🧑🎨 Who Is Prasoon Joshi? — Early Life & Background
Born: 16 September 1971 (Almora, Uttarakhand, India)
Age: 53 (as of 2025) (en.wikipedia.org)
Prasoon Joshi’s journey is a vivid tapestry of creativity, intellect, and leadership. Growing up in Uttarakhand—mainly Almora, Nainital, Tehri, and Delhi—he absorbed the region’s cultural rhythms, informed later in his inspiring works (en.wikipedia.org). His father, D.K. Joshi, served as an educationist, while his mother, Sushma Joshi, was a classical vocalist and lecturer on All India Radio for over 30 years (en.wikipedia.org).
A precocious talent, Prasoon penned his first book, Main Aur Woh, at just 17, followed by Dard So Raha Hai and Samadhan (en.wikipedia.org). Armed with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Physics and an MBA from IMT Ghaziabad, he merged art with commerce, embarking on a prolific career in advertising (en.wikipedia.org).
💼 Trailblazing Advertising Career
Prasoon began with Ogilvy & Mather Delhi, quickly rising to Executive Creative Director in Mumbai. In 2002, he joined McCann-Erickson, becoming Regional Creative Director for South & Southeast Asia by 2006. By December 2006, he was Executive Chairman of McCann Worldgroup India and soon after, APAC Chairman (kids.kiddle.co).
Under his leadership, McCann India repeatedly ranked the top creative agency (as per Gunn Report/WARC), and his campaigns—Air India, Coca‑Cola (“Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola” with Aamir Khan), Nestlé, Cadbury, Mastercard, Microsoft, and Bharat missions like Swachh Bharat—earned global recognition (canneslions.com).
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“Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola” won a Cannes Golden Lion (2003) (starsunfolded.com).
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Happydent Palace ad was named among the “Top 20 Campaigns of the 21st Century” (prasoon-joshi-dbeb3b6f3e016bb4cc026ccc9.webflow.io).
Through powerful storytelling, his campaigns addressed everything from polio eradication to gender empowerment and malnutrition.
🎬 Bollywood: Poet, Lyricist, Screenwriter
Prasoon’s film career began in 2001 with Lajja, followed by hits like Hum Tum, Fanaa, Rang De Basanti, Taare Zameen Par, Delhi‑6, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (canneslions.com, en.wikipedia.org).
Awards in Film:
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Filmfare Best Lyricist: 2007 (for Fanaa's “Chand Sifarish”), 2008 (Taare Zameen Par "Maa"), and 2014 (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag) (en.wikipedia.org).
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National Film Award for Best Lyrics: 2007 (Taare Zameen Par), 2013 (Chittagong) (en.wikipedia.org).
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Writings and screenplay contributions to Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Beyond Bollywood, his cinematic reach extended through heartfelt dialogue and stories that resonated socially and culturally.
🏛 CBFC Chairperson: Navigating Certification & Controversies
In August 2017, Prasoon Joshi became Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) (en.wikipedia.org).
Key Moments & Controversies
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Padmaavat (2018)
Under his watch, Padmaavat faced severe protests from Rajput groups, sparking debates on cinematic freedom vs. cultural sensitivity (hindustantimes.com). -
Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency
The film faced delays; Kangana alleged stalling by CBFC. Prasoon defended the board, emphasizing dialogue—not confrontation—to resolve differences (hindustantimes.com). -
OTT Content & Language
At the Sahitya Aaj Tak event (Nov 2024), he criticized OTT shows filled with profanity, asserting,“Gaaliyon ka prayog aalsi log karte hain… lazy people use abusive language” (indiatoday.in) alongside a plea for more meaningful dialogue.
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Bribery Allegations by Actor Vishal (2023)
Tamil actor Vishal accused CBFC regional office intermediaries of demanding ₹6.5 lakh for Hindi certification. Prasoon condemned the corruption, emphasizing it stemmed from unauthorised agents. He initiated reforms—including stricter digital processes—and convened an emergency meeting with regional CBFC heads (ndtv.com).
Former chair Pahlaj Nihalani demanded Joshi’s resignation, claiming corruption remained rampant (kids.kiddle.co). Joshi publicly upheld sanctions and transparency.
📚 Authorship & Intellectual Contributions
Prasoon’s literary output spans:
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Books:
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Main Aur Woh (age 17)
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Dard So Raha Hai
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Samadhan
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Sunshine Lanes (collection of songs, launched at Jaipur Lit Fest 2013)
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Thinking Aloud (essays on contemporary India, 2016) (kids.kiddle.co, en.wikipedia.org)
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He also writes columns on branding and social issues in leading publications (oneclub.org).
