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India mourns the passing away of advertising doyen Alyque Padamsee

India rose to the news this morning that Award-winning ad-guru, communication advisor and theatre personality Alyque Padamsee had passed away in Mumbai. He was 90.

In his prolific advertising career, Padamsee served as Chief Executive of advertising firm Lintas in India and built over 100 brands. He is also credited for creating a series of unforgettable characters, including the highly successful Lalitaji for Surf, Cherry Charlie for Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish, MRF Muscle Man, Liril Girl, Hamara Bajaj, among others.


For his immeasurable contribution to the Indian advertising industry, Indian Government honoured him with Padmashri in 2000. The Advertising Club in Mumbai named him ‘Advertising Man of the Century’.

Besides an illustrations career in advertising, Alyque Padamsee was also known for his role as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Richard Attenborough's award-winning historical drama Gandhi (1982).

As soon as the news of his sad demise spread, condolences started pouring in from various corners.

“Saddened by the demise of Shri Alyque Padamsee. A wonderful communicator, his extensive work in the world of advertising will always be remembered. His contribution to theatre was also noteworthy. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour: PM @narendramodi,” a tweet from PMO India read.

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, also expressed his grief over the death of the celebrated adman. “Sorry to hear of the passing of Alyque Padamsee, creative guru, theatre personality and doyen of our ad industry. My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues #PresidentKovind,” he tweeted.

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How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

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  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
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  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

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