Sangeeta Chacko receives the distinguished 'Bharat Excellence Award' and the 'Rashtriya Mahila Gold Award'

Ms. Sangeeta Chacko, Head – Corporate Communications, Percept Limited, received the distinguished 'Bharat Excellence 2014 Award' and the 'Rashtriya Mahila 2014 Gold Award' at the India International Centre in New Delhi on March 29, 2014. Ms. Sangeeta Chacko received the 'Bharat Excellence Award' for her exceptional contribution and excellence achieved in the domain of Brand Communications and Public Relations spanning multiple industries across India & South Asia over the past 2 decades. The 'Rashtriya Mahila Gold Award' was also exclusively presented to Sangeeta Chacko acknowledging her unstinting efforts and achievements as a leading female protagonist in the Business Communications, Academic & Corporate Social Responsibility sectors in India. The awards which carried a Citation, Gold Medal and a Certificate of Excellence, was presented by Shri Chaudhury Randhir Singh, Former Governor of Sikkim, at a National Seminar entitled 'Economic Growth & National Unity'. The 'Bharat Excellence Award' and 'Rashtriya Mahila Award' acknowledged Sangeeta Chacko's vibrant and proactive role in the Communications domain and paid tribute to her versatile & pioneering styles of originality and creativity over the past 20 years. Her growing involvement and contribution towards the Educational sector, SME industries and CSR platforms served as further testimony to her growing impact and dedication to Social and National Welfare. The 'Bharat Excellence Awards' is instituted by the Friendship Forum of India, a New Delhi based social & cultural organization focused on forging greater unity, integrity and collaboration among Indians across the globe. The Award recognizes the various achievements, excellence in business and outstanding contribution made by individuals and institutions towards Society and National Welfare. The awards are a testimony towards the proactive attitude, innovation, contribution and global perspective reflected by the recipient towards business and economy. About 40 individuals from around the country were presented the Bharat Excellence Award for their contribution in education, social work, medicine, arts, science and entrepreneurship. Previous eminent awardees include Governor Khurasheed Alam Khan, Sunil Dutt, Justice P.N. Bhagwati, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sunil Gavaskar, Manik Dastoor, and Shri BKS Iyengar.

Club 60 celebrates 100 days at the Box Office

Club 60, a Pulse Media production in association with Percept Pictures celebrated its 100days run at PVR Cinemas and Cinemax on March 23, 2014. Percept Pictures were the strategic partner in the promotion, marketing and distribution of this highly acclaimed film. The event saw the presence of Sarika, Satish Shah, Vineet Kumar, Sharat Saxena, and Mona Vasu from the cast of the film along with Director Sanjay Tripathy and Yusuf M Shaikh – Head, Distribution and IPR – Percept Pictures. The celebration also included a tribute to the veteran actor late. Farooque Shaikh, who played one of the lead roles in the film. A memento was signed by all the invitees expressing their thoughts on missing their beloved Farooque sahib. The film was screened for some of the friends from the film industry like Imran Khan, his mother Nuzhat Khan, Johnny Lever, Vinay Pathak, Ketan and Deepa Mehta, Bali Brahmbhatt, Dilip and Manali Vengsarkar and others viewed the film and took part in paying tribute to Shri Farooque Shaikh. The film won two awards. One at the Life OK Screen Awards 2014 for the best Ensemble cast and Sarika won the Big Star Best Actress - Social Drama at the Big Star Entertainment Awards 2013. Yusuf M Shaikh - Head - Distribution & IPR, Percept Pictures said, Club 60 is one of the most endearing pieces of cinema I have ever experienced! It flows smooth and feels good! No wonder it continues to be loved by people of all ages even in its 17th week now". The Director of Club60 Mr. Sanjay Tripathy said, "It is a great experience to have your first film to run for hundred days purely on audience support. We didn't have a big star cast, no twits by big names of the industry, no big publicity budget. What really worked in our favor is a very-very strong word of mouth about the film." "Since we were the first time producers, Percept pictures was a great help as our consultant and gave us the right guidance all through" he added.

Percept restructures the Advertising business – MASH Advertising merges with IBD India

