Piyush Pandey's Death At 70, Meet The Man Behind Iconic Fevicol And Cadbury Ads, Branded PM Modi

Piyush Pandey, a name that hardly needs any introduction, was not just the executive chairman of Ogilvy but was also the voice behind some of the most iconic Indian advertisements. His slogans and storytelling became iconic for the nation. His slogan, ‘Ab ki baar, Modi sarakar', written for Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s 2014 election campaign, became an emotion for people.

Piyush Pandey was born in Jaipur. He studied at St. Xavier's School in the city and completed his post-graduation in History from Delhi's St. Stephen's College. His tryst with advertising began when he, along with his brother Prasoon Pandey, voiced radio jingles.

Piyush Pandey changed the language of Indian advertisements with his desi touch

Before becoming an advertising professional, Piyush was a professional cricketer who played in the Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan. He also captained the St. Stephen cricket team. Apart from this, Piyush also worked as a tea taster before finding his true calling at Ogilvy in 1982. The first advertisement written by Piyush was a print ad for Sunlight Detergent. After six years, Piyush got into the creative department and wrote some of the most iconic advertisements.

When Piyush entered the advertising world, it was ruled by English content and Western thoughts. It was Piyush who broke the monotony and wrote advertisements that people could relate to. Campaigns like Asian Paints’ “Har khushi mein rang laaye”, Cadbury’s “Kuch Khaas Hai”, Fevicol’s iconic “Egg” ad, and Hutch’s pug ad became instant hits.

Piyush always believed that an advertisement should touch people’s hearts and shouldn’t look like a tool meant only to monetise. Piyush’s humour and desi touch to advertisements made them iconic. One of his longtime colleagues once said:

“He changed not just the language of Indian advertising, but its grammar too.”

Piyush Pandey was the first Asian jury president at the Cannes Film Festival

Under Piyush’s leadership, Ogilvy India has been ranked the No.1 Agency for 12 consecutive years in the Agency Reckoner. He, along with his brother, Prasoon Pandey, became the first Asians to receive the Lion of St. Mark - Cannes Lions’ lifetime achievement honour. Not just this, Piyush created history when he became the first Asian jury president at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. Piyush was also conferred with the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He was the first Indian from the advertising world to be conferred with a Padma Shri.

Piyush Pandey’s leadership was built on trust and warmth

Piyush was a team player and everyone’s favourite. Despite gaining so much in life, he remained humble, and that was his biggest achievement. He never considered himself superior and believed in teamwork. He once said:

“A Brian Lara can’t win for the West Indies alone. Then who am I? If you don’t respect your own people, you can’t expect the world to respect you.”

The best part of his leadership was that he grabbed ideas from a junior, a driver, a client, and even a passerby. In a corporate setup, where a superior always rules, Piyush spread his warmth and love to his colleagues. He encouraged everyone in his office to come up with ideas. His belief that advertising is not just a business but an emotion for millions made him stand out in the crowd.

Piyush Pandey’s legacy lives on with his immortal advertisement

The architect of the Indian advertising world, Piyush Pandey, bid adieu to the world at the age of 70 on October 23, 2025. He was suffering from an infection, and his sudden demise left everyone in shock. Piyush Pandey’s death might have left a vacuum in the world of advertising, but he has left a legacy with his passion.

He didn’t just sell his products to earn his livelihood; he made sure his ideas and thoughts would echo in people’s minds for ages. His campaigns like Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai, Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, and Do Boond Zindagi Ki still make people nostalgic. Piyush showed that an advertisement need not have polished English or aesthetics to gain people’s attention.

Piyush Pandey – the man with a symbolic moustache became an icon in the advertising world. His loud laughter, out-of-the-box ideas, and curious mind contributed to some timeless pieces in Indian advertising.

Also Read: Piyush Pandey Dies At 70, Meet His Famous Siblings, Singer, Ila Arun And Director, Prasoon Pandey

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