After a strong opening day at the 72nd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Indian agencies experienced a quieter second day, adding three more Lions to their tally across key categories, including Design, Entertainment for Music, and Sport.
Ogilvy Bangalore clinched a Bronze Lion in the Design category for its initiative “Eye Test Menu” created for The Titan Company. Aimed at improving eye health among India’s truckers, the campaign cleverly integrated vision testing into dhaba menus, allowing truckers to undergo eye exams in an accessible and engaging way.
In the Entertainment Lions for Music category, VML Mumbai won a Silver Lion for its campaign “The Girl Who Played The Tutari,” crafted for Coca-Cola’s Coke Studio Bharat. The campaign highlighted Nilaksha Borhade, who broke a long-standing gender barrier by becoming the first woman to play the Tutari—a traditional Maharashtrian instrument historically played only by men. The campaign used this moment to spotlight gender equality through music and cultural symbolism.
Meanwhile, independent agency Talented Bangalore picked up its second Silver Lion at the festival for “Avani’s Gold,” developed for Britannia Marie Gold. The campaign paid tribute to Paralympian Avani Lekhara, who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. As part of the celebration, the design of the Marie Gold biscuit was altered to mirror her 4.55 cm shooting target, smaller than the actual biscuit itself, emphasising the precision and visual acuity needed for her achievement.
With these latest wins, India’s medal tally at Cannes Lions 2025 now stands at 12, comprising two Gold, six Silver, and four Bronze Lions. While this marks a modest improvement over last year’s count of nine metals at the same stage, the country did not secure awards in several categories, including Digital Craft, Film Craft, Industry Craft, and Entertainment Lions for Gaming.
India sent 982 entries to the festival this year, a noticeable increase from 826 in 2024. Indian campaigns were shortlisted across a range of segments, with notable mentions in Design, Film Craft, and Entertainment. As the festival continues through the week, Indian creatives remain hopeful of adding more accolades to their growing list.