Adland Rockstar: Pallavi Chakravarti

This week's Adland Rockstar is Pallavi Chakravarti who is a copy supervisor at Grey, mumbai.

How did you get into advertising? What’s your career path been like?

I was about to do an MBA. Then one night God came to me in a dream and laughed nonstop for an hour. So I changed my mind. 

Seriously, I love writing, love observing people, love telling stories. So advertising was the perfect choice. I did a summer job at Mudra and moved on to Saatchi & Saatchi, for three memorable years. Then two more years at JWT, and now Grey. (P.S. No offence meant to any MBA reading this. You make more than me, so I’m sure you’re having the last laugh.) 

 What do you remember of your first week in advertising?

I was asked to read The Copy Book. Then asked to re-read it. Then sometime during Day 3, I was sent an official letter, asking me to deliver a fresh urine sample (my own, thankfully) to the HR head. In a jar with no lid. In accordance with company policy, I was told. So all in all, a memorable start. And yes, I pulled the same stunt on an unsuspecting trainee years later.

Any international TVCs/campaigns you’d have loved to have your name on the credit list for? And any Indian ones?

Internationally, the crazy Thai commercials directed by Thanonchai (Sylvania Light Bulbs Ghost, for example), the Diesel ‘Be Stupid’ campaign, the Economist and Jeep print campaigns come to mind. Here, I’d have loved to be a part of Lead India, Hippo (even their packaging is awesome), Bingo and the Max New York Life Insurance TVCs. 

WATCH THE TVC's here

What’s the one thing you love about your job?

There’s always something different to be said, and the best part is, it can be said in a million different ways. It’s like a new job every day. 

What’s the one thing you dislike about it?

No one wakes up saying, ‘Today I’ll do bad work,’ yet we often see advertising that leaves people cold. The fact is that getting good work out is a bit like going to war. There’s a chance you can die trying. Having said that, I think it’s a battle worth fighting. 

Who’s the one person in advertising you’d love to have a working dinner with?

David Droga. 

If you weren't in the advertising industry, what would you be doing?

Theatre. Or I’d have been a psychologist. Or a beer taster. Imagine drinking Corona and getting paid for it.