Adgully Exclusive | Carrying the victory baton with humility: Creativeland Asia's Sajan Raj Kurup

Adding a feather to its cap, Creativeland Asia has become the first 'Independent Agency of the Year' at Spikes Asia. Introduced this year, the "Independent Agency of the Year' award encourages the spirit of creative entrepreneurship that has helped forge outstanding companies.

Sajan RaJ Kurup, Founder & Creative Chairman, Creativeland Asia, tells Adgully, "I was at Spikes Asia this year as a speaker and we were aware of a few shortlists across various categories. But being completely unaware of this award we were pleasantly surprised when we got a call from the team saying we had won a Gold in a category. It took us awhile to realise that we bagged a Grand Prix and also the esteemed recognition of 'Independent Agency of the Year'."

Having successfully completed four years in the business of creativity, this victory adds to the numerous accolades and awards won by Creativeland. The achievement also comes along with a Grand Prix for Audi A8 L's 3D campaign under the Best Media (integrated) category and a Bronze Spike in Digital for Hippo's Plan-T.

Kurup adds, "When we heard that the campaign for Audi has won a Grand Prix we were happy that it got its due."

Kurup adds that the agency has won various accolades internationally and within the country and that he is glad to say that good pieces of work are noticed and appreciated.

About winning the first ever 'Independent Agency of the Year' award this year, he says, "I think our success across Asia might seem like an overnight success. We have certainly won the presitigious recognition this year but only we know as a team how many years of hardwork has gone into this. We were extremely happy and thrilled but Monday morning we were back in office and working towards our next big idea."

Kurup says that he is genuinely humbled by the clients' support. While signing off he adds, "At Creativeland Asia we will continue to create innovative campaigns on a real budget and absolute relevance to consumer needs."

Founded by Sajan RaJ Kurup in the summer of 2007 with 4 macs and 4 people at his dining table, Creativeland has grown to be a belief shared among more than 8o people across two full-fledged offices in India and 9 strategic offices in Asia. Having established itself as a creative empire and having set global benchmarks, Creativeland Asia has extended the creative and strategic direction into diverse areas. From being invited by Twitter to present Plan-T (a case study on "the most innovative use of Twitter made by Hippo'), to building a formidable digital team, to creating path-breaking campaigns like the world's first integrated 3D campaign for Audi (which also happens to be one of the first campaigns of Indian origin to be adapted across the globe), to eventually winning the creative mandate for all brands of Audi, to creating content for four television channels (including two reality shows), and to venturing into the film industry with their first production - "Karmayogi', Creativeland has grown from strength to strength.

Creativeland's work has been consistently inspiring and has been awarded at the D&Ad, One Show, Adfest, Spikes Asia and Cannes. Early this year, Creativeland ranked 2nd at the Media Abbys and also bagged 4 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze Creative Abbys at Goafest 2011. For their work on Audi and Hippo, Creativeland won the Platinum Award at the Campaign India Digital Media awards, distinguishing them as the agency with the maximum number of winning entries. | By Prabha Hegde [prabha(at)adgully.com]