Manu Bhatta-something
Manu Bhattathiri has been an advertising writer for a little over a decade now. He has worked in R K Swamy BBDO (3 years), TBWA (1 year) and Ogilvy and Mather (3 years) among others. Last seen in high places, he was Associate Creative Director, Copy before he got tired of both Ogilvy and Mather.
They went and gave him an MA in English Literature and, like that wasn’t enough, also a Diploma in Journalism and Communication. Apart from writing in advertising agencies, he has worked as a journalist in The New Indian Express, Bangalore, for about two years. He had several articles published in leading national dailies like The Indian Express and Deccan Herald while he was supposed to be studying in college. More recently his short stories were published in The Caravan Magazine in the January and October 2014 issues. At present an international publisher as cranky as him is all set to publish his first book; a set of very ridiculous short stories.
Sudhir P R (has the worst PR skills)
This man has been brandishing his paintbrush in major advertising agencies for about 12 years now. He has worked in Ogilvy One (3.5 years), R K Swamy BBDO (3 years), TBWA (1 year) and Ogilvy and Mather (3 years) among others. The most recent position he held was as Associate Creative Director, Art at Ogilvy and Mather, Bangalore. When in Ogilvy One they interpreted an accidental direct mailer he had done as a work of art, and gave him an Echo Gold Award.
Sudhir’s greatest advantage is that he never formally trained in the Fine arts. He just decided that his madness was his best asset, listened to no rules and learned in the process of creation. Today when he’s not trying to keep up with an advertising deadline, he paints. Several of his paintings have been exhibited at major venues in Bangalore, where some really luckless connoisseurs hold them in dizzyingly high esteem.
Smitha Laxman, Madness in our method
Smitha Laxman has over 20 years of experience in advertising and employee communication, and has worked in Chennai and Bangalore. Contract Advertising was her first port of call followed by R K SWAMY BBDO. She was also on secondment at VISA International. She combines her rich experience in brand strategy with her acute account management skills.
A post graduate in Journalism & Mass Communication, Smitha has over a decade’s experience of working on mainstream advertising solutions across diverse industries and categories. She has worked on accounts like Sony India (electronic durables), Henkel India (household detergents & cleaners), AMP Sanmar Life Insurance, ETA General Air Conditioners, VISA (debit & credit cards), Philips India, Beauty Cosmetics (currently Cavin Kare) Chik Shampoo, and others. Smitha was part of the team that helped develop award winning creatives for ‘3’, which also earned a nomination for HCL in recruitment advertising. Appreciation from Michael Dell and the Dell leadership on various campaigns is another highlight.