Percept has restructured its Advertising business to merge MASH Advertising with IBD India with effect from April 1, 2014. The restructure will enable Percept to offer better synergies, streamline operations and efficiencies between the two agencies, and provide a greater array of services & solutions to stakeholders. Rahul Gupta has been elevated to Managing Director of the merged business wef. April 1, 2014. Rahul set up ByDesign in 1994 to offer strategic brand services based on superior creativity, and in 2007 ByDesign entered into a JV with Percept–Hakuhodo to form IBD India Pvt. Ltd. Today IBD India offers a complete 360-degree approach in providing brand and marketing solutions to clients. Over the years Rahul has brought invaluable expertise to the many dynamic brands handled by IBD India including SSK Group, Panasonic, PNB Housing, Tupperware, Taj Group of Hotels, K Raheja Corp., and Tilaknagar. Going forward, Rahul's in-depth knowledge of brands and the dynamics within which they operate will enable him to continue to offer unique and innovative integrated brand development solutions and creative strategies for the many successful brands handled by MASH Advertising and IBD India. Amitabha Lahiri has been elevated to Chief Executive Officer of the merged business effective April 1, 2014. Amitabha has been associated with the Percept Group in different leadership roles for over seven years. He joined as Senior Vice President, Hakuhodo Percept India and was later elevated to the position of COO during which Hakuhdo Percept witnessed a series of prestigious business wins including Wagon R, Grand Vitara & A-star from Maruri Suzuki, Carrier, Toshiba, Daikin, Unicharm, Sukam and Hindware. In 2011 Amitabha became CEO of the newly incepted MASH India – a subsidiary of Percept/H, and within a span of 2 years attained a diversity of prominent businesses including Carrier, Toshiba, Haier, Philips, Kyocera Mita, DLF and Parsvnath. His proficiency on a wide array of businesses will enable to take the newly merged entity to the next level of success.

Percept ICE successfully executes the extravagant grand finale for Femina Miss India 2014

Percept ICE, the Strategic Business Unit of Percept Sports & Entertainment, splendidly executed the 51st edition of India's foremost beauty pageant 'The fbb FEMINA MISS INDIA 2014'.The spectacular soiree was held at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai on April 5, 2014. The country's oldest and most credible pageant saw 24 stunning beauties battle it out for the ultimate Miss India crown, wherein winners will get an opportunity to represent India on three prominent platforms viz. Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth. According to the Miss World Organization "It has been the best Miss India event in last 9 years". Percept ICE conceptualized the entire event ranging from the igneous seating to the flamboyant stage setting to the array of stellar performances, which made the night unforgettable. The tiered seating created at the studio for the first time ever ensured that all guests got a clear view of the stage. In spite of this event being held at a closed venue, the night witnessed a turnout of over 1000 guests. Percept ICE used over 1500 square feet of LED and high performance hydraulics to highlight the contestant's entries on stage and also light up the entire stage décor in blazing glory. Breaking away from convention, the traditional rectangular ramp used for most fashion events was replaced with a stylized circular ramp for the contestants to walk past. This wider stage arrangement enabled the judges to get a closer view of the contestants and also made for an extremely friendly television setup. The event was hosted by the charming and ever entertaining Riteish Deshmukh who with his dose of wit and humor kept the atmosphere zestful and lively. The evening saw electrifying performances by popular artists from the Indian film industry including Sonakshi Sinha, Shraddha Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor who entered from the mezzanine level located amongst the audience by sliding down a pole surrounded by the thrilling performance of 50 Nasik Dhol players. Singers Mika Singh and Yo Yo Honey Singh found a willing audience among the suave suits and elegant ladies. Former beauty queen and leading yesteryears actress, Zeenat Aman was felicitated with a trophy during the event. This chapter of the contest was sponsored by prestigious brands like Neutrogena, PCJ, Yamaha and Mochi with fbb being the title sponsor of the event. The jury panel featured some of the biggest names in the fashion and entertainment industry including Bollywood actors Abhay Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Vidyut Jamwal, Aditi Rao Hydari, Malaika Arora Khan, ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra, singing sensation Yo Yo Honey Singh, Miss World 2013 Megan Young and World Champion Boxer Vijender Singh. The glamorous production and seamless execution of the event by Percept ICE made for a spectacular and memorable show. The glitzy evening began with the introduction of the 24 dazzling contestants by the host and each of them was given the opportunity to ask their favorite judges a question of their choice. Performances by Yo Yo Honey Singh and Mika were interspersed with the contestants walking the ramp to which made the crowd berserk. The swimwear round saw the participants turning up the heat as they sashayed down the ramp showing off their fabulous bodies. Finally the top 10 contestants were put through a Q & A round and the top 5 finalists among them were chosen. Commenting on the successful execution of the pageant, Nazneen Karimi, Chief Operating Officer, Percept ICE said, "We are extremely proud and delighted at how wonderfully the event turned out. The hard work that the team has put in was showcased in how seamlessly and to near perfection the evening turned out to be. Percept ICE feels proud to be associated with such a prestigious event and hopes that this relationship with the Miss India pageant continues for many years to come. We want to extend our good wishes and congratulations to all the participants and winners, and hope they do India proud wherever they go." The grand finale moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived with Koyal Rana being crowned as fbb Femina Miss India World 2014 and Jhataleka Malhotra and Gail Nicole Da Silva crowned as first and second runner-up respectively. The extravagant evening came to end when the winners were presented with their beautiful crowns and took to the ramp one last time.

