ira expecting a turnover of INR 100 million in Diamond have already 2007 and aims to grow bigger by adding joined hands with 'Salaam-E-Ishq' through clients like Damas, Ranbaxy, Relaxo, Indo-Italian Chamber of a g e n c i e s l i k e P 9 Commerce and Haldiram's. Percept Picture Company (PPC) began I n t e g r a t e d . P 9 its advertising division in 1993 with projects, providing end-to- I n t e g r a t e d h a s associated brands such end services, from conceptualizing an idea to market research to as ESPN, Zee TV, ICI- making it into a film. Bharti, Sahara and Siyarams are some of the D u l u x I n s p i r a a n d Yatra.com. big names among PPC's Ad film division's clients.

2 IN THE NEWS

‘TRAFFIC SIGNAL’ forms an example for After a run away success, Priyan now beats a ‘Dhol’ Synergy @ Percept Priyadarshan has enjoyed yet In a perfect example of Group another runaway success in the Synergy at Percept, the combined forces of PDM India, P9 Integrated form of 'Bhagam Bhag' and is and PPC came together to form a now gearing up to finish the strategic relationship for a Percept shoot of his next film 'Dhol', a Product, with the Mumbai Traffic Percept Picture Company produced film. Police. Capitalizing on the much-hyped 'Dhol' stars young blood like Standard Chartered Mumbai Sharman Joshi, Tusshar Kapoor, Marathon 2007, PDM India Kunal Khemu and Tanushree Datta identified the Marathon to be held on Jan 21, 2007, as an ideal who are supported by Om Puri and opportunity to leverage PPC's Rajpal Yadav. This is not all; as the latest venture 'Traffic Signal'. PDM film also features Arbaaz Khan and India approached the Traffic Police Commissioner of Mumbai along Payal Rohatgi in important roles. with P9 Integrated, with the concept of 'Traffic Signal' branded T- With music by Pritam, this film by shirts as a mark of appreciation for all the sincere efforts and hard Percept Picture Company is aiming work of the Mumbai Traffic Police. for a June 2007 release.

Brand Ganguly back in business

The tiger is on the prowl again. After being down and out Brand Sourav, is back in business. Beverage companies are back in conversation and two fresh deals involving a consumer electronics and a real estate company could be signed soon, says Mr Shailendra Singh, Jt. MD, Percept Holdings. PDM India manages Sourav’s endorsement interests. The elegant south paw is currently the brand ambassador for four PDM India organized the T-Shirts and P9 Integrated drove the brands and industry sources peg his current rate per awareness, curiosity and hype for the movie. PPC and the Mumbai endorsements at around Rs 2 cr. “The Sourav story - leader to Traffic Police came together to celebrate the spirit of Mumbai and underdog to performer - is all about drama and companies just support the courageous cause of 'Unbreakable Mumbai'. PPC presented the branded T- shirts to close to 3000 Mumbai Traffic love that kind of a combination,” says Mr Shailendra Singh. "Apart Policemen, who participated in the Mumbai Marathon. Those from qualities such as aggression and leadership skills, there are present at the occasion included Mumbai's Traffic Police new one’s being added to Brand Sourav - grit, determination, Commissioner, Mr Satish Mathur and the film's director Mr Madhur conviction and a never say die attitude.” Bhandarkar. Asked what pulled advertisers to Ganguly, Ms Vinita Bangard, CMS, said, "He has come back with a bang and he is the only player, we feel, who identifies with young India." Stressing on the rising popularity of one of India's most successful skippers among advertisers, she added, "Its just one month since he is back in the team. There is no reason why the endorsements should not increase further.”

3 AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Percept Swift bags two gold medals at the Bhaskar Group Awards

The Kirtikaar Bhaskar Creative Awards had invited entries in

t h e f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s - c o n s u m e r

durable/electronic/automobiles, campaign, education,

lifestyle/fashion/FMCG, direct mailer, outdoor campaign,

events and promotions, real estate and telecom and IT.

The Bhaskar Creative Awards aim at encouraging the

agencies in Bhaskar states to develop better communication

for their clients. Kirtikaar Bhaskar Creative Awards is aimed

at promoting excellence in creativity at regional level

specifically developed by agencies having their offices in

Bhaskar markets for advertisers in Bhaskar Markets

including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Percept Swift (Indore) bagged two gold medals for its brands Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. - Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Kanika Digital in the category of consumer durables and outdoor respectively, in the recently held Bhaskar Group Awards. The winning entries were created by team comprising of Sumesh Kharnal (AD),

Ashwath Ramachandran (ACD), Abdul Wahid (GD) and Julie

Joseph (CW).

The jury for the Kirtikar Bhaskar Creative awards included personalities from media - McCann Erickson executive chairman Prasoon Joshi, Euro RSCG VP creative Asokh Karnik,

Starcom executive director India-West Manish Porwal and

OMS president C. D Mitra.

