TBWA India shines at Cochin Ad Club awards ceremony

Local awards ceremonies do find takers, even though the big guns of Indian advertising choose to showcase their creative talents at the high-profile national functions. TBWA India has emerged a clear winner at the Cochin Ad Club Award in terms of the number of awards won (though it has two Golds against Maitri's three) held on June 6. The agency is followed by Mudra at the second place and Maitri at the third slot.

The number of entries at the awards ceremony was not too encouraging. Out of the 24 categories in the competition, only 18 found takers and of that, there were only 10 categories in which prizes were given away. The jury members were from Bangalore where the selection took place. In total, TBWA walked away with eight awards, Mudra with seven, while Maitri had four. Maitri had the largest haul of Golds (three).

According to Sunil Thoppil, creative director and Cochin branch head, TBWA, the branch has won 33 awards in the last three years! "A feat perhaps not replicated by any other agency in Kerala. We have managed to do this in three out of the four years we have been present in this market. In fact, our campaign for Pondicherry Tourism won a Silver at the Abbies this year."

Of its seven, TBWA, Cochin, won seven awards for one client - Malayala Manorama. It got a Gold in Press, Colour category, a Silver for the Campaign of the Year, a Silver again for Press, Colour (single), a Silver for Press Black & White (single), a Silver for Direct Mailer, a Bronze for Press, Colour campaign. The agency won another Gold for its client Pankajakastoori in the Corporate Brochure category.

Meanwhile, Mudra, Cochin, bagged its lone Gold for Duroflex in the TVC category. It also had two Silvers - one for Kinfra's multimedia campaign and the other for Malayala Manorama (for its online account). Incidentally, no Golds were given out in both these categories. The agency had four Bronzes, of which, one was for Malayala Manorama in Press, Colour category, another for Asianet Cable Vision in the Press (single), B&W category, Technopark in the POP (poster) category and one more for the work done for Cochin Ad Club in the Direct Mailer category.

Maitri walked away with three Golds - for Mathrubhumi in the Direct Mailer, Press (single), Colour and in the Press (single) B&W categories. It won a lone Silver for V Guard Cables in the Poster category.

Despite the poor turnout at the ceremony, most of the participants were upbeat. "It is necessary to have local events such as these, as it encourages local creative talent," explains G Sreenath, branch head, Mudra, Cochin. "Kerala stands very low in terms of the creative output compared to other places and such activities help in generating awareness even among the clients here who then ask for better standards." © 2003 agencyfaqs!