Percept ICE successfully executes the first ever 'Vivel Filmfare East Awards' in Kolkata

The inaugural chapter of the 'Vivel Filmfare East Awards' was held on March 29, 2014. This was Filmfare's foray into the East zone for the first time in 60 years and Percept ICE was selected as the agency to bring this vision to life. Working closely with the Filmfare team over the last few years, the team at Percept ICE knew what was expected of them as the brief was simple – 'To set the benchmark high in the first year itself and make a strong presence felt'. The designs and decor exuded sophistication and elegance which is synonymous with the Filmfare Awards. The red carpet was flawlessly laid out for the guests in all its glory thus enhancing the experience of the awards ceremony. Stars like Prasonit, Riya & Raima Sen, and Konkona Sen were all seen walking down the magnificent red carpet. Commenting of the splendid job done, Nazneen Karimi, Chief Executive Officer, Percept ICE said, "This was one of the most difficult briefs that we have ever worked on, given the fact that it was going to be the inaugural chapter of the awards in the East zone. The well experienced team did a marvelous job on the execution of the event and used their expertise of working in this particular region to the fullest. Brainstorming on the tiniest of details, the team worked tirelessly on the project with the sole objective of making the event a larger than life experience. The team lived up to all the expectations and brought to life everything which was planned, and the positive response from the crowd is a testimony of the success of the same."

Percept ICE flawlessly executes the Vodafone Family Day in Mumbai

Percept ICE a Percept Company executed the Vodafone Family Day held on April 4, 2014 in Mumbai. This event was attended by approximately 3000 people at the turf club in Mumbai. The event started with a robotic dance by world renowned choreographer Longinus Fernandes and was followed by a fashion show by kids. This segment also included breathtaking futuristic acts like laser, neon and shadow dance. An employee fashion show with kids bringing out Vodafone Health Safety &Wellbeing values continued to entertain the audience. The venue also had a kid's zone where activities for children had taken place. The outdoor arrangement included a magnificent stage setup and a kid's activity zone. This event was held to recognize and award the employees for their services to the company. Some of the key challenges faced by the ICE team while executing this grand event was training the employees for the performances like dancing, singing, walking the ramp and hosting the show. Percept ICE with its expertise in this domain executed a top class event without any glitches. Commenting on the success of the event, Ms. Nazneen Karimi, Chief Executive Officer, Percept ICE said, "The Vodafone Family Day was an eagerly anticipated event, after successfully executing it last year, this year's pitch was something the team was looking forward to and they came up with a unique concept called Flash Forward – keeping in line with Vodafone's global vision of looking into the future and bringing about a change today. The entire team gave it their all to bring the event to life, the creative team, the servicing team and yes the production and fabrication. An event of this magnanimity would not be possible without them. It was humbling to get a live feedback from the client and guests, just seeing the employees and their families enjoying every activity and performance was satisfying."

Sony Alpha highlights tech expertise through human driven stories

Sony India has decided to highlight its technical expertise through human driven stories for its new Sony Alpha 58 cameras. The creative brief for Sony Alpha that was given to the agency, Hakuhodo Percept, was to convey that "There's more to a picture". In keeping with this idea – bring out the real emotions behind a great picture and inspired by a true story – Hakuhodo Percept created a short film detailing the account of Priyankar Patra, a young photography enthusiast who recently bought an Alpha and his experience with renowned photographer Santosh Verma. Set in Kolkata, the film begins with Patra talking about his excitement at being able to meet Verma, a meeting facilitated by Sony. During their interaction, Verma tells Patra not to click pictures, but to "shoot stories". After spending an entire day taking pictures together, when Patra still couldn't fully comprehend his advice, Verma tells him to go home and shoot his mother's hand. The film then follows Patra, who discovers how to see the world and his mother in a completely different light, through his Alpha and with Verma's advice. Staying true to the story, Q, the director of the ad film, hasn't shot this like a regular ad film, but documented the events in real time. Thus, bringing out the emotions of Patra and his mother. While the TVC is the epitome of Patra's realisation through his mother's hands, it also leads viewers to the website, www.alphastories.com. Here they can watch the complete story as well as browse through the content comprising Patra and Verma's detailed conversation, places they visited and pictures they shot during the course of their day. Overall, the new Alpha campaign is born out of the insight – how a picture can make us realise what we could never see with the naked eye. And with its personal and emotional touch, the film seeks to make its viewers see the world slightly differently."

Percept Profile adds Henkel, Jot Impex, Daikin to its kitty

Percept Profile, a division of Percept, has bagged PR mandates of brands from varied sectors ranging from FMCG to hi-end lifestyle luxury to consumer durables in 2014. Within the first quarter of the year, Percept Profile has won three brands – Henkel India, Jot Impex, and Daikin India. Percept Profile plans to provide innovative media campaigns and 360 degree communication activities to reach out to the masses, contributing towards mutually symbiotic growth of the brands as well as of the company. On bagging the PR duties of the three brands, Rahat Beri, COO, Percept Profile said, "We have strengthened our various domains by consolidating and specialising in 360-degree communication across spectrums. As each of these clients has diverse communication requirements, we plan to work on the overall communication as a strategic consultant so as to support the brands in taking a leadership position in their respective categories."