4 UP CLOSE WITH MR. AJAY CHANDWANI, CEO, PERCEPT/H

Mr. Ajay Chandwani

Let's start with a trip down memory lane and a brief personnel, like the writers and art directors. They work with the backgrounder about yourself. client service people who take the brief from the clients. The end product has to be approved by the Creative Director and myself. Well, I'm a science graduate with an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj. My The brainstorming sessions are usually freewheeling ones - foray into advertising was as an Account Planner in Grant, Kenyon someone may talk about different campaigns, or compare the old & Eckhart, where I graduated to an Account Director later. After a and the new ones. Or we might do exercises on lateral thinking to 5 year stint with this company, I joined Hindustan Thompson enable us to think out of the box and help us to come up with (HTA). As an Account Director at HTA, I washed my hair with ideas. Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in office but tea and Sunsilk, popped a Saridon for headache, packed luggage in a VIP coffee keep flowing. suitcase and said cheese with a Kodak camera, because these were some of the accounts I worked with. And now it's Percept/H Being in the ad world does take its toll on one's personal life, for me all the way. doesn't it? How was the transition from Lintas to Percept? It is a demanding profession and you have to learn to make time for your family. My five year old daughter, Sanya, is great company After working for 17 years with Lintas, (in the ad world that's a and helps me de-stress. There are times I work late, but my wife, pretty long time!), I felt the need to move on to newer Ritu, understands completely as she has worked in an ad agency responsibilities and challenges. As CEO of Percept/H (the flagship too. To combat stress I do a bit of yoga. advertising agency of Percept Holdings) I have definitely found that. It has been an amazing journey for me with Percept, till date What is you Poison? touchwood - and I would like to believe that we have made some I have my hobbies like traveling and photography. I am a hard core rapid strides in the quality and quantum of our advertising in the jazz and rock fan. I love Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz, past 2 years; as some of the international awards would stand Diana Krall, and I rock to Beatles, U2, Dire Straits and Jethro Tull. I testimony to this fact. am also an avid collector of antique and Toby concept jugs. When I What are the big brands that Percept/H has been associated travel, I do a lot of what you call street photography. I try to with? capture the real flavor of the place. My favorite countries are Italy and the UK. I have also done a lot of wildlife photography in There's DLF, for which we launched a campaign called 'Bridging different wildlife sanctuaries in India. India'. Some time back, there was the triangular cricket series titled 'The DLF Cup' in which India, Australia and the West Indies If you weren't an ad professional, what would you have liked to participated. DLF is India's largest real estate company and their be? brand ambassador is Shahrukh khan. Then there is the campaign When I was young, I wanted to be a writer. I would've probably for Pantaloon where Bipasha Basu and Zayed Khan are brand been a screenplay writer and a photographer! ambassadors. They launch fashion every six weeks and the campaign is labeled 'Fresh Fashions'. For Siyarams, there is a Any regrets? recent campaign featuring Dhoni. There's a lot more if I go on! I wish I had started photography from an earlier age. I would have Do you have any kind of brainstorming sessions for your teams? been happier if I had written a couple of books. I have enough material for them. Yes, we do. Brainstorming sessions usually involve the creative

5 SPECIAL FEATURE ‘TRAFFIC SIGNAL’ EXCLUSIVE SCREENING HELD AT INOX

Kapil Dev is the delight of the media

Dolly Thakore is all smiles

Percept Holdings held a special and exclusive screening of PPC's Kunal Khemmu and Juhi Chawla share a joke latest venture; ‘Traffic Signal’ in a star studded evening at INOX on Thursday, Feb 1, 2007. The invitees included Mr Harindra Singh's and Mr Shailendra Singh's special and illustrious guests. The evening saw the likes of Kapil Dev, Juhi Chawla, Nagesh Kukunoor, Raj Babbar, Kangana Raut, Shreyas Talpade, Randeep Hooda, Jatin-Lalit, Anusha Dhandekar, Rohit Roy, Queenie Dhody Shailendra Singh, Jt MD, Percept Holdings and and Dolly Thakore among others. The director Mr. Madhur Madhur Bhandarkar, Director, at the Bhandarkar, and the stars of the film including Kunal special screening of 'Traffic Signal’ Khemu, Neetu Chandra and Sudhir Mishra also graced the evening. ‘Traffic Signal’ tells a tale of about 60 odd characters who have their world centered on this place. Each of them have their own life and how they make it happen on the road is what the film is all about.

Rahul Mahajan makes a grand entry

Atul Kulkarni and his wife share their views

Kunal Kohli and his wife pose for a snap

The content of this publication has been created with inputs from Percept Holdings and its Group Companies. Percept Holdings is the strategic holding company that promotes,Marketing owns and tie-ups manages, with a spectrum mov ofies mark areeting mov communicationing beyond companies. The contents of this document may not be reproduced or circulated without prior consent fromsimple the Corporate pay-for-placement Communications Department, schemes. Percept Holdings. Not for sale. Corporate Communications, Percept Holdings Pvt Ltd., P22, Raghuvanshi Estate, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 400013 Tel: +91 22 2491 8811, Fax: +91 22 24911281 Website: www.perceptholdings.com Email: [email protected]

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