Cochin: The 19th edition of the Pepper Creative Awards — one of South India’s most respected and competitive platforms for creative excellence — concluded at Le Meridien Kochi with a high-energy evening that brought together leading minds from the advertising and media fraternity.
Sonal Dabral, Founder of Tribha and former Vice Chairman of Ogilvy India, graced the event as chief guest, alongside industry stalwarts Rajiv Rao, Director at Nirvana Films and former National Creative Director at Ogilvy India, and Prathap Suthan, Co-founder and CCO of Bang In The Middle.
Be Positive 24 Innovation Design Dominates with Agency of the Year & Grand Prix
Chennai-based Be Positive 24 Innovation Design emerged as the star of the night, clinching both the Agency of the Year title and the newly introduced Grand Prix, the highest honour of the ceremony.
The Advertiser of the Year accolade went to Club FM, part of the Mathrubhumi Group.
Regional Excellence Recognised Across South India
Strong representation came from all four southern states, with agencies winning top regional honours:
- Best of Kerala: Stark Communications (Thiruvananthapuram)
- Best of Karnataka: Freeflow Ideas (Bangalore)
- Best of Telangana: Prawal Media (Bigbears Advertising), Hyderabad
Prominent agencies such as Happy Unicorn, Tempest Advertising, MIOT International Hospitals, Rush Republic, Plainspeak, MM TV, Red FM, and Popkon Creatives also featured among the winners. Other participants included KAL Radio, Mathrubhumi, Human Stories, Makesense Advertising, Vertical Story, and Navarasa Films.
A Moving Tribute to Piyush Pandey
A key highlight of the event was a panel discussion featuring Dabral, Rao, and Suthan. What began as a conversation on creativity evolved into an emotional tribute to legendary adman Piyush Pandey.
“The panelists delved into his genius for storytelling and his unique ability to infuse a quintessentially Indian soul into iconic advertisements,” said P.K. Natesh, Chairman of Pepper Awards 2025.
650+ Entries, 140 Trophies, 14 Jurors
The 2025 edition saw over 650 entries from agencies, media houses, production companies, and photographers across South India. A two-round online jury process featuring 14 experts shortlisted 350 entries, of which 140 trophies were ultimately awarded.
“This year’s overwhelming participation reflects the creative vibrancy of the region,” said K. Venugopal, Chairman, Pepper Trust.
A Night of Entertainment & Engagement
The awards night drew over 300 attendees and ran for more than four hours, featuring entertainment segments and an interactive quiz conducted by Manorama Max, complete with gift hampers for winners.
Natesh noted, “The enthusiasm and engagement throughout the evening reaffirmed Pepper’s standing as a cultural and creative milestone for the South Indian advertising community.”
