MAM
Sharat Kuttikat joins DDB Mudra west as creative director
MUMBAI: Sharat Kuttikat joins DDB Mudra west as creative director and will be based out of Ahmedabad. Kuttikat will partner with Jayesh Vaghela who has been with the agency for a number of
years and will oversee the creative side of the agency‘s client roster including Arvind, Zydus Wellness, Smphony, Nirlife, Rotomac and others.
Both Kuttikat and Vaghela will work under the guidance of DDB Mudra Group chairman & CCO Sonal Dabral.
Prior to this, Kuttikat has worked with Stark Communications Bangalore as creative director. He has also worked with Happy Creative Services as associate creative director, Ogilvy & Mather as a creative group head and Frank Simoes, Delhi. Kuttikat was the founder/creative head of Anonymous Creative. This will also be his second stint with DDB Mudra as he has worked with Mudra Communications, Kochi in 2002-03.
In his 12 years stint Kuttikat has worked with some well-known brands such as Vodafone, SAP, Karnataka Tourism, Bengaluru International Airport, Lee Jeans, Basics Life, Wipro Technologies, The Federal Bank, Malayala Manorama Classifieds and Rohan Builders.
DDB Mudra Group chairman & CCO Sonal Dabral said, “Our
Ahmedabad office is a very important part of the DDB Mudra Group and it needed a team not only rooted and conversant in traditional thinking but also fully adept at new media and new age creativity. Sharat and Jayesh are just that team. I‘m very excited to have Sharat on board and am sure along with Jayesh he will take DDB Mudra Ahmedabad to new heights.”
On joining DDB Mudra west, Kuttikat said, “Honestly joining DDB Mudra west was an easy decision. A great opportunity to work on prestigious brands, an enviable mix of categories, and not to mention, the people you get to work with. Also, to be operating from an office where it all began for Mudra is special. The ambition is to partner with brands and drive them to greater glory, while staying true to the amazing culture DDB Mudra has. I cannot be more excited.”
DDB Mudra Group is a part of the Omnicom group. DDB Mudra Group comprises three agency networks, six specialist agencies and eleven strategic business units which offer their expertise under four disciplines (Media, OOH, Retail and Experiential).
MAM
What Is a Critical Illness Rider? Meaning, Features and Benefits
When you buy a health insurance policy, you usually focus on hospital bills and treatment costs. But serious illnesses don’t just affect your medical expenses: they disrupt your income, lifestyle and long-term plans. That’s where a Critical Illness Rider becomes relevant. It works as an additional layer of financial protection when you are diagnosed with a major illness.
Instead of reimbursing hospital bills, this rider offers a lump-sum payout you can use as needed. Understanding its mechanism helps you decide if your coverage is truly complete.
What is a Critical Illness Rider?
It is an add-on benefit attached to your existing health insurance policy. It provides a fixed lump sum amount if you are diagnosed with any illness listed under the rider. You become eligible for a payout solely on the basis of diagnosis, not by hospitalisation or treatment expenses.
Unlike regular coverage, you are not required to submit medical bills to claim this benefit. Once the diagnosed illness meets the policy definition and criteria, the insurer releases the amount. This makes it different from standard critical health insurance plans, which are standalone policies rather than add-ons.
How a Critical Illness Rider Works
When you opt for this rider, you choose a predefined sum assured. If you are diagnosed with a covered illness, the insurer pays the full amount in one lump sum. The payout can be used for treatment, recovery, income replacement, debt repayment, or even lifestyle adjustments.
Most riders specify a waiting period and a survival period. The waiting period means the illness must be diagnosed after a certain number of days from the policy start date. The survival period requires you to survive for a specific number of days after diagnosis for the claim to be valid.
Key Features of a Critical Illness Rider
Here are some of the key features of a critical illness rider:
Lump Sum Benefit
The most important feature is the lump sum payout. You are not restricted to medical usage. This flexibility allows you to handle non-medical costs that often arise during long-term illness.
Coverage for Major Illnesses
Critical Illness Riders usually cover life-altering conditions such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and major organ transplants. The exact list varies across insurers, so reviewing covered conditions is essential.
One-Time Claim Structure
In most cases, once a claim is paid, the rider terminates. This is because it is designed to address high-impact illnesses rather than recurring medical needs.
Affordable Premium
Since it is an add-on, the premium is lower than that of standalone critical health insurance plans. This makes it a cost-effective way to enhance your existing health insurance policy.
No Hospitalisation Requirement
You don’t need to be hospitalised to receive the benefit. Diagnosis alone is enough to avail the benefits. But ensure that all the policy conditions are met.
Income Protection Support
During critical illness, loss of income can be more damaging than medical bills. The rider helps bridge this gap by offering financial stability when you need it most.
Who Should Consider a Critical Illness Rider
If you have dependents, loans or limited savings, this rider adds meaningful protection. It is also relevant if your employer-provided health insurance policy focuses mainly on hospitalisation and lacks income replacement support.
Conclusion
A Critical Illness rider strengthens your health insurance policy by covering financial gaps that regular medical coverage often ignores. It gives you control, flexibility and immediate support during serious health events. Before choosing one, review the list of covered illnesses, waiting periods and claim conditions carefully. When structured correctly, this rider can protect not just your health expenses but also your financial stability during challenging times.