Amitava Mitra promoted to Chief Executive Officer, Percept /H

Amitava Mitra has been elevated to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Percept/H wef. April 2014.
Amitava Mitra, a veteran and stalwart of the advertising industry, has been an integral part of the growth story of Percept/H over the past 14 years. He joined the Percept/H – Pune office in the year 2000 and was instrumental in kick-starting the operation there. In 2003 he shifted to the Percept/H – Delhi branch office where he was directly involved in growing the operation manifold. He has over 32 years of advertising experience and has been involved with the creation and production of over 200 films and the launch of over 100 brands with strategies ranging from the complete launch strategy and activities to promotions and events across the media spectrum.

He was elevated to the position of Chief Operating Officer – Percept/H in 2013 and was responsible for overseeing the entire operational and strategic business of Percept/H pan-India.

Having a complete 360-degree communications experience in the sphere of advertising, brand planning, strategy, media, events, CRM, BTL activities, PR programs and Films, Amitava has managed numerous prominent brands including DLF, Hero Honda, Canon, BSNL, Air Sahara, Bharti, Airtel Magic, Bharat Nirman, UIDA (ADHAAR), Indian National Congress, Rajasthan Tourism, MP Tourism, Yamaha, Boost, Indian Airlines, Vespa, Godfrey Phillips, Dabur, Pan Parag, Maltova & VIVA, Times of India, Bajaj Auto, Black & Decker, Birla AT&T, Sansui, Kenstar, Videocon and Toshiba to name a few.

In his new role as CEO – Percept/H, Amitava Mitra will be responsible for providing strategic direction for Percept/H at a national level, creating opportunities for integration within and across the Percept Group and paving the roadmap for the overall businesses for the Percept/H vertical.

Elaborated Amitava Mitra – CEO, Percept/H, "It's been a fantastic journey with Percept and I have enjoyed every bit of the challenge and the manifold opportunities that this portfolio has encompassed. I have my challenge cut out for me and together with my team I look forward to taking Percept/H to the next level and making it a top communications player in the industry."

Amitava has also served as a guest lecturer at some of Pune and Kolkata's premier management institutes such as SIMC, IIMM and ISB&M.

With his vast expertise in the 360-degree communications arena, Amitava will be able to offer a wealth of initiatives, expertise and experience which will help take Percept/H to the next level in the Communications domain.

Cauvery Adiga appointed COO, PK Online

Cauvery Adiga has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO), PK Online wef. April 2014.

PK Online creates products and services, which simplify digital content consumption for end users, through multi-screen platform for distributing and monetizing rich content through subscription and advertising. It has been an early mover in the digital advertising and video space with products like Ad Chakra and Hello TV reaching out to more than 20 million Internet users on a monthly basis. Its Hello TV platform also has a unique distinction of having more than 30-curated ad-free content channels apart from offering more than 100 broadcast channels and thousands of VOD content. It also runs a variety of ad supported content channels like Cinecurry on popular platforms like YouTube and its viewership falls in the Top 10 players in the Indian market.

Cauvery is the Co-Founder of PK Online and over the past 6 years has handled multiple roles from HR to product development. She has been pivotal in creating the foundation of the PK Online business. As COO, Cauvery will be handling the overall responsibility for content revenues, development of content and Telco partnerships, as also providing strategic direction, creating opportunities for integration with a variety of distribution and content partners.

Said Cauvery Adiga, COO, PK Online, "The start-ups I have worked with have done wonderfully well and are thriving in their respective domains. It is a joy to see the teams associated grow, both professionally and personally. This new designation is an indication that as an organization, we are moving from a pure startup stage to the next level of growth and I am honored to be a part of that shift. My key focus going forward would be on creating an engaging video destination for first time internet users on mobile."

Cauvery comes with rich experience of 20 years primarily in start-ups. Previously, she has been instrumental in setting up 2 offshore development centres, one for a US based Supply Chain Product Company and the other for a Dubai based Bank. Cauvery was associated with AT&T's Remote Infrastructure Management offshore centre – USi. She has worked extensively with global teams and understands the nuances of cross cultural engagements. Her core expertise lies in setting up delivery teams, operations and transitioning cost centres to profit centres. Working with start ups has given her immense exposure to all aspects of business including areas of General Management, Finance, People Management, Sales and Delivery.

With her vast exposure in the New Media domain and general management, Cauvery Adiga brings a wealth of expertise, ideas, experience and knowledge to help take PK Online to the next level.