🏆 Awards & Honors
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Padma Shri (2015) for Arts, Literature & Advertising (en.wikipedia.org)
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Honorary doctorates: D.Litt. (Kumaun University, 2018) & D.Phil. (Amity University, 2017) (en.wikipedia.org)
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Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum (2006) (oneclub.org)
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Cannes Titanium Jury Chair (2014) — first Asian to receive the honor (oneclub.org)
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Cannes Lions Gold, multiple IFAAs (en.wikipedia.org)
🌐 Leadership at McCann & Global Influence
As CEO and CCO of McCann Worldgroup India, and Chairman for APAC, Prasoon:
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Elevated McCann to India’s top-ranked creative agency (Gunn Report/WARC) (canneslions.com)
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Oversaw campaigns for global giants—Air India, Coca‑Cola, Cadbury, Nestlé, Mastercard, Microsoft—as well as impactful public service projects (canneslions.com)
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Served as Cannes jury president and One Club board member (oneclub.org)
🗞️ Recent Highlights & Public Positions
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Nov 2024: Urged OTT platforms to reduce profanities and enrich language (indiatoday.in)
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Nov 2024: At IFFI 2024, emphasized CBFC’s role as a mediator, promoting “dialogue, not controversy” (hindustantimes.com)
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Continued efforts to improve CBFC’s transparency and curb corruption via process reforms (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
🎯 SEO-Optimized Summary
Field | Key Points |
---|---|
Name | Prasoon Joshi |
Born | 16 Sept 1971, Almora, Uttarakhand |
Professions | Poet, lyricist, screenwriter, ad guru, CBFC chair |
Education | M.Sc. Physics; MBA (IMT Ghaziabad) |
Awards | Padma Shri, National Film Awards, Filmfare |
Current Roles | CEO & CCO, McCann India; CBFC Chairperson |
Known For | “Thanda Matlab Coca‑Cola”, lyrics in Taare Zameen Par, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag |
Recent Positions | Advocate for respectful OTT content, transparency in film certification |
🧩 Top Interesting Facts
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Published at 17 – his first book marked the start of a lifelong literary practice (en.wikipedia.org, reddit.com, devdiscourse.com).
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Golden Lion Winner – his “Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola” campaign bagged the prestigious award in 2003 (prasoon-joshi-dbeb3b6f3e016bb4cc026ccc9.webflow.io).
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First Asian Titanium Jury Chair at Cannes (2014) (oneclub.org).
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Dual Doctorates from Kumaun University and Amity University (en.wikipedia.org).
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Social Themes – his ads and films consistently address education, cleanliness, and women’s issues.
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Language Advocate – publicly discouraged OTT profanity, branding it “lazy language” (indiatoday.in).
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CBFC Reformer – implemented online certification and anti-corruption protocols after allegations (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
❓ FAQs About Prasoon Joshi
Q1: What is Prasoon Joshi known for?
He is a celebrated lyricist (Taare Zameen Par, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag), advertising visionary (“Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola” campaign), and CBFC Chairperson overseeing film regulation in India.
Q2: How many awards has he won?
Including three Filmfare Best Lyricist awards, two National Film Awards, a Padma Shri, and numerous advertising accolades like Cannes Lions, IFAAs, and Gunn Report honors.
Q3: What reforms has he introduced at CBFC?
He promoted dialogue over censorship, removed corrupt intermediaries, implemented digital-only certification applications, and convened nationwide meetings to uphold transparency.
Q4: Has Prasoon Joshi faced controversies?
He steered CBFC during the Padmaavat protests, addressed Kangana Ranaut’s film delays tactfully, and tackled bribery allegations related to Tamil actor Vishal’s complaint, insisting they involved third-party agents—not official misconduct (en.wikipedia.org, ndtv.com).
Q5: What are his notable literary works?
His book list includes Main Aur Woh, Dard So Raha Hai, Samadhan, Sunshine Lanes, and Thinking Aloud.
Q6: Where did he study?
He completed postgraduate degrees in Physics and earned an MBA from IMT Ghaziabad, grounding his creative talents with analytical rigor.
Q7: What does the future hold?
Expect continued leadership in advertising, penning evocative lyrics, and championing balanced content regulation. He’s reportedly working on his fifth book, advancing his literary journey (kids.kiddle.co, canneslions.com, mccannworldgroup.com).
✨ Conclusion
Prasoon Joshi stands as a rare blend of creative prowess and principled leadership. From local roots in Uttarakhand to global acclaim in advertising and cinema, from heartfelt lyrics to ethical governance at CBFC, his career reflects depth, impact, and evolving vision. As he continues to shape India’s cultural landscape—whether through stirring campaigns, cinematic verse, or transparent film policy—Prasoon remains a guiding voice in thoughtful storytelling.
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