RIP Pradeep Guha: The Man Who Made Events Mainstream in the Media Mix

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | August 23, 2021 | News

Pradeep Guha VG Jairam Mohammed Morani Brian Tellis Sabbas Joseph

Pradeep Guha, a legend in the Indian media world, film producer, Managing Director of 9X Media and former president of The Times of India Group (BCCL), passed away on 21 August 2021.

His contribution to the Indian event industry, be it by bringing global events to India, innovating through the marriage of media houses and events to mutual benefit and that of sponsor brands, or delivering spectacular industry events that put India on the world map, has been immense.

We invited a select few who have interacted with the late Mr Guha to share their tribute to him, drawing on their experiences in interacting with him over the years.

His legend will live on.

‘He gave birth to the event industry in India’

VG Jairam, Co-Founder, Fountainhead MKTG

Boss was not only my mentor, but he was my sounding board and we both enjoyed a very special bond that cannot be expressed in words. He was the true rockstar who gave birth to the event industry in India. It was my honour to be his friend and partner. I will miss you boss and miss our chats and time together, But I promise you that I will live by everything you taught me and never settle for anything mediocre ever. You are and will always be simply the best love you. Om Shanti.

‘A legend and legacy in entertainment with many firsts in his life’

Mohammed Morani, Managing Director, Cineyug

Pradeep Guha – a legend and legacy in entertainment with many firsts in his life; a true  showman and a pleasure to work with. Can’t believe he’s not amongst us anymore. I have worked with him on Femina Miss India / Filmfare Awards / the Mumbai Times parties and many many more Times of India events. He will be  remembered forever, may his soul rest in peace.

‘He believed in upping the bar every time he took the field’

Brian Tellis, Co-founder, Fountainhead MKTG

I have always been one who chased my passions.Be that theatre, music, radio or the spoken word.

Way before I entered the world of Events and experiential marketing,I had the privilege of hosting shows,a few of which were aspirational ones for The Times of India Group.

It was there that I first met with Pradeep Guha. Over the last 35 years or so, it’s been overwhelming to interact closely and learn from a gentleman whose knowledge and ability to impart it was staggering.

I sound a bit indulgent when I say with incredible pride, that the man partnered and mentored us in Fountainhead.

Pradeep Guha is a man who believed in upping the bar every time he took the field. Relentless was his pursuit for excellence. His ability to create large canvases of visionary plans, with the eye for the smallest detail, set him apart from most.

Most importantly,he was a mentor to all who wished to learn from him. Truly a visionary who effortlessly combined creativity at the highest level with a very large and giving heart.

He never held back when he needed to say something to you.

He very recently said to me, “Always understand that with designation and power comes responsibility.”.For very many reasons,I will never forget that.

I humbly submit, “Pradeep Guha is someone who needs to be celebrated for who he is and all he stands for”.

‘The biggest well wisher, visionary and believer of events and experiences’

Siddarth Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO, Event Crafter

PG was at the helm of things and led from the front in visioning the role that events and experiences were to  play in future in the media mix: his role in making the Miss India pageant larger than life and almost a global phenomenon by mentoring and backing the winners in the global stage; his role in commercialising and televising Filmfare is a legend in itself.

I had an opportunity to work with him and closely watched his magic when he was chairing the organising committee of Ad Asia hosted in Jaipur in 2003. I can easily admit that the event brought Jaipur into the global limelight as one of the upcoming event destinations and what followed after that made Jaipur asone of the biggest brands in hosting world class events and weddings.

In him we have lost the biggest well wisher, visionary and believer of events and experiences. He had a huge role in helping this media tool become such a big industry in itself in our country. May God give him that special place above deserving of this ace impresario.

'He inspired the event industry to dream big, dream television and of a global footprint'

- Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder-Director, Wizcraft International

Today we lost an institution: Pradeep Guha. He has made multiple contributions to various industries varying from media, advertising, television, cinema... and especially events. After masterminding The Times of India's sesquicentennial celebrations, he went on to helm the Femina Miss India, Filmfare and Look of the Year events, giving India multiple Miss World and Miss Universe winners. Twice we held both the Miss World and Miss Universe crowns in the same year. Among the multiple contributions to creation of events, Pradeep Guha also created the Bombay Times party and mastered the art of "making" and "projecting" celebrity status.
 
His biggest contribution would be to inspire the event and advertising industry to dream big, dream television and of a global footprint. We had the unique privilege to work with Pradeep, learn from him and also be chided by him pushing us to greater success and glory. 

Pradeep was known as PG, Pradeepji, Boss, Mr Guha and multiple versions of the same. That he remains 'The Boss' is not even in question.

Our condolences and prayers for strength for his family. Today we've lost an institution! May he continue to inspire us all!

Long live the King.