As Prasoon Joshi celebrates his birthday in 2025, he remains one of the few creatives who have balanced commercial appeal with artistic integrity.
Prasoon Joshi is certainly one of India’s most influential creative voices. As he celebrates his 54th birthday this year, let’s recall how he is not just a lyricist and adman but as a cultural icon, who has remained vital in shaping India’s artistic and national narrative for years. Known for his poetry, advertising campaigns, and his current role as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), he brings art and commerce together. And his journey—from the son of a classical vocalist to an early poet in Uttarakhand to being a recognized lyricist and creative leader—is enough to capture a nation’s spirit.
Born on September 16, 1971, in Almora, Uttarakhand, he grew up in a culturally rich environment. While his father, D.K. Joshi, was a classical vocalist, his mother, a teacher, nurtured his love for literature. In fact, by his teenage years, he had already published a book of poetry. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Joshi studied physics and went on to do an MBA from IMT Ghaziabad. But it eventually helped him to merge creativity with strategy and aided his advertising and entertainment career.
After starting off his career in advertising, he went on to become the global CEO of McCann Worldgroup India. The "Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola" campaign with Aamir Khan is one of his most memorable ad series. Not just that, he has also penned socially impactful campaigns, including "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" (revival), "Jaago Re" for Tata Tea, and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ads.
While his advertising work is well known and he is known to be a creative powerhouse, his lyrics in Bollywood films, often deeply philosophical, redefined music in the 2000s. Be it Chale Chalo and Mitwa in Lagaan (2001) or Luka Chuppi in Rang De Basanti (2006), his writing shows a rare emotional intelligence. His work in Taare Zameen Par (2007) is praised to date.
He has been awarded multiple National Film Awards for Best Lyrics, including for Taare Zameen Par and Chittagong, making him one of Bollywood’s most celebrated lyricists.
In 2017, Joshi was chosen to be the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). However, it has put him in the center of debates around freedom of expression, and censorship. Unlike some of his predecessors, he advocates responsible storytelling. His leadership style shows that cinema is both an art form and a cultural mirror.
His work on campaigns like the Pulse Polio immunization drive and the Incredible India tourism showcase how he involves storytelling with a purpose. He was awarded with the Padma Shri in 2015 for his role as a cultural ambassador.
For those caught unaware, he has also served on the jury of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and has inspired young creatives worldwide.
As Prasoon Joshi celebrates his birthday in 2025, he remains one of the few creatives who have balanced commercial appeal with artistic integrity. His journey from a poet in Uttarakhand to becoming one of India’s most influential cultural leaders shows how words can inspire change.
