News Headline
Mudra South bags 3 nominations at New York Festival
MUMBAI: Mudra South, has bagged three nominations at the annual New York Festival under the print and direct mailer categories.
The New York Festival which has had 7,000 entries from 62 countries will be held on 4 August.
Two out of the three nominations of Mudra South are under print category; these are campaigns done for Epson and Duroflex Mattress. The third that is under the direct mailer category is the work done on Cycle Agarbathies.
Speaking on the occasion, Mudra South vice-president S Radhakrishnan said, “What we have got is building upon awards that we got last year on brands like Peter England, Duroflex and Paragon. This year we have managed to cut through work on other categories as well and bag nominations on brands like Epson, Duroflex and Cycle Agarbathies. Clients have backed us completely in our efforts to do brand building work. We expect that Mudra South will manage to pick up awards as well.”
The brains behind the Cycle Agarbathies mailer Sanjay Daiv, Vijayan Jacob and others have created a strong brand proposition to convey the message of a ‘safe’ Diwali. The mailers that captured the safety aspect as a prayer since children light up crackers with agarbathies were distributed at the cracker shops.
The print nominee Epson was conceptualised by Saurabh V Doke and team. The idea behind the ad was to convey the quality of life-like printers that a photographer can expect from an Epson photo printer. The ad featured an image of a thorny stem on one strip and the tear marks on the opposite page.
Pavi Krishnan and the team were behind the Duroflex ad. The brand proposition of Duroflex has always been ‘Bring out the romantic in you’. The idea of this ad was effectively conveyed by highlighting the absence of an employee on the daily muster.
Mudra South executive creative director Jagdish Acharya said, “We are extremely elated about this. All the nominations are for ads done for our mainstream clients. Our aim is to make all our work edgy and win awards on at least a few.”
The ecstatic Mudra team feels the news of winning the nominations at the New York Festivals is a great high. Last year saw Mudra South win 11 awards in the advertising world – Abby, Chennai Ad Club and AAA. With the three nominations this year, the agency has a lot to look forward to.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
