Prasoon Joshi

Prasoon Joshi (born 16 September 1971)[citation needed] is an Indian lyricist, screenwriter and advertising copywriter. A prolific writer and poet, he published the first of his three books, Main Aur Woh, when he was just 17. He has won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award twice consecutively: in 2007 and 2008.

He is the chairman of McCann Worldgroup India.[citation needed] Prasoon has worked with musicians like A R Rahman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Jatin-Lalit. He wrote the tune for the popular TV show, Satyamev Jayate.

Early life and education

Prasoon Joshi spent his earliest years in Almora, Uttarakhand, India. His father, D K Joshi, served as a PCS officer with the Civil Service of the state government and later became the additional director of the state's Education Service. These early years all across the North — and spending time in culture and art-soaked places like Almora, Nainital (where his extended family and relatives still live), Tehri, Chamoli Gopeshwar, and later Rampur, Meerut and Dehradun gave Prasoon a remarkable feel for the real Indian pulse that he is now celebrated for in his lyrics and advertising. His mother, Sushma Joshi, a lecturer in political science, performed for the All India Radio for over three decades. His parents are qualified classical vocalists and daily home life for the young Prasoon was marked with academic discipline, a rich vein of the artistic life and a strong sense of music and culture.

He started writing early in life and published his first book at age 17, Main Aur Woh, a ‘conversation with himself’, inspired by Frederich Nietzsche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra. Two more books followed, establishing him as an author.

Prasoon did his B. Sc. and post graduation in Physics, then elected to pursue an MBA from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, India. During his MBA education he decided to fuse his love for culture and art and his faculty for the commercial dynamic and make his career in advertising.

Advertising

He started his career with one of the world's leading agencies, Ogilvy & Mather, in Delhi. Over 10 years, he became a creative star and rose to be executive creative director of the flagship Mumbai office. In early 2002, he joined McCann-Erickson as executive vice president and national creative director. By 2006, he was regional creative director, South and South East Asia. In December 2006 he was elevated to executive chairman for McCann Worldgroup India and regional creative director for Asia Pacific.

Prasoon has a string of highly-acclaimed advertisements to his credit. Notable are his campaigns for NDTV India (Sach dikhate hain hum), Saffola (Abhi to main jawan hoon) LG, Marico, Perfetti (Alpenliebe, Chlormint), and the Cannes-winning Thanda matlab Coca-Cola campaign with Aamir Khan. His Happydent television commercial is considered by experts as India's best ad till date and was that year[when?] listed by the authoritative Bob Garfield of AdvertisingAge as one of his personal choices for the Cannes Gold. He has rightfully earned the title of "The Ad Guru of India".

Prasoon has created other acclaimed and award-winning advertising pieces in press and TV for a wide roster of brands:

Asian Paints

Cadbury

CNN IBN: India Rising

Vacao Scooty

Close-up

Ponds

ING

Coke: Ummeedon wali dhoop

Advertising for public service campaigns

Prasoon has offered his services for public service campaigns, which include

Breakthrough Trust's Anti-HIV Campaign

Pulse Polio

National Literacy Mission: child education films

UN Millennium Goals: Anti-Poverty Campaign

Anti Child Abuse

Cancer Patients Society: against tobacco consumption

Film career

He made his debut as film lyricist with Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, a critical and commercial success, and this soon led to Yash Chopra's Hum Tum and a string of highly successful Bollywood films like Fanaa, Rang De Basanti, Taare Zameen Par, Black and Delhi 6. With Rang De Basanti (2006), he also became a dialogue writer.

He won the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award for "Chand Sifarish" from the film Fanaa in 2007 and for "Maa" from Taare Zameen Par in 2008.

Global and national recognition

In 2008, he was invited as the Cannes Jury Chairman and in 2009, he was named among the exclusive 10-member Cannes Titanium and Integrated Jury at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. In 2006, he was chosen a 'Young Global Leader 2006' by the Forum of Young Global Leaders, an affiliate of the World Economic Forum, In 2007, he was asked to be a judge of the nationally popular reality singing competition Dhoom Macha De on NDTV Imagine. Joshi was part of the select three-member Core Creative Advisory Committee for the Commonwealth Games 2010 opening and closing ceremonies, with Shyam Benegal and Javed Akhtar.

Filmography

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Ishkq In Paris(2012)

Teri Meri Kahaani (2012)

Aarakshan (2011)

Break Ke Baad (2010)

Sikandar (2009)

London Dreams (2009)

Delhi 6 (2009)

Ghajini (2008)

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)

Taare Zameen Par (2007)

Fanaa (2006)

Rang De Basanti (2006)

Black (2005)

Rok Sako To Rok Lo (2004)

Phir Milenge (2004)

Hum Tum (2004)

Aankhen (2002)

Kyon? (2003)

Love at Times Square (2003)

Lajja (film) (2001)

Bhopal Express (film) (1999)

When Prasoon watched the film Sikander, he was inspired by it and wrote a song called "Dhoop ke sikke". Later, this song was incorporated in the film.

Private albums

He has been the lyricist for several Indipop albums which have been hits:

Mann Ke Manjeere, an album on women's dreams for human rights organisation Breakthrough, sung by Shubha Mudgal (2000)

Ab Ke Saawan for Shubha Mudgal (1999)

Dooba Dooba Rehta Hoon for Silk Route

Short films on malnutrition

Prasoon and Aamir Khan have decided to prepare 50 short films on malnutrition on being invited by the prime minister of India. According to Prasoon, Aamir and he gel well because they do not compromises their work.

Writer-musician

Tsunami relief: Album Asha Wali Dhoop with Ustad Zakir Hussian.

Lau: an album that focuses on hope for those with HIV.

Sapna Dekha Hai Maine: An anthem for Child Rights and You, on the dreams of the girl child.

Other notable work

His poetic outburst Iss baar nahin in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 gave voice to the angst of millions of Indians.

Awards

Advertising

Prasoon has won more than 200 national and international awards.

2002: ABBY: Best Copywriter and the Best Ad Campaign[citation needed.

2003: Cannes Lion Award: Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival: Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola campaign.

'No. 1 Creative Director in Asia Pacific 2007' by Media magazine.

Lyricist

2005: Star Screen Award for Best Lyricist Hum Tum: 'Saanson Ko Saanson'

2007: Filmfare Best Lyricist Award: Fanaa: 'Chand Sifarish'

2008: National Film Award for Best Lyrics: 'Taare Zameen Par'

2008: Filmfare Best Lyricist Award: Taare Zameen Par: 'Maa'

2009: NDTV Indian of the Year - Entertainer of the Year 2008. Special Award for Lyrics.

2012: IRDS Film award as best lyricist for social concern for "Mauka" in Aarakshan

Personal life

Prasoon met his wife Aparna, also an advertising professional, while working at O&M Delhi. They have been married for over a decade and have a daughter named Aishaanya.