Deadline, a programme conducted every year by the Madras Ad Club is an exercise in slogging and meeting a time schedule. 24 hours is all they have got to look for inspiration to produce a mind-blowing advertising idea that's brilliantly finished and ready to roll. The winning entry will appear in English daily in an appropriate size while the radio spot will be aired on at least one radio channel.
Over the years, several agencies had produced press campaigns, POP material, video tapes and the radio spots which met with the rigorous standards set by the committee. There were unimaginable propositions, out of the world graphics and even legitimate surrogate advertising. From the topics listed below, it can be seen that in the last few years, the topics of Deadline deal with social purpose advertising, based on real life problems posed by NGOs adding meaning to the whole event.
1995: Action plan for a new toothpaste in a situation where there is a ban on advertising toothpastes of all kinds. (Winner: Trikaya Grey)
1996: Deadly Cologne - A men's cologne that enthralls women, made from unadulterated Spanish fly. (Winner: R K Swamy BBDO)
1997: Marketing India to the prospective investor when everything is in chaos. (Winner: MCS Communications)
1998: Deo Clothing casual shirts and nightwear made from recycled fabric that was fragrant (Winner: O&M)
1999 : Star Shower a shower and karaoke system that provides an exhilarating shower with a vibro pulse massage shower head with he most advanced mixers. (Winner: O&M)
2000 : A School for wizardry and witchcraft with a 7 year curriculum on specialized subjects such as Divination, Defense against dark arts, Management of magic, Sorcery and Exorcism (Winner : HTA)
2003: Special purpose advertising. (Winner: JWT)
2004: Street Children. (Winner: McCann Erickson Advertising)
2005: Keep City Clean. Winner: Pixel Kraft Media Solutions)
Click here to view pictures of Deadline - 2005
Click here to view pictures of Deadline - 2004
