Goes International with Six Category Streams
Adopts Refreshed Format Aligned With Industry Best Practices; Reveals Stellar Jury Chairs & Robust Process
– Business Advisor and Former Kotak CMO Karthi Marshan, VML’s Senthil Kumar to Co-chair CREATIVE MADDYS
– Wavemaker’s (WPP Media) Ajay Gupte to Chair MEDIA MADDYS
– Google’s Dr. Apurva Chamaria to Chair DIGITAL MADDYS
– Filmmakers and Screenwriters Gayatri- Pushkar to Chair FILM & AUDIO CRAFT MADDYS
– Into Creative’s Santosh Padhi to Chair DESIGN & PRINT CRAFT MADDYS
– OPN’s Chocka to Chair REGIONAL PRIDE (Tamil) MADDYS
The Advertising Club Madras has officially launched the 43rd edition of MADDYS – one of India’s longest-running and most respected advertising awards.
This year, MADDYS takes a bold leap – going international for the very first time, with a reinvigorated approach to categories, a further refined process to judging, and enhanced layers of transparency.
Themed ’AI vs AI – Awesome Ideas vs Awesome Ideas’, MADDYS 2025 will honour work that pushes creative boundaries and redefines the advertising landscape in an increasingly AI-influenced world.
A Leap Forward from a Record-Breaking Year
Following the record-breaking success of MADDYS 2024, which saw 1015 entries from across 10+ states, 116 agencies and clients, and 700+ delegates at the Gala Night, MADDYS 2025 takes a significant leap forward.
What’s New at MADDYS 2025?
● Now International – Inviting global participation and benchmarking with international standards
● 155 Categories – Grouped under Creative MADDYS, Design & Print Craft MADDYS, Film & Audio Craft MADDYS, Regional Pride (Tamil) MADDYS, Digital MADDYS, and Media MADDYS
● One-Day Mega Celebration – From breakfast to cocktail dinner
● Introduction of Grand Prix Awards – Recognising best-in-class, benchmark-setting work
● Process-Oriented Judging – Led by Jury Convenor & Process Auditor Gokul Krishnamoorthy, working independent of organisers Ad Club Madras
● Structured Judging Parameters – Scored on Strategy & Insights, Originality & Creativity, Execution & Impact
MADDYS 2025 JUDGING STRUCTURE
Entries will be judged in two rounds:
1. Round 1 – Independent scoring by jurors based on three criteria (30-point scale)
Strategy & Insights (10)
Originality & Creativity (10)
Execution & Impact (NOT measured results) (10)
2. Round 2 – Virtual jury meets to deliberate shortlists and finalise winners with re-scoring (99-point scale)
Strategy & Insights (33)
Originality & Creativity (33)
Execution & Impact (NOT measured results) (33)
The jury will be guided by the following parameters in the final round of judging:
● Grand Prix (95–99 points)
● Gold (85–94)
● Silver (70–84)
● Bronze (60–69)
● Shortlist (59 and below)
Points for each pencil will contribute to Agency and Client of the Year titles across six groups as follows:
– Grand Prix: 30 points
– Gold: 15 points
– Silver: 7 points
– Bronze: 3 points
– Shortlist: 1 point
Art Director and Copywriter of the Year nominations will also be introduced within Design & Print Craft entries.
THE MADDYS 2025 JURY PANEL
For MADDYS 2025, we’ve curated a robust and thoughtfully structured jury panel, appointing Jury Chairs and Jury Members across all categories to ensure excellence and depth in evaluation.
This year’s panel represents the best of the best from across the country and beyond, with domain experts, creative leaders, brand builders, strategists, and media specialists coming together to uphold the highest standards of judgment.
Honorary Jury Convenor & Process Auditor:
Gokul Krishnamoorthy, Independent Content Consultant and Marketing Columnist
Group 1: Creative MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Mr. Karthi Marshan, Business Advisor, Former President & CMO, Kotak Group
o Mr. Senthil Kumar, Chief Creative Officer, VML India
Group 2: Design & Print Craft MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Mr. Santosh Padhi, Founder, CCO & Chairman, Into Creative
Group 3: Film & Audio Craft MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Ms. Gayatri & Mr. Pushkar, Screenwriters & Filmmakers
Group 4: Regional Pride (Tamil) MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Mr. Chocka, Co-Founder & Director, OPN Advertising
Group 5: Digital MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Dr. Apurva Chamaria, Global Head – VC & Startup Partnerships, Google
Group 6: Media MADDYS
● Jury Chair:
o Mr. Ajay Gupte, CEO – South Asia, Wavemaker
Agency & Client of the Year Titles
The following Agency/Client of the Year recognitions will be awarded:
– Creative MADDYS
• Agency of the Year
• Client of the Year
– Film & Audio Craft MADDYS
• Producer of the Year
– Design & Print Craft MADDYS
• Agency of the Year
– Regional Pride (Tamil) MADDYS
• Agency of the Year
• Client of the Year
– Digital MADDYS
• Agency of the Year
• Client of the Year
– Media MADDYS
• Agency of the Year
• Client of the Year
President’s Quote – Balasubramanian S, President, Advertising Club Madras- “Over the past two years, the Advertising Club Madras has stayed relentlessly active — thanks to the unwavering efforts of our Executive Committee. Every milestone we’ve achieved, every successful initiative we’ve run, has been a result of true team spirit, mutual trust, and a shared vision to elevate the club’s presence and impact.
The success of MADDYS 2024 was not an accident — it was a collective push from this passionate team. That momentum, built steadily over two years, has culminated in MADDYS 2025 — a reimagined, process-driven national awards platform backed by the finest minds in Indian advertising and media.
From redefining judging protocols to bringing in Grand Prix honours, to curating 155 categories with rigour and clarity — MADDYS 2025 is not just a celebration of excellence; it’s a bold leap into the future of advertising recognition in India. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. This year, it’s truly Awesome Ideas vs Awesome Ideas — and we’re just getting started.”
Secretary’s Quote – Surej Salim, Secretary, Advertising Club Madras- “MADDYS 2025 marks a reinvigorated chapter in our journey, with six distinct category streams and a refreshed format aligned with global industry best practices. This evolution stems from the Executive Committee’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and relevance in today’s dynamic advertising landscape. We’ve put in place robust processes to ensure fairness, transparency, and excellence. What excites us most is the inclusion of domain-specific Jury Chairs and Jurors—stalwarts who will bring deep expertise to every evaluation. Whether you’re a boutique agency or a national powerhouse, your work will be judged by the very best in the country. Entries are now open, we can’t wait to see your finest work take centre stage!”
