AG Krishnamurthy
By R Balki
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Rain maker yes... But Cloud seeder first. That was what AGK was. He seeded the voice of Made in India communications. It wasn't as if we didn't have excellent Indian agencies before Mudra, agencies that were doing work for great Indian brands with phenomenal Indian insights. But the face and the voices these agencies had were very very sophisticated and western. AGK was the first grass root Indian voice in advertising without an iota of sophisticated masquerade. Somehow when an undisguised Indian speaks Indian and does work for Indians, the agency gets a far more Indian flavour.
Mudra was seen as the first made in India agency not because it was funded by the Ambanis but because it was helmed by an unabashed Indian. So, much before AR Rahman made Hindi songs cooler and the so called vanguards of the hindiaisation of advertising wrote a line... AGK made Indian advertising hipper, cooler, funnier, more touching and desirable than it had ever been. Leading a group of people who would have been written off as losers in most existing agencies till then, into a force that shook the scene and gave the industry a new accent. Hats off to the true pioneer.
Comments (34)
Alan D'Souza (Guest)
Had the privelage of working with the great man for 20 years. Truly inspiring. Gave me the opportunity of enjoying many jobs in the same company Ahmedabad Branch, MICA, magindia, Mudra International SAMIR, Shaped me and my thinking in many wayS. Goodbye Sir! RIP.
08 Feb 2016
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abdul (Guest)
Respect Salute Thank you Bye
05 Feb 2016
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R Swaminathan (Guest)
Today is a great loss to the add industry. AGK is not with us. I had good interaction with him for more than 30 years. He was very nice to me. May his soul rest in peace .
05 Feb 2016
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Lakshminarayanan (Guest)
I am writing this a few hours after hearing about AGK passing on---mixed emotions---at one level (dare I say it) relieved that he would not have to suffer too much---he would have hated to be a "burden" and dependent on others---would not even let any of us help him with his suitcase when flying together !
Am feeling so proud of having worked with him----so many warm memories and so many expressions that I still quote to my people---The cost of NO decision is higher than the cost of a BAD decision; Better to try something and lose money so we know what NOT TO DO in future; Make new mistakes---don't repeat old ones and many more...
And yet I am also feeling a great sense of loss---as it happened with my parents, I wish I had told AGK how much I love him and respect him and value his contribution to my personal as well as professional lives....I only hope HE would know this and would continue to bless me from wherever he is...
Sorry if I sound rambling and incoherent but still to recover from the loss....
05 Feb 2016
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Lakshminarayanan (Guest)
I am writing this a few hours after hearing about AGK passing on---mixed emotions---at one level (dare I say it) relieved that he would not have to suffer too much---he would have hated to be a "burden" and dependent on others---would not even let any of us help him with his suitcase when flying together !
Am feeling so proud of having worked with him----so many warm memories and so many expressions that I still quote to my people---The cost of NO decision is higher than the cost of a BAD decision; Better to try something and lose money so we know what NOT TO DO in future; Make new mistakes---don't repeat old ones and many more...
And yet I am also feeling a great sense of loss---as it happened with my parents, I wish I had told AGK how much I love him and respect him and value his contribution to my personal as well as professional lives....I only hope HE would know this and would continue to bless me from wherever he is...
Sorry if I sound rambling and incoherent but still to recover from the loss....
05 Feb 2016
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Ravi Iyer
Great Tribute to a legend Balki. A visionary who gave an equal opportunity to learn and execute the best creative work - to the junior most in his team. Often pitting the junior most with the senior most in getting the best out of everyone! Yet to meet a man so inspiring!
05 Feb 2016
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Savio Fernandes (Guest)
AGK's short handwritten notes always inspired me. They stikk remind me of what a man AGK was - a loving and understanding man at heart yet a thorough professional.
01 Feb 2016
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Joel Sarosh Thadamalla (Guest)
So true
01 Feb 2016
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Nita Khanna Kapoor (Guest)
Yes Balki that was our identity - an Indian agency that was 24x7 .
