The Brand Equity Quiz said to be the biggest of its kind in the world draws an overwhelming response from the corporate and advertising world. In 1998, the event, which drew 300 corporate entries was held in seven centres. This year, Pune also joined the fray apart from the usual centres – Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Calcutta. There was a record number of entries this year – 426 all India.
At the regional final of the BE Quiz held on November 9, 1999 at the Taj Coromandel, Chennai, Yashwant Saran and S M Sundaram representing Sanmar finished fourth, going down fighting.
55 teams participated in the 25-question preliminary written round this year, as against 42 last year. Of these, six teams qualified for the regional final. Considering the high quality of competition, Sanmar’s performance was creditable indeed, especially as Saran and Sundaram made a brave rally in the dying moments of the quiz.
The team from Mudra Communications, Chennai, comprising Anantha Narayan and Sirish Nimmagadda walked away with top honours at the regional final. Right from the first round, the team built up a steady lead and succeeded in retaining that position.
At the national final held at Mumbai on 27th November, 1999. Ambience Advertising's Fernandes and Mohit Mehra were declared winners and they carried home two brand new Cielo cars, not to mention laptops and a thousand other accompanying prizes! Mudra, Chennai, were deserving runners-up.