The awards ceremony, which took place on Thursday, 5 October at Taj Santacruz in Mumbai brought together the finest minds and innovators in the field of marketing.

According to SMARTIES™ India 2023, Cadbury Silk and Google Search, Pepsi Co. India & Leo Burnett India, Amazon Ads, Google Search, Glance, Leo Burnett India, Wavemaker India, Mondelez India Foods Private Limited, Mondelez Indis Foods Pvt. Ltd., Schbang and WPP India all received industry awards at the SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards. 

Sunil Kataria, SMARTIES™ India, jury chair and chief executive officer, Raymond, says, "The 12th edition of SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards has been an extraordinary celebration of marketing innovation and excellence. This year's shortlisted nominees showcased the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, with campaigns that have redefined the boundaries of innovation and left an indelible mark on our industry."

Raymond adds, "SMARTIES™ continues to push the envelope by introducing fresh categories and celebrating campaigns that not only drive business impact but also excel in various aspects of modern marketing."

"As we celebrate the winners at the gala event, I'm inspired by the ingenuity and creativity that have been showcased, and I look forward to how these campaigns will shape the future of marketing excellence in India," says Raymond. 

The awards say that the most prestigious accolade, the Brand of the Year, was conferred upon Google Search, a testament to its unmatched innovation and substantial impact.

Equally deserving, the Advertiser of the Year title found its rightful place in the hands of Mondelez India Foods Private Limited, honouring its outstanding contributions and industry leadership, says the awards. 

Further industry recognition saw Cadbury Silk and Google Search awarded Grand Prix / Best in Show, Glance awarded Enabling Technology Company of the Year, and notable wins in categories such as Media Agency of the Year and Creative Agency of the Year by Wavemaker India and Leo Burnett India respectively.

According to the awards, Amazon Ads was celebrated as the Publisher of the Year, while the Most Resilient Brand of the Year title was claimed by Lay's, Pepsico India and Leo Burnett India.

Notably, the newly introduced categories also saw Schbang and WPP India excel, with wins in Digital Agency of the Year and Holding Agency Company of the Year, respectively, firmly establishing their positions as trailblazers in their respective domains, the awards add. 

According to SMARTIES™, in an impressive showcase of marketing excellence, a diverse array of brands emerged triumphant at the SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards.

The category of Personalisation, often regarded as the vanguard of modern marketing, bore witness to the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards being secured by Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker, Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker and Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker respectively.

This impressive feat further solidifies their reputation as pioneers in this dynamic field, the awards add.

Prabha Narasimhan, SMARTIES™ India, jury chair, managing director and chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, says, "SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards continue to celebrate creativity, innovation and the strategic acumen behind impactful marketing campaigns. I'm excited to see how these campaigns will continue to inspire and shape the future of marketing excellence in India."

All SMARTIES™ winners are listed and ranked in the MMA Business Impact Index, which uses a proprietary methodology to recognise the best of the best in the advertising and marketing industry. It is the first and only global modern marketing index that identifies, ranks and awards top agencies, advertisers, brands and solution providers driving significant business impact, says SMARTIES™. 

The MMA SMARTIES™ India Awards 2023 spotlighted the categories that garnered the highest number of entries, namely:
  • Creator / Influencer / Celebrity Marketing
  • Data Insights / Contextual Marketing, and
  • Brand Experience within the dynamic realm of modern marketing.

The awards were presented in various categories, each showcasing remarkable achievements and ground-breaking strategies that have reshaped the industry.

Moneka Khurana, SMARTIES™ India, jury and country head and board member of MMA India, expressed her excitement about the 12th edition of SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards.

"The SMARTIES™ India Awards have consistently showcased the ever-evolving landscape of marketing in India. As we embrace digital transformation and witness innovative approaches in marketing, it's inspiring to see the diverse and impactful campaigns that have made it to the shortlist this year," says Khurana. 

"These campaigns reflect the spirit of innovation that drives our industry forward and sets the bar higher for future marketers. I'm thrilled to be a part of this celebration of excellence, and I can't wait to see which campaigns emerge as the champions of innovation in marketing," Khurana adds. 

SMARTIES™ India 2023 says that out of 150 shortlisted entries representing diverse sectors such as FMCG, OTT, retail, BFSI, technology, and more — a total of 94 metals were handed over at the gala.

The winners will also be given digital awards or NFTs, which they can claim or prove their contribution to the award and campaign with the information available on the blockchain at any time.

The NFT holder will also be eligible to avail of gratifications and access to exclusive assets from MMA Global like:
  • events
  • case studies
  • seminars, and
  • workshops.

Rohit Dadwal, SMARTIES™ India, jury and MMA board member and managing director APAC, says, "The SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards once again underline the pivotal role of modern marketing in shaping the future of our industry. It's truly inspiring to witness how brands are continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity and harnessing the power of technology to drive innovation and engagement."

In a ground-breaking move, SMARTIES™ India 2023 introduced the inaugural edition of 'Smarties Unplugged', a unique pre-gala event that brought together marketing thought leaders who shared innovative and creative work designed to benefit tomorrow's marketers and cater to the changing mindset of consumers.

SMARTIES™ India 2023 says the event was kick-started with a warm welcome by Moneka Khurana, with Tanya Saihgal as the host. The event featured several informative sessions.

In the first segment, top SMARTIES™ India 2023 shortlisters engaged in a gamified conversation on creativity, content and partnerships. The second part explored channels, data and analytics, with nominees discussing marketing strategies in an insightful and enjoyable manner. This discussion was facilitated by Saurabh Parmar.

According to SMARTIES™, Saurabh Parmar, an eminent figure in the marketing landscape, hosted two insightful sessions at "Smarties Unplugged".

Key sessions included:
  • 'Intelligent Effectiveness: Measuring the ROI of AI on Optimisation & Personalisation' by Rohit Dadwal, MMA board member and managing director of APAC, MMA APAC.
  • Rajeev Raja, founder andsSoundsmith of BrandMusiq, delved into '#TheFutureIsSound' and the role of sonic identities in today's digital world.
  • The event culminated in 'Marketing Excellence Unplugged — Navigating New-Age Trends & Tech', featuring industry leaders like Vikram Pandey, national creative director of Leo Burnett India Devika Sharma, VP and GM — India, InMobi, Sidharth Singh, lead of countline and gifting marketing at Mondelez India and Rohit Dadwal, MMA board member and managing director APAC, MMA APAC and other speakers. 

This discussion was valuable in providing actionable insights for adapting and innovating in the dynamic marketing landscape, says SMARTIES™. 

The full agenda can be viewed here. 

The MMA SMARTIES™ India Awards 2023 was a success, celebrating the best and brightest in the world of modern marketing. The innovative campaigns and strategies recognised at this event are a testament to the industry's ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape, SMARTIES™ concludes. 

For more information about the MMA SMARTIES™ India Awards, click here. 

To see all jury members, click here.

SMARTIES™ India 2023 winner gallery can be viewed here. 

For more information, visit www.mmaglobal.com. You can also follow MMA Global on Facebook, X or on Instagram.