By Our Staff

If you don’t see the customary photograph of the winning agency folk in jubilation on stage, it’s because this is an awards event being held in the pandemic.

Although the restrictions on holding events has eased, the Effie Awards is different. In normal years, one needs to visit an ENT specialist on the day after. Given all the hullabaloo that happens. Heck, are we getting confused with the Emvies. Perhaps yes. It’s been a while since the Advertising Club has had one of its top draw award shows, and although the International Advertising Assoication conducted three awards in Mumbai in the last month-odd, the Ad Club Effies are decidedly the most coveted.

The reason is simple: It measure efficiency of the creative. And it’s a part of a global network of awards. So the scores here add up to the global rankings and which are exceedingly critical for worldwide client pitches.

Under normal circumstances, an MxM report wouldn’t have highlighted the sponsors of the event, but given the times we live in, every sponsorship needs to be recognised. So: Colors was presenting sponsor. The event was powered by MX Player and Aditya Birla Capital was Category Sponsor.

So you’ve read the headline, but here’s it again: Hindustan Unilever and McCann Worldgroup India bagged the Client and the Agency of the Year titles respectively while The Ogilvy Group and Mondelez India were awarded the Grand Effie for Cadbury Dairy Milk’s campaign “Melting Power Distance”.

Effie Awards 2021 were held virtually this year, so it was minus all the hooting and cheer, and minus Brian Tellis as the sponsor. The only bright spot was that the event started on time ended way before most people have consumed their third.

The good news is that the Ad Club received a record 950 entries and saw participation from 51 agencies.

Speaking about the participants and winners at the coveted Effies, Partha Sinha, President of The Advertising Club said: “Looking at the cases that have won here today, you will know for a fact that this is the highest level of award in this country. Effie India today is the most definitive award in the country – and is revered by both the client and the agency. I want to thank every single member of the jury, the participating agencies and the sponsors. You know that this award has reached the level thanks to all of you. Let the celebrations continue but more importantly let the effectiveness culture continue. As I had mentioned before we are going to hold Effie effectiveness workshops in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Watch this space for more details.”

Elaborating on the awards, Mitrajit Bhattacharya, Chairperson, Effie India said: “It gives me great pleasure to deliver the first virtual awards presentation of Effie India. It has been a long and tough journey over the past one and half years to bring this to life. To judge 950 entries over two rounds of judging by 520 judges, with minimal physical meetings has been quite a task. I thank each participating agency and client for their support. And a big thank you to our sponsors, the Ad Club managing committee, Effie committee and the Ad Club secretariat to make this possible.”

EFFIE 2021 RESULTS

EFFIE 2021 CLIENT OF THE YEAR (29.10.21)

EFFIE 2021 AGENCY OF THE YEAR (29.10.21)