Mumbai Footprints, 15th November, 2009 was a success. With four separate panel discussions (Environment, New Media, Corporate and Entertainment) coupled with a play from Theatre Group ‘Utopia’ and a grand performance by singer/composer Raghav Sachar, the event was poised to win over the audience.

The event saw a turnout of around a fifteen hundred plus strong crowd. Students and youngsters from different backgrounds (Zoology to New Media) thronged the gates of Rangsharda Auditorium at 8am in the morning!

The event was inaugurated by Professor Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury, Dean SIU (Symbiosis International University) and Director SIMC (Symbiosis International University) with the lighting of the holy samai. The panel included Prof. Dr Chandra Krishnamurthy, Vice Chancellor SNDT Women’s University and Acting VC, Mumbai University along with other eminent academicians.

The environmental panel included Mr. Shashank Verma, CEO, Clean Star Trust, Mr. Rahul Alvares, Author/Herpatologist and Dr. Rashneh Pardiwala, Founder, Centre for Environment Research and Education. They discussed many important facets related to environmental conservation, like how the very laws set in place to protect the wildlife end up endangering the animals because they alienate the masses from Mother Nature.

The New Media Panel comprised of Mr. Suman Srivastava, CEO, Euro RSCG-Future of New Media, Mr. Joel Pannikot, Co-Founder and CEO of Athena India, Mr. M.P Singh and Vidyut Kodagi, both eminent Film-makers.

The session was concluded by Mr. Prahlad Kakkar, CEO, Genesis. The topic of discussion was ‘Are the agencies focusing on awards or ROI’s?’

Examples from the music industry were taken up, and the changing pattern of music consumption was discussed. The panel also discussed ‘The Rise of Advertainment,’ where Advertising and Entertainment are integrated to lure the consumers.

Prahlad Kakkar began the session with a question, “What is Advertising All About?”

He went on to explain that advertising is nothing but storytelling, conveying your message to your target audience. However you need a strong, genuine and passionate, and yes an extremely well told content to make the difference. To have good content, you need to have a knowledge database. You need to do your research. He went on to add, “Today’s pornography becomes the literature for tomorrow.”

The second session began with a play from theatre group ‘UTOPIA.’ The play focused on diversity of Mumbai Life and how the diversity is the cement that unites the city. The play was well appreciated by the audience.

The corporate panel comprised of Mr. Chandramouli, CEO, Blue Lotus Communication, Mr. Arijit Sengupta, President, Oligvy PR Worldwide, Mr. Viraaf Pocha, owner of Landmark Events and Mr. Sumit Roy, UnivBrands. The panel discussed the effectiveness of Experiential Media and newer and alternative ways to handle brand communication. Gone is the ‘zamanaa’ of just word of mouth, it is word of mouse now!

The Entertainment Panel comprised Mr. Marc Robinson, Owner, Shoot Talent Management & Founder of Dubai Fashion Week.

Roshan Abbas said that the youth today has a very short attention span because of information overload and important information is lost in the process while Mr. Robinson used personal anecdotes to urge the youth to enjoy each and every moment of life because you never know when you might loose it! Communicate, position yourself, network and leverage yourself. Be humble, dedicated and you will get what you want from life. Keep at it, in spite of all the hardships was his message to the youth of India.

The day ended with a performance by Raghav Sachar, the recipient of the Young Communicator Award of the day!

Pics soon