A Tribute To The Marketing Strongman, Pritish Nandy

With profound sorrow, I join the world in mourning the loss of Pritish Nandy, a true polymath whose contributions to marketing, media, entertainment, and the arts have left an indelible mark. Nandy’s passing marks the end of an era defined by fearless creativity, intellectual brilliance, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

I have always been deeply enamoured by ‘The’ Pritish Nandy, a man who I have watched and tracked growing up, mostly on TV and magazines, watched many of his films, and been fascinated by his wide body of work. I considered him to be a maverick and someone who was ‘zaraa hatke’. To add to that he was a Bengali like me, who had travelled from Kolkata to Mumbai, and not the typical intellectual one, but someone who was strong and ‘macho’, and also quite intimidating. I also knew at the back of my mind that he was a controversial man, although I could not recall the controversies. All these are the ingredients of a very interesting person, that anyone would like to meet.

Hence, I was ecstatic, and honestly, a bit apprehensive when a friend told me that he is meeting Pritish Nandy for work, and that he would like me to join if I so wished. And before I knew it, I was there on a summer evening, starry-eyed, sitting in Mr Nandy’s office conference room in South Mumbai with my friend, waiting for a ‘darshan’.

His office itself is a very interesting one, where posters of his various works are displayed, most prominently of his films and TV series. I was pleasantly surprised to find familiar and favourites of mine there, like ‘Pyar ke side effects’, ‘Kaante’, and the latest indulgence of mine, ‘Four more shots please’. To be honest, Nandy had been off my radar for quite sometime, as he had chosen to shun the media in recent times. Hence these posters did not just come as a surprise to me, but also peaked my anticipation to meet him in person.

The moment finally came, as we were called into his cabin by his manager after a short wait. Nandy’s room is quite a visual treat in itself, filled with interesting visuals of the man himself, interspersed with invaluable art pieces including a Hussain original. This room will give you a vivid idea of Pritish Nandy in his multiple avatars. I also noticed a picture of him in boxing gear, and was quite amused to see this unknown side of his.

Surprise surprise, Pritish Nandy the man turned out to be a soft-spoken, humble man, contrary to my expectations of a narcissist megalomaniac that I was half expecting him to be. A very well-groomed and athletic person, Nandy did not look like he was 73. He looks like a man in his early sixties.

During our hour-long interaction, Nandy made sure that we felt comfortable, offered us tea, and opened up like he had known us for a long time. When I told him I was fascinated by his personality, being a marketing professional myself, he shared his journey from being a journalist in Kolkata to crossing over to Mumbai with big dreams and how he delved into different roles to finally become satisfied with himself.

As a fellow Bengali, Nandy also had most of his conversations with us in pure Bengali, and that’s something I really appreciated. Not many Bengalis who are settled in Mumbai do that.

He gave us many more minutes than we had expected, and our conversations ranged across topics including cinema, advertising, his love for Kolkata, and the unknown fact that he used to practice boxing in the evenings after work. Many may not know that he was a trained boxer in his youth, a testament to his strength, discipline, and determination. He mentioned that boxing taught him valuable lessons about resilience and strategy—skills that later became hallmarks of his professional success, making him a man of formidable character, both in mind and body.

During our meeting, I could also sense that the man was not keeping too well, as his voice was a bit subdued, not matching his overall personality. Little did I know that his days were counted.

One story he shared during our conversation remains particularly memorable. He recounted how, as a young journalist, he often balanced multiple roles—writing poetry at night while reporting for ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’ during the day. This balance of creativity and pragmatism defined his career, allowing him to leave a legacy in diverse fields.

Pritish Nandy was a pioneer who believed in pushing boundaries. As the founder of ‘Pritish Nandy Communications’, he redefined Indian cinema with films that were daring, innovative, and socially relevant. His tenure as editor of ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’ transformed it into one of the most influential publications of its time. His poetic works, which won him international acclaim, captured the beauty and complexity of human emotions in a way few could.

But what made him truly extraordinary was his multifaceted personality. Beyond the poet, marketer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, he was also a fitness enthusiast, a thinker, and a philosopher. His boxing days and his love for physical fitness were lesser-known but integral parts of his life, reflecting his belief in the harmony of mind and body.

The time I spent with him, though brief, was transformative. I walked away from our meeting with not just professional insights but also life lessons on resilience, curiosity, and the courage to dream big.

As we bid farewell to Pritish Nandy, we celebrate a life that was as inspiring as it was multifaceted. His legacy will endure through the stories he told, the lives he touched, and the dreams he encouraged us all to pursue.

Rest in peace, Mr. Nandy. The world will remember you as a visionary, creator, and a man of many facets. You were a giant among men, in strength, intellect, and spirit, and your presence will be deeply missed.