Brands
DDB Mudra and WARC hunt for India’s sharpest young strategists
MUMBAI: Creativity may sell, but strategy decides what to sell—and how. On 26 November, DDB Mudra Group and Warc will host Portfolio Evening: Strategy Edition in Mumbai, the first platform of its kind aimed at unearthing brand strategy talent in India. Open to those with five years’ experience or less, it’s a rare chance for junior strategists to present their work to 20 of the country’s most influential agency leaders.
The format is straightforward: participants get 20 minutes to pitch their thinking to two jurors, who respond with direct feedback. No panels, no platitudes—just work and critique. The winner walks away with exclusive access to Warc’s Creative Impact Unpacked from Cannes, a compendium of case studies from the industry’s most celebrated campaigns.
To enter, applicants must submit two pieces of work by 15 November—either from their existing portfolios or in response to briefs provided by the organisers. The jury will be looking for clear problem definition, sharp consumer insights and strategic recommendations that hold water.
The evening also marks the India launch of Warc’s Future of Strategy 2025 report, which maps how planning is adapting to artificial intelligence and fragmented media. It’s a timely addition: as algorithms increasingly dictate what people see, the role of the human strategist—someone who can spot patterns, frame problems and shape narratives—becomes either more valuable or more obsolete, depending on whom you ask.
The jury includes Dheeraj Sinha, group chief executive for India and South Asia at FCB; Menaka Menon, president and managing partner for growth and strategy at DDB Mudra Group; S Subramanyeswar, group chief executive for India and chief strategy officer for Asia-Pacific at MullenLowe Lintas Group; and Prem Narayan, chief strategy officer at Ogilvy India, among others. Between them, they’ve shaped campaigns for some of India’s biggest brands.
For an industry that often celebrates execution over thinking, Portfolio Evening is a statement: strategy matters. Now it has a stage.
Brands
Sun Pharma launches ‘Heart ke Liye 8’ heart health drive
New campaign urges daily habits to build a stronger heart
MUMBAI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has launched its ‘Heart ke Liye 8 – Making India Heart Strong’ campaign, urging Indians to prioritise heart health through simple, consistent daily actions.
The initiative comes at a crucial time. Cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly one-fifth of global heart-related deaths, with Indians often affected almost a decade earlier than many Western populations. The campaign reinforces a clear message: heart health is not built overnight, but through everyday choices.
Speaking on the launch, Sun Pharma senior vice president, marketing and sales Shailesh Joshi, said the company believes prevention is just as important as treatment. He noted that the campaign aims to spark regular conversations around heart health and encourage people to adopt small habits that can make a lasting difference.
At the centre of the campaign is the ‘Heart-strong Man’, a relatable and optimistic character symbolising a well-cared-for heart. The tone remains positive and practical, encouraging individuals to take charge of their wellbeing without fear. The campaign film has been created in multiple Indian languages to ensure wider accessibility.
The initiative is anchored around eight essential pillars of heart health, including eating better, staying physically active, managing weight, keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in check, avoiding tobacco, going for regular health check-ups, managing stress, and getting quality sleep.
Beyond awareness, the company’s Making India Heart Strong initiative takes an integrated approach to prevention and response. Sun Pharma organises around 10,000 heart screening camps annually, screening over 1.2 lakh people each year.
In addition, it conducts CPR training for more than 1.5 lakh individuals annually to strengthen emergency preparedness, while also investing in evidence generation to improve risk assessment and patient outcomes.
Its patient education efforts further extend to more than 15 million individuals every year through in-clinic print materials and awareness programmes, contributing to a broader, long-term effort to reduce the cardiovascular disease burden in India.
