MAM
Click, craft, conquer DMEA 2025 crowns digital’s brightest game-changers
MUMBAI: If digital were a sport, last night’s contenders didn’t just raise the bar they rewired it. The Digital Media Excellence Awards 2025 turned into a masterclass in clicks, craft, creativity, and clever engineering, celebrating the boldest work across India’s ever-evolving digital landscape. From automobile showstoppers to AI-powered wizardry, the winners’ circle sparkled brighter than a freshly optimised dashboard.
This year’s edition doubled down on what the industry does best: blending imagination with impeccable execution. Brands, agencies, creators, technologists, and strategists collided in a showcase of originality, proving once again that digital excellence isn’t a moment, it’s a mindset.
The evening kicked off with a turbocharged win for MiQ Digital Commercial Pvt Ltd, whose Gamified EV Experience for Bajaj Chetak cruised to Gold in the Automobile category. Schbang followed close behind with a Silver for its gripping campaign Grip That Never Lets Go.
Consumer electronics roared with Digixpressions Media Pvt Ltd clinching Gold for its ASUS India campaign showcasing a staggering 182 per cent jump in non-brand clicks. Healthcare and wellness saw mCanvas lift Gold for Bright Health Radiance Serum, while real-estate storytelling sparkled with Taboola’s Gold-winning Ashiana Swarang Senior Living Campaign.
Esports also had its victory lap with Max Level crowned Best Esports and Gaming Agency of the Year, scripting an epic win in the booming gaming universe.
This year’s campaign categories delivered a parade of hits.
RVCJ Digital struck Gold with Auto Expo 2025 under Branded Awareness, while Schbang picked up Silver for Bodysync by Enamor.
Purpose met performance as mrj India bagged Gold for Switch to Fluoride Free in both Public Awareness and Influencer Marketing, making it one of the night’s biggest multi-category winners.
CTV dominated conversations with mediasmart sweeping the space Gold for Voltas x Havas and Silver for Maybelline x Wavemaker, proving screens big and small can coexist (and convert).
Cross-channel excellence belonged to mediasmart again for its MG x IPG Mediabrands multi-screen strategy (Gold), with Disney Channel’s charming Doraemon Birthday Bash taking Silver.
Regional storytelling shone with RVCJ Digital earning Gold for Airtel – India’s first spam-fighting network, while the brand-new frontiers of OTT saw MiQ Digital win Gold for rural-marketing dynamo Swaraj Tractors Driving Rural Visibility.
Performance-driven brilliance lit up the second half.
In Content Marketing, mrj India took Gold again, while Digixpressions’ ASUS work landed Silver.
Data-driven mastery came from mediasmart with Gold for Glenfiddich x DDB Mudra, and Taboola earned Silver for its Philips Home Appliances campaign.
Festive cheer turned award-worthy thanks to Haldiram Snacks, crowned Gold for its festival campaigns, and RVCJ Digital’s iconic 5-Star “Do Nothing” snapped up Gold for Instagram Marketing.
MarTech, mobile, and moment marketing were a three-way triumph for mediasmart and mCanvas, with multiple Golds across categories from Voltas x Havas to Woodland: Itinerary Generator and Aditya Birla Sun Life: Investor Education.
Schbang turned waterproofing into social magic with Gold for Waterproofing ka Baap hai Dr. Fixit, while MiQ Digital and mediasmart shared honours for programmatic and performance marketing excellence.
Creativity stole the show as MiQ Digital picked up Gold for Streamed Ads Innovation, and mediasmart added a Silver for its MG multi-screen mastery.
Tech-driven campaigns had their own spotlight. Schbang secured Gold for AI/Gen-AI wizardry with Grip That Never Lets Go, while Nick India took Gold for Best Chatbot with its quirky Bittu Bahanebaaz WhatsApp Chatbot.
SEO supremacy belonged to Digixpressions Media, honoured with Gold for building BlinkX from scratch.
Website excellence saw Art-E Mediatech win Gold for its Crompton redesign, with Amura Marketing Technologies taking Silver for Amuratech.com.
The night also saluted individuals and teams rewriting the rules of digital.
Agency Head of the Year: Prady Kumaar, NP Digital India
Digital Personality of the Year: Saurabh Khattar, Integral Ad Science
Young Achiever of the Year: Prady Kumaar (doubling up with another win)
Agency Team of the Year: Concept PR – BFS Vertical
Exceptional performance from agencies resulted in RVCJ Digital taking home Digital Agency of the Year – Small, while Trinity Gaming was crowned Emerging Digital Agency of the Year.
DMEA 2025 wasn’t just an awards event, it was a reminder. A reminder that campaigns today are not built on platforms but on purpose, performance, precision, and personality. The winners didn’t merely adapt to the digital age; they shaped what it becomes next.
With categories expanding, creativity accelerating, and competition intensifying, one thing is certain, the digital story is only getting bigger, bolder, and brilliant by design.
And judging by this year’s winners, 2026 better buckle up.
AD Agencies
Havas Media Network India bags integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited
PivotRoots and Arena Media to drive 360° strategy for student outreach
NEW DELHI: Havas Media Network India has secured the integrated media mandate for Aakash Educational Services Limited, following a competitive multi-agency pitch, signalling a fresh push by the education major to sharpen its reach among students nationwide.
The mandate will be jointly handled by PivotRoots and Arena Media, both part of the Havas network. Together, they will roll out a full-spectrum media strategy designed to boost AESL’s visibility across digital and traditional platforms.
At the heart of the partnership lies a simple idea: making the brand not just seen, but sought after. The agencies will blend data, technology and creative storytelling to craft campaigns that resonate with students and parents navigating an increasingly digital-first education landscape.
Aakash Educational Services Limited SVP marketing Kanika Kumar Nijhawan said, “At Aakash, we believe success is built through a structured, long-term and data-driven approach. As we expand across the country, adopting a more integrated approach to media is essential. This partnership marks a significant step towards building stronger connections with our audiences.”
Under the arrangement, PivotRoots will spearhead digital and performance marketing, covering social media, influencer collaborations and data-led optimisation. Meanwhile, Arena Media will focus on traditional channels including print, television, radio, cinema and outdoor advertising, ensuring consistent messaging across touchpoints.
Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said, “Delivering for a powerhouse like AESL requires both scale and precision. By combining Arena Media and PivotRoots, we are deploying our Converged.AI platform to create a 360-degree strategy that drives engagement, conversions and long-term growth.”
Echoing the sentiment, PivotRoots founder and chief executive officer Shibu Shivanandan added that the collaboration would focus on building “impactful, full-funnel experiences” powered by deep analytics and performance-led marketing.
With a strong legacy in coaching for medical and engineering entrance exams, AESL is now doubling down on integrated media to stay ahead in a crowded, fast-evolving education market. The partnership with Havas signals a clear intent: to turn visibility into meaningful engagement and, ultimately, student success.
