India woke up to heartbreaking news on Friday, the passing of Piyush Pandey, the creative force who redefined Indian advertising. At 70, the man behind some of the country’s most loved campaigns left behind a legacy of storytelling, wit, and warmth that transformed how India viewed brands.
From Fevicol’s “Egg” ad and Cadbury Dairy Milk’s “Kuch Khaas Hai”, to the Hutch pug and Asian Paints’ “Har Khushi Mein Rang Laaye”, Pandey’s work captured the everyday essence of Indian life. He turned advertising into art that mirrored the nation’s humour, emotions, and quirks, speaking not just to consumers, but to hearts.
Soon after the news broke, Amul, a brand long known for its topical wit, paid a touching tribute on Instagram: “Inka sur sabse mila.” The post instantly struck a chord, with thousands remembering him as “India’s greatest ad-man.”
Born in Jaipur in 1955, Pandey began his journey with Ogilvy & Mather India in 1982 as a client-servicing executive. His instinct for storytelling and love for Indian languages helped him rise to become the agency’s Executive Chairman and Creative Director, shaping decades of unforgettable campaigns.
Even in his absence, his voice echoes in every jingle and smile that makes an advert more than a message, a memory. Piyush Pandey didn’t just sell products; he sold emotions, reminding India that creativity begins with the heart.
