The 2023 edition of Systems Integration India Awards (SIIA) – Indian AV’s most prided Awards event – organized recently in Mumbai – simply lived up to its punchline. Celebrating AV Momentum- Yes. Despite the oddities of kind, the bespoke event had not only renewed its cherished charm but also upped the ante for more, with newer participants walking the haloed dais.
Happening as it did in-person after the COVID-induced interruption of three years, the event, while rejuvenating the old vibes, has created new vistas and new verve.
A snappy account.
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When the curtains rose on the Hriday Marquee – a specially carved out convention facility at the luxurious Sofitel hotel at BKC in Mumbai – on the evening of 25 October, 2023, it was a much familiar, yet different setting, literally.
The physical setting was evidently different, having moved from the long-accustomed Bombay Exhibition Grounds of NESCO, to the premium hospitality venue at the up-market BKC. However, the intent and content was much the same, if not higher with some anticipated anxieties.
While being all familiar for its tone and tune, the rhythm was certainly a little higher with a few new notes being added to the composition (of the celebration).
Happening in-person as it did after the pandemic-induced gap of three years, and having been through the roughs and troughs of the trade, carried the weight of all, while hoping for the high.
While the fervour was again familiarly high, it also raised a sort of mild fears of uncertainty- for a sole reason of the event’s chief patron was conspicuous by his absence- owing to a forced medical emergency!
Mihir Joshee – the familar voice for most events – even as he took the podium, played a video message from Thomas Richard Prakasam, Managing Director of Spinworkz (Singapore) Pte Ltd, and chief organizer of SIIA 2023.
Thomas, who had an unexpected medical emergency preventing his flying in from Singapore, briefly explained the journey that SIIA 2023 was even as he introduced the Jury panel that officiated the adjudication of nominations.
Ram Bhavanashi, Director of Shyamindira Media Networks Pvt Ltd, who officiated the proceedings, began with thanking the event Partners with trophies for their support.
SIIA 2023 had as many as seven Partners that included five Category Partners, one Event Sound Partner, and one normal partner:
Corporate Category: Sennheiser
Education Category: Clearone
Government Category: Kramer
Infotainment Category: Barco
Projection Mapping Category: Epson
Partner: Christie Digital
Event Sound Partner: ANSATA
In a nutshell:
A total of 44 nominations for three budget ranges each of six Award categories – including a newly carved out sixth category – in addition to three specially created Awards for individual excellence, tallying to a total of 24 awards, it was a big deal in its own right- with all the right reasons.
The domain of Projection Mapping – as it had been exponentially expanding over the last few years so much so that – it demanded a separate category status. Hence the sixth Award Category.
Similarly, the SIIA organizers have long been contemplating the idea of adding “Individual Excellence” awards to the existing stable of institutional honours. Having been through four editions over the last seven years, it was felt it’s time they did it. Hence the awards for Individuals who excelled in their contributions in three different areas:
- AV Professional of the Year
- AV Women Professional of the Year
- Young AV Professional of the Year
For those who missed the grand occasion, here are the categories and winners in different budget ranges:
CORPORATE CATEGORY PARTNER: SENNHEISER
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr:
Winner: Online Instruments India. Project: Deloitte Executive Discussion Center
Budget Range of ₹5 cr – 10 cr:
Winner: AV Integration Distribution (India). Project: Zebra Technologies
Consultant for this Project: 3CDN Workplace Tech
Budget Range of ₹11 cr and Above
Winner: AV Integration Distribution (INDIA). Project: Shell Chennai
EDUCATION CATEGORY PARTNER: CLEARONE
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr
Winner: VALLECT. Project: AIIMS Bhatinda
Budget Range of ₹5 cr – 10 cr
Winner: HAVI Design India. Project: IIM Ahmedabad- New Academic Block
Consultant for this Project: Design Domain Consultants
Budget Range of ₹11 cr and Above
Winner: PLAY Technologies. Project: AlJamea-tus-saifiyah Marol Campus, Mumbai
GOVERNMENT CATEGORY PARTNER: KRAMER
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr:
Winner: VIN Semiconductors. Project: Innovative Lighting at Kevadia – Pack 3
Consultant for this Project: Rhino Engineers
Budget Range of ₹11 cr and Above
Winner: Pyramid Technologies. Project: LED Media Facade at India International Convention Centre
HOSPITALITY CATEGORY
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr
Winner: Eyte Technologies. Project: Hyatt Regency – Dehradun
INFOTAINMENT CATEGORY PARTNER: BARCO
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr:
Winner: Montu Electric Works. Project: Aqua Screen Musical Fountain at Siddipet, Telangana
Consultant for this project: Rhino Engineers
Budget Range of ₹5 cr – 10 cr
Winner: Tricolor India Schauspiel. Project: 3D Projection Mapping & virtual train journey theme-based show at Husainiwala, Ferozpur
Budget Range of ₹11 cr and Above
Winner: Modern Stage Service (Projects). Project: Smritivan Earthquake Museum
Consultant for this project: Design Factory India
PROJECTION MAPPING CATEGORY PARTNER: EPSON
Budget Range of ₹1 cr – 4 cr
Winner: Magical Theatre. Project: Sound & Light show at Rajbada Palace, Indore
Budget Range of ₹5 cr – 10 cr
Winner: BAPS SHRI Swaminarayan Mandir Gondal Temple. Project: BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Gondal Temple light & sound show
Budget Range of ₹11 cr and Above
Winner: Tricolor India Schauspiel. Project: Projection Mapping on Turnkey Basis at Gabber Stone, Ambaji, Gujarat
Consultant for this project: Rhino Engineers
Some notes of interest here:
- Noticeably, systems integration firms AVID, and Triclour Shauspiel have won two awards each, while Consultancy firm Rhino Engineers have won three Awards for different categories
- The mid-budget range of ₹ 5 cr-10 cr in Projection Mapping Category, the End-User – who themselves had handled the systems integration job for their project – have filed their nomination and won the Award too- The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Gondal Temple
| · AV Professional of the Year: Was conferred posthumously upon Ratnesh Javeri, a name that is nothing less than a legend in Indian AV, and who passed away early this year, falling victim to cancer
· AV Women Professional of the Year: Was conferred upon Mahua Mukhopadhyay, Director of AVID, and a professional par excellence with enviable number of credentials (of honours and contributions to the cause of AV in India) · Young AV Professional of the Year: Awarded to enthusiastic youngster of below 35 years, this was awarded to Mohan Hamal, Country Manager of Televic India. |
The event appeared to have peaked its momentum of celebration when the Award for AV Professional of the Year was announced.
Even as Sarah Joyce, Chief Global Officer at AVIXA waited for Mrs. Deepali Javeri for receiving the award on behalf of her husband, the entire audience paid a standing ovation as a tribute to Ratnesh who personified the highest degree of perfection in his line.
Dave Labuskes, Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA, in his Closing Remarks the while commending the SIIA event, and the winners, observed that it all represented a very dynamic process of how the industry as collective entity can transform the way people experience life.
Ram Bhavanashi, in his thanking address emphasized that each of the event participant was a winner in their own right. For, it was a celebration of the momentum they all have collectively created, and therefore, all are equal stakeholders to the joy called Systems Integration Awards.
SIIA 2024 would be held at the same venue on the evening of 3 September 2024. So, mark your date now for the big occasion next year.
