India has made a strong impression at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking home a total of eight awards on the opening day. Havas Mumbai won a coveted Gold Lion in the Print & Publishing category for its impactful campaign “Ink of Democracy” created for The Times of India. Furthermore, FCB also won a gold for campaign ‘Lucky Yatra’ for Indian Railways in the Outdoor Lions category.
The campaign was recognised in the Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility sub-category and stood out for its powerful civic message. It cleverly integrated the iconic image of electoral ink, typically seen on a voter’s finger, into the printed newspaper page. This striking visual metaphor served to highlight the importance of voting and the loss of voice when citizens abstain from participating in the democratic process. The jury praised the campaign for its originality and the meaningful use of traditional media to promote social awareness.
In addition to the Gold, Indian agencies secured four Silver Lions and three Bronze Lions across categories, including Outdoor, Health & Wellness, and Pharma. The Outdoor category was a standout, accounting for five of India’s eight wins.
Talented won a Silver Lion for “Nature Shapes Britannia”, a campaign for Britannia Industries that creatively merged environmental themes with billboard advertising. Another Silver in this category went to FCB Kinnect for “Too Yumm! To Cheer”, which addressed stadium food restrictions by turning cheer signs into edible snacks, a clever workaround that allowed fans to support their teams while snacking in the stands.
Three Bronze Lions were awarded in the Outdoor category. Ogilvy Mumbai earned two — one for “Chai Bansuri – The Tea Flute” for Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, a campaign that combined India’s tea rituals with classical music, and another for “Vi Guardian Beads”, created for Vodafone Idea, which used cultural motifs to promote digital safety. FCB India also received a Bronze for “Lucky Yatra”, a campaign for Indian Railways that used targeted outdoor placements and on-train messaging to engage commuters during their journeys.
In the health-focused categories, Indian agencies continued to shine. Godrej Creative Lab won a Silver Lion in the Health & Wellness category for “Naga Saint Eye Test”, an initiative developed for the Eyebetes Foundation. Conducted at Kumbh 2025, the campaign offered on-site eye screenings and diabetes testing to underserved populations. In the Pharma category, Lowe Lintas was awarded a Silver Lion for “Dawai Reader”, a campaign for Alkem Laboratories designed to help users read small, often illegible, medical labels more easily. With more categories yet to be announced, India’s creative contingent is well-positioned for further success as the festival unfolds.