MAM
Teen Bandar wins big at Shorty Impact Awards
MUMBAI: When purpose meets powerful storytelling, the world takes notice. Teen Bandar, the integrated marketing agency known for blending strategy, creativity and data-driven craft, has clinched top honours at the 10th Shorty Impact Awards, becoming the only Indian agency to be recognised this year.
The agency struck gold for its work on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, earning nominations in six major categories, including brand voice, government and politics, social justice and audio and music. Teen Bandar walked away with a win in brand voice and secured the audience honour in government and politics, marking a standout moment on the global stage.
Hosted at The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles on 18 November, the Shorty Impact Awards celebrate the world’s most purpose-led digital work. Entries are judged by The Real Time Academy, a panel of global industry leaders who assess clarity of idea, execution, innovation and real-world impact across platforms.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra itself was a massive undertaking. Spanning 6,700 km over 67 days from Manipur to Mumbai, the 2024 movement aimed to amplify issues of social and economic justice while engaging citizens across India. Teen Bandar shaped how the journey was documented and understood, building a unified brand identity through real-time content, daily updates and a distinct, people-first voice.
Co-founders Savio Joseph and Prashant Chari called the win a milestone for the decade-old agency, noting that the Yatra tested their team’s storytelling rigour across scale and geography. They said the global recognition reinforces their belief in work that informs, inspires and connects diverse audiences.
The award strengthens Teen Bandar’s position as a creative force capable of bringing clarity, emotion and purpose to complex narratives, opening new avenues for partnerships with brands seeking meaningful, story-driven communication.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
