Screenplay
FADE IN:
EXT. FUNERAL GROUNDS – DAY
A long queue of mourners stretches endlessly outside a hall.
The air is heavy, still.
Few people hold white flowers, eyes lowered. Others the burden of many memories.
TITUS (V.O.)
Today, as I was standing in the long queue outside the funeral…
of the man who was perhaps the most loved in Indian advertising…
I remembered what he once told me—
“Don’t go after awards. Go after the people.”
CUT TO:
FLASHBACK – YEARS AGO
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT
A young TITUS sits at a cluttered desk, eyes gleaming with hope.
He types an email. The glow of the screen lights his face.
The subject line reads:
“To Sir – With Love”
He re-reads every word, hesitates… attaches his work and finally hits SEND.
TITUS (V.O.)
It was a Friday. I was young. And Ogilvy… was the dream.
CUT TO:
INT. PARKING LOT – MONDAY MORNING
TITUS opens the door of his old car. The phone rings.
He answers.
OGILVY OFFICE (O.S.)
Hi Titus… I am speaking from Ogilvy.
His face lights up.
A breath. A disbelief.
A slow smile.
MUSIC SWELLS.
TITUS (V.O.)
By the end of that month, I was living the dream.
INT. O&M OFFICE – DAY (YEARS LATER)
A bustling creative floor. Storyboards on walls.
Coffee cups everywhere. Laughter.
Piyush walks past, his presence grounding the chaos.
TITUS (V.O.)
Those years with him… became chapters of warmth, laughter, and learning.
INT. CAR – MOVING – DAY
Piyush and Titus ride to a Government meeting in a car.
Delhi sun streams in through the window.
PIYUSH
(looking outside at the people rushing in pursuit of daily life)
Titus… don’t go after awards; go after the people.
Titus nods, not realizing yet how those words will stay forever.
INT. OFFICE – NIGHT
Clock strikes 11 PM.
TITUS works under dim lights.
His phone rings.
Titus picks up.
PIYUSH (O.S.)
Did you have dinner?
Titus shakes his head, eyes softening.
TITUS (V.O.)
He led with compassion… not authority.
EXT. DESERT RESORT – DAY (CONFERENCE)
Beautiful dunes. A large hall filled with creative directors.
Posters, laughter, clinking glasses.
On screen — the Hutch Dog Film plays.
Everyone applauds.
Piyush beams, looking at his team — Rajeev and Mahesh stand up proudly.
But then, Neil French stands, unimpressed.
NEIL FRENCH
(angrily)
It’s boring. Predictable. A bleeding jingle.
The hall falls silent.
All eyes turn to Piyush.
He stands, and turns towards all of us.
PIYUSH
It’s one thing to be loved by our own people…
But we must push harder to achieve international standards.
TITUS (V.O.)
That day, I saw strength wrapped in humility.
INT. OGILVY SCREENING ROOM – DAY
Titus screens the Afghan Telecom Film.
Soft, poetic visuals fill the screen — dust, faces, hope.
As the lights come on, a few people begin suggesting changes.
Piyush intervenes.
PIYUSH
The film is untouchable.
Titus exhales. The moment stays frozen.
INT. OGILVY CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
The large glass-walled room buzzes with laughter.
TITUS sits with his brothers, papers and coffee cups scattered across the table.
The brothers debate animatedly, discussing ideas with Piyush.
PIYUSH
(grinning, shaking his head)
Guys, the way you’re going… soon we may have to change the name of the agency to U&M!
The room bursts into laughter.
The brothers exchange smiles and glances.
TITUS (V.O.)
He made even our family feel like his own.
Every joke, every meeting, every smile —
a reminder that we are all just one big family.
EXT. STREET – DAY (YEARS LATER)
An Innova drives through a highway.
Inside, TITUS sits with a colleague.
COLLEAGUE
Roll down the window! They are singing your song!
He does.
Two young boys cycle past, singing —
CYCLISTS (singing)
“Dekho dekhe yeh zamaana, panchi uda jaaye re…”
They pedal away into the breeze, singing the Honda song.
TITUS (V.O.)
That day, I remembered his words.
It seemed like, I had in a small way, managed to have followed his advice.
BACK TO PRESENT:
EXT. FUNERAL GROUNDS – DAY
The line moves slowly.
Titus steps forward for one last look.
His eyes well up — love, loss, and gratitude all at once.
TITUS (V.O.)
He didn’t just move people with his ads…
He moved them with his care, warmth and laughter.
EXT. FUNERAL GROUNDS – LATER
Mourners step out.
Suddenly —
Rain starts pouring down.
People rush back under the shed, huddled close.
Some holding back their tears.
Titus looks up at the sky.
TITUS (V.O.)
It was as if he didn’t want us to leave.
Even in his farewell, he found a way to keep us close.
FADE OUT.
Soft rain continues as the screen fades to black.
SUPER:
In memory of Piyush Pandey.
