MAM
Effie Awards India ’21: The Ogilvy Group, Mondelez India bag the Grand Effie
Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) was judged the Effie Client of the Year, while McCann Worldgroup India was named Effie India Agency of the Year in the latest edition of the “Effie Awards India 2021” hosted by The Advertising Club in a virtual ceremony on Friday night.
The coveted Grand Effie was won by The Ogilvy Group and contributing agency, Wavemaker India, for Cadbury Dairy Milk’s campaign “Melting Power Distance” under the ‘Integrated Advertising Campaign: Products’ category.
HUL bagged ten medals, including four gold, three silver, and three bronze. Some of the most successful creatives of the brand were “H for Handwashing” and “Use Any Soap” both released during the pandemic to promote handwashing by the brand Lifebuoy.
McCann Worldgroup India took home a total of 30 medals, including one gold, nine silver, and four bronze. The group also won gold for its Dettol campaign “Using Virality to Fight The Virus” in the ‘Influencer Marketing’ category. Other top agencies to win big were Ogilvy, MullenLowe Lintas, DDB Mudra, and Leo Burnett.
The other top clients were Mondelez, RB, ITC, and Nestle.
The awards that celebrated the finest brands and ground-breaking campaigns in the year gone by were presented by Colors, powered by MX Player and Aditya Birla Capital was a category sponsor of the virtually held event.
This year, The Ad Club received a record 950 entries and saw participation from 51 agencies. “Looking at the cases that have won here today, you will know for a fact that this is the highest level of award in this country,” said The Advertising Club president, Partha Sinha, speaking about the participants and winners at the awards.
“Effie India today is the most definitive award in the country – and is revered by both the client and the agency. I want to thank every single member of the jury, the participating agencies, and the sponsors. You know that this award has reached the level thanks to all of you. Let the celebrations continue but more importantly let the effective culture continue. As I had mentioned before we are going to hold Effie effectiveness workshops in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Watch this space for more details,” Sinha added.
“It gives me great pleasure to deliver the first virtual awards presentation of Effie India. It has been a long and tough journey over the past one and half years to bring this to life. To judge 950 entries over two rounds of judging by 520 judges, with minimal physical meetings has been quite a task. I thank each participating agency and client for their support. And a big thank you to our sponsors, the Ad Club managing committee, Effie committee and the Ad Club secretariat to make this possible,” stated Effie India chairperson Mitrajit Bhattacharya.
Founded in 1954 The Ad Club is an industry body that provides a dynamic platform for professionals from the advertising, marketing, media, research, and communication fraternity to gain from each other’s experience. The awards celebrate the best work by agencies and clients that set new benchmarks in effectiveness in marketing and advertising communication.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