01 Feb 2016
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Usha Thomas (Guest)
Very beautifully written!! had the opportunity to work for Mudra and associated to Sir ..... truly simple and simply Legend. Respect Always....
31 Jan 2016
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Rajesh Sinha
Worked in Mudra, Ahmedabad for nearly 3 years much after he had retired. But the place still reverbrated with his beliefs and ideals. Those were the best years of my life in advertising. We were a bunch of very simple people, who suddenly developed a voice. A voice that was always stifled in Delhi.
11 Sep 2015
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Minnie Abraham
.without an iota of sophisticated masquerade Well said Balki. He was and is and will always be, no one other than himself. AGKs ability to sear through frivolities and come straight to the heart of the matter is something that has to be experienced at least once in every ad persons lifetime. Focus is what its all about, as he never tires of reminding us, day in and out. To this very day.
21 Jul 2015
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Sandeep Vij
That is lovely piece of anecdotal history Aviji Saab... and it does tell a story rather well.. Salaam AGK
21 Jul 2015
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Avijit Dutt
Superb piece Balki!
An apocryphal story needs recounting: Dhirubhai told Frank, then his Agency, "Frankbhai ye Krishnamurthi ko Agency head karai, aap ko kya lagta?" Straight off the bat- "Mujhe lagta bugger up karega!" 18 months later, AGK was heading Mudra taking it up the stairs of growth and performance, while Frank'Bhai' was running a bus service in Goa. RIP Frank.
20 Jul 2015
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Jitendra Dikhit (Guest)
AGK Sir,I don't have any definition for a personality who have great combinations to priority to time with hard and honestly working style.... Till today some rules of life I strongly followup. I m not person who's understand the systems of a perfect life but I salute the gem of person...always pray to god for his good health .
19 Jul 2015
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Subbu Machiraju
Loved reading this write up Balki sir. I am so fortunate to be closely associated with AGK sir, truly a legend and a simple person.
19 Jul 2015
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Jude Fernandes (Guest)
He had the knack of making ordinary people do extra ordinary things... loved my 19 years at Mudra.
18 Jul 2015
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David Appasamy (Guest)
Well said Balki! I would add that he had a phenomenal ability to mentor, nurture and bring to a blaze talent across the board, whether creative or management. And he would do it in an understated way, with focus entirely on the mentee, and remove himself from the outcome. As such he was an inspiration and a true catalyst. He was also a man of substance who spoke when it was necessary, and did not say an extra word. But managed to have deep impact on people, strategy discussions or creative process. AGK will always remain a man I deeply admire and am very fond of.
18 Jul 2015
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Reena P Krishnan (Guest)
Great tribute to his vision and hard work.
17 Jul 2015
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Joydeep Dasgupta (Guest)
Brilliant piece Balki....and the thing about those westernised agencies calling mudraites 'losers'...must be eating their words....having spent 13 years in Mudra...i feel only pride...thanks so much...Joy
17 Jul 2015
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Shiven (Guest)
Humko Binnies Mangta . No tea more than twice a day . Letter from K . Mudra House . It's creative if it works . Lasooni chicken tikka if you work past 8 , Sandy , Pankaj , Kenneth , Freddy-Naved
( spoken out as if they were one person ) both the Neeta's , Ajit Hoon , Terry , Probir , Uncle Mann, Anil , Dhrubo in a leather jacket , all the Viveks all the Sanjays and all the people I have not mentioned .,
Four years of an incredibly low salary . Four years of colleagues who are still friends . AGK thanks for it all .
17 Jul 2015
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Ramanujam Sridhar (Guest)
Absolutely right Balki.He was the antithesis. Of the smooth talking. .heavy drinking superficial people that the industry was full of then.Had an amazing ability to reduce a complex communication problems to simple and yet brilliant opportunities
17 Jul 2015
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Prathap Suthan (Guest)
As someone who had the privilege of working directly with him, and as someone who learned all I could from him, AGK is not just a mentor for me. He represents all that is good with Indian values and Indianness. He is truly a banyan tree. An institution where a lot of us graduated from. And the only man whom I truly respect as a leader worth following in our business. Here's to more years and more magic from you Sir.
