Prasoon Pandey inducted into Advertising Club Calcutta Hall of Fame

On an evening that celebrated storytelling in all its forms, the Advertising Club Calcutta honoured acclaimed ad filmmaker Prasoon Pandey with its Hall of Fame Award at a special function held at The Park, Kolkata, on June 6.

The event reflected a belief the Club has long championed—that advertising draws its inspiration from a much larger creative universe. Bringing together professionals from advertising alongside distinguished figures from cinema, music and the arts, the evening became a celebration not just of a career, but of the many creative influences that shape great storytelling.

Welcoming guests, Kanchan Datta, President of the Advertising Club Calcutta, spoke about the Club's tradition of recognising individuals whose work has left a lasting mark on the profession.

“Over the years, the Hall of Fame has recognised some of the finest storytellers our industry has produced, including Alyque Padamsee, Ram Ray, Prasoon Joshi, Piyush Pandey, Agnello Dias and Josy Paul. Tonight, we are delighted to add another remarkable name to that list—Prasoon Pandey,” he said.

Datta also highlighted the Club's commitment to celebrating creativity beyond the world of advertising.

“Storytelling does not belong to any one profession. It lives equally in cinema, literature, music and the performing arts. That is why we have consciously expanded our horizons over the years and sought to honour voices that enrich our wider cultural landscape,” he said, acknowledging the presence of distinguished guests including actors Dhritiman Chatterjee and Barun Chanda, composer Debajyoti Mishra and cultural commentator Prabuddha Banerjee.

Few filmmakers have influenced Indian advertising as profoundly as Prasoon Pandey. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has directed some of the country's most memorable commercials—films that have combined sharp observation, emotional depth and unmistakable humanity. Whether through humour, poignancy or simplicity, his work has consistently demonstrated the enduring power of a well-told story.

His contribution has also been recognised on the global stage. In 2018, Prasoon Pandey and his brother Piyush Pandey became the first Asians to receive the Lion of St. Mark at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, one of the advertising world's highest honours.

Accepting the award, Prasoon Pandey spoke warmly about the evening and the unique atmosphere created by the Club.

“The event was absolutely wonderful. What I particularly loved was seeing artists from different creative fields come together—actors, musicians, dancers and others. Dhritiman Chatterjee and Barun Chanda, both legendary actors who worked with Satyajit Ray, were there. I feel all these artists influence our work in advertising in some way, so it was really special to see them all under one roof,” he said.

As the evening drew to a close, the honour felt especially fitting. In celebrating Prasoon Pandey, the Advertising Club Calcutta recognised not only an extraordinary body of work, but also a creative voice whose influence extends far beyond advertising—one that continues to inspire storytellers across disciplines and generations.