Chinta Is A Sharp Critic Of The World, Not Just Advertising: Santosh Desai

Turning 50 might be just another birthday for many, but celebrating 50 years in a career is a milestone that truly deserves recognition. Santosh Desai, CEO of Futurebrands India, spoke warmly about Chintamani Rao on his 50th career anniversary. 

Desai, reflecting on his time with Rao, fondly known as Chinta, highlighted their shared journey. "It was a privilege and more than that, it was highly enjoyable. Chinta has a sharp and intelligent sense of humour, able to find absurdity in the smallest things. Our best times at McCann were filled with laughter. I believe teams are built on shared laughter, often at the expense of clients. Chinta was at the forefront of all the fun," Desai reminisced.

Desai recounted the lively management conferences, where the evenings, filled with Chinta's humour, overshadowed the formal speeches. Despite the seniority gap, Chinta's approachable nature made those moments memorable.

Beyond humour, Desai emphasised Rao's clarity and forthrightness, the most essential traits in the industry. "Chinta is a sharp critic of the world, not just advertising. He has a deep understanding of right and wrong and presents his views courageously. His writing reflects this, tackling difficult issues head-on without hedging. His perspective is something we all need," Desai stated.

Desai also highlighted Rao's unwavering integrity in a profession prone to cynicism. "Chinta has never stopped caring. That's something significant and something I'll always cherish," Desai concluded.

Neha Kalra

BW Reporters She is the Senior Editorial Lead at Businessworld and majorly covers pieces on advertising, marketing, branding and experiential marketing. She writes closely for BW Marketing World and Everything Experiential.