17 Jul 2015
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Sanjeev kotnala (Guest)
Mudra is memories topped with emotions. Been fortunate to have worked a Ahmedabad office and hence may be advantage of more interaction. In him I always see a great human being and a motivator. Having been at Mudra during formative years ensured that the I could lead my team better. Remember the poster in his room. Where a cocktail is running after a hen and there in the corner is another hen hatching the egg. It read. Yes we run after.new business but we keep our existing business satisfied.
17 Jul 2015
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Dhrubo Borkotoky (Guest)
Mudra was the only agency where I didn't work for the cheque-at-the-end-of-the-month alone. We all genuinely wanted to contribute.
17 Jul 2015
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Ashok Vidyasagar (Guest)
When I think of AGK -I see a man with a mind of his own who spoke very fast -I guess he hence thought very fast too -he had a knack of making a point and almost like a Roger Federer ace leaving a deep impact in a meeting and after the meeting he had a sense of a achievement which was promptly passed on as "team work" followed by a sumptuous "mostly simple food" which brought out a signature smile on his face.For those who have had lunch with him ever -like his speed of thinking and talking -he ate fast too.All in all -AGK honestly is a warm human being who definitely recognised the opportunities faster than any and as th e CEO of the organization he left an impact on me and did play an important role in my life -A decision he took along with R.Lakshminarayanan was a defining moment in my life.Thanks AGK-WISH YOU THE VERY BEST AND GOD BLESS
17 Jul 2015
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A S Raghunath (Guest)
AGK helped Gujarat build some very famous Indian brands too. It was not just 'Only Vimal', but also Dhara, Rasna, Symphony, Core Healthcare, Paras Pharmaceuticals' Krack cream et all. He also set up a communications management nursery, in MICA in Ahmedabad, which is now helping the advertising industry with the best of talents.
17 Jul 2015
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Saji Mathews (Guest)
AGK was truly a visionary to think far ahead of times. By starting a first of its kind Video production and content company(Mudra Videotec) to the gold standard in communication education in India today (MICA). All under "Mudra - Make in India". He is truly a living legend of the advertising industry in India. Take a bow AGK!
17 Jul 2015
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Anupam Srivastava (Guest)
People like Krishnamurthy helped Indian advertising shed elitism and become more attuned to the real ethos & values of consumers at a time when the english speaking south mumbai club of advertising would hire writers to translate ad campaigns into Hindi !
17 Jul 2015
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Kenneth Augustine (Guest)
Apart from being a very astute businessman and advertising professional I remember AGK as a outstanding human being. This is what allowed Mudra to develop culture that was completely unique and that allowed talent to grow and thrive.
It was the little things that made him so big. Knowing everyone's name, that special cheque you got on your birthday, presents for your family on Diwali... the list is endless. Mudra was a family and you did things for each other. After Mudra all the other agencies felt like cold places where you went to do your job. I can never thank him enough for letting me be a part of it.
17 Jul 2015
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jeet surendranath (Guest)
"AGK was the first grass root Indian voice in advertising without an iota of sophisticated masquerade. "....aptly put forth by R Balki and all of us who have been privileged to associate with and to learn under his guidance and instructions ,salute this giant of advertising...A G K
17 Jul 2015
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Dr. Falguni Vasavada-Oza, MICA (Guest)
Amazing to read about this legend who has been pioneer in establishing MICA and I am proud to work here and teach future advertising professionals true values that makes one a great human and then a professional! :-) My Salute!
17 Jul 2015
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Piyush Jha (Guest)
Hi, Balki. Great piece! I remember when I entered the Mudra office for the first time, I saw a poster that said- 'Mudra- Made in India' and next to that was another that said 'If you can dream it, you can do it'. These were both the defining essence of AGK and Mudra the organisation.
17 Jul 2015
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Anisha Nagarajan (Guest)
Truly a legend... AG Krishnamurthy is the one who started "Made in India" before Modis of the world... Salute
17 Jul 2015
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