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Maddys 2025 crowns India’s best in creative brilliance
MUMBAI: When creativity squared off against innovation, India’s ad world took centre stage. The 43rd edition of Maddys, presented by Dinamalar and powered by Peps, celebrated the finest in creative, media, digital, design and strategy excellence under the theme “AI vs AI – Awesome Ideas vs Awesome Ideas.”
Held in Chennai, Maddys 2025 attracted a record 929 entries across 155 categories from over 106 agencies and clients spanning India and Nepal, making it one of the most competitive editions in its storied history. After a rigorous two-round judging process, 340 entries were shortlisted, culminating in 184 awards, including 4 Grand Prix, 31 Gold, 61 Silver and 76 Bronze.
The gala also featured a high-profile panel discussion, “Awesome Ideas in the Age of AI”, with industry leaders sharing insights on blending human creativity with technological transformation.
Key winners at Maddys 2025 spanned a diverse range of creative and strategic categories. In Creative Maddys, Mind Your Language! was named agency of the year, while Way 2 News took the client of the year title. In Digital Maddys, Advertout Ventures secured agency of the year and ITC Classmate was recognised as client of the year.
The Sight won agency of the year in Media Maddys, with Lingo India Private Limited as the client honouree. In Film & Audio Craft, Kadhai Films was named producer of the year. For Design & Print Craft, Be positive 24 Innovation Design was awarded agency of the year, with art directors Rakesh Gandla and Velu Radhakrishnan, and copywriter Abhishek D Shah receiving individual accolades. In the Regional Pride (Tamil) category, Mind Your Language! and Way 2 News once again took the top honours as agency and client, respectively.
The two-stage evaluation system, overseen by 8 Jury Chairs and 27 industry experts, ensured transparency and fairness, awarding points that contributed to the coveted agency and client of the Year titles across categories.
Advertising Club Madras president S. Balasubramanian said, “Maddys 2025 is about celebrating ideas, celebrating culture, and showcasing how awesome ideas meet awesome ideas. With entries from outside India, this year’s event hints at the global potential of Maddys.”
The evening combined awards, entertainment, and networking, highlighting the evolving creativity landscape while reinforcing Maddys as a benchmark for excellence in India’s advertising and media sectors.
From AI-inspired campaigns to timeless creative brilliance, Maddys 2025 reminded everyone that in the world of ideas, there are no boundaries, only imagination.
MAM
Time brings TIME100 Next franchise to India with Reliance
List to spotlight 100 emerging leaders, gala set for December 2026 in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: It’s about time India’s next wave got a global spotlight and now, it’s on the list. New York-headquartered Time is expanding its TIME100 Next franchise to India, partnering with Reliance Industries Limited to launch TIME100 Next India, its first international extension of the rising leaders platform. The announcement was made at the Time100 Gala in New York by Jessica Sibley and Nita Mukesh Ambani, signalling a strategic push to tap into India’s growing influence across sectors.
The India edition will recognise 100 emerging leaders from the country and the global Indian diaspora, spanning business, science, sports, arts and social impact. The list will be curated by Time’s editorial team and published online, continuing the franchise’s focus on identifying individuals shaping the future.
The initiative will culminate in a gala event scheduled for December 2026 at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, anchoring the platform within India’s cultural and business ecosystem.
TIME’s broader Time100 franchise has steadily expanded its global footprint since 2021 through events and impact-led initiatives. Executives noted that India’s growing pool of influential voices and innovators made it a natural next step for the platform’s international ambitions.
For Reliance, the partnership aligns with its broader push to support emerging talent and ideas on a global stage. For Time, it marks a timely bet on India not just as a market, but as a talent engine shaping the next chapter of global leadership.
