Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Union Ministers and industry leaders expressed their grief over the passing away of ad guru Piyush Pandey. Pandey, a Padma Shri recipient and architect of Indian advertising, passed away in Mumbai on October 23 at the age of 70. He was the Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Worldwide of Ogilvy.
According to the advertising agency, he was “battling an infection that took a serious turn.” Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called Pandey “a phenomenon in the world of advertising”. “Truly at a loss for words to express my sadness at the demise of Padma Shri Piyush Pandey. A phenomenon in the world of advertising, his creative genius redefined storytelling, giving us unforgettable and timeless narratives,” Goyal wrote in a post on the social media platform X.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also expressed sadness at the passing of Pandey. Calling him “a titan and legend of Indian advertising”, Sitharaman said, he “transformed communication by bringing everyday idioms, earthy humour, and genuine warmth into it. His legacy will continue to inspire generations”. Pandey, “was a man who left gigantic footprints on the ad industry,” said Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, on X. “He reminded us that even in the serious business of persuasion, joy and humanity must never be forgotten…Alwida, my friend. You made life richer for all of us,” Mahindra said.
Pandey’s career was a series of iconic campaigns that became a cultural phenomenon. He helped craft one of India’s most memorable political slogans, “Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar”. His ad portfolio includes some of the most memorable advertisements in Indian history, like ‘Kuch Khaas Hai Zindagi Mein’ for Cadbury Dairy Milk featuring the dancing girl, Asian Paints’ ‘Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai’, and the cute ‘ZooZoo’ characters for Vodafone.
