India made a powerful impression at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, kicking off with an impressive haul of four Silver Lions and three Bronze Lions across diverse categories.
Among the standout entries was FCB India’s ‘Lucky Yatra’ for Indian Railways, which clinched a Bronze Lion in the Outdoor category. Rooted in cultural insight and public behaviour, the campaign tackled the widespread issue of ticketless travel by transforming every train ticket into a lottery ticket, making each ride a chance at winning, and reframing compliance as an exciting opportunity. With smart use of contextual out-of-home placements, digital media, radio, and on-train messaging, ‘Lucky Yatra’ captivated millions of daily commuters across Mumbai's railway system.
Sharing his excitement on the win, Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO, FCB India & South Asia, says, “Kicking off Cannes Lions with a Silver for ‘Too Yumm!’ and a Bronze for ‘Lucky Yatra’ is a fantastic start. These wins reflect the breadth of thinking and the depth of creativity we’re building at FCB India. It’s only Day One, and the energy is already electric — a true testament to the culture of bold ideas we’re nurturing across the board.”
FCB Kinnect took home a Silver Lion in the Outdoor Category for its witty and inventive ‘Too Yumm! To Cheer’ campaign, which responded to stadium snack restrictions during major cricket matches. Instead of conventional branding, the team introduced edible cheer signs, oversized chips imprinted with fan slogans in edible ink, allowing fans to snack and show their support at once. It was a clever twist that turned a limitation into a cultural moment.
Neville Shah, CCO, FCB Kinnect, also joined the celebration, saying, “It’s such an exciting thing to bring to life ideas that seem impossible and then win with brand partners who have been with us a long time. Who trust us. And this is just a representation of that. It takes an entire village to make an idea come to life and we are just so happy.”
Talented was awarded a Silver Lion in Outdoor Category for its ‘Nature Shapes Britannia’ campaign, an OOH effort for Britannia that turned billboard advertising into an act of environmental sensitivity. Rather than disrupt nature, the biodegradable installations were built around existing trees, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainability in both message and medium.
Ogilvy Mumbai added two Bronze Lions, both in Outdoor Category, to India’s tally with evocative work for both Unilever’s Brooke Bond Taj Mahal and Vodafone Idea. The ‘Chai Bansuri – The Tea Flute’ installation turned a steaming kettle into a flute playing Indian classical music, beautifully marrying the ritual of tea with the elegance of tradition. Meanwhile, the ‘Vi Guardian Beads’ campaign brought innovation to crowd safety during the Kumbh Mela by engraving sacred Rudraksha and Tulsi beads with phone numbers, enabling lost individuals, many without phones, to reconnect with their families.
In a moment of shared joy Kainaz Karmakar, Harshad Rajadhyaksha & Sukesh Nayak, CCOs, Ogilvy India, remark, “It’s an extremely gratifying feeling, to be opening our Lions tally on day one of Cannes, with work for two of our most iconic brands - Taj Mahal Tea and Vodafone-Idea (Vi). It’s great to see both brands carrying on their winning ways from last year, now with Chai Bansuri and Number Rakshak. A big shout out to all our teams at Ogilvy and our partners who have strived to push excellence on these pieces of work, along with all our fantastic clients,"
In the Health & Wellness category, Godrej Creative Lab earned a Silver Lion for its impactful ‘Naga Saint Eye Test’ campaign for the Eyebetes Foundation. Conducted in partnership with the revered Naga Akhara at Kumbh 2025, the initiative provided eye screenings, diabetes testing, and free eyeglasses to pilgrims and police. More than a medical effort, the project became a spiritual service.
Swati Bhattacharya, Global Head, Godrej Creative Lab, expresses her pride in the win, she says, "The most complex human problems can have the simplest of solutions. Our first win was when the naga sadhu community said 'yes' to us, this win will now make the Eyebetes Foundation get visibility all over the world. Our idea has travelled from the world's biggest spiritual festival...to the world's biggest creative festival."
Rounding out the wins, Lowe Lintas secured a Silver Lion in Pharma Category for the ‘Dawai Reader’ campaign created for Alkem Laboratories. By delivering global medical updates and continuous learning resources to healthcare professionals, the initiative served as a crucial link in strengthening doctor-patient outcomes, all while reinforcing Alkem’s position as a champion of scientific education in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
With creativity rooted in cultural relevance, social impact, and ingenious problem-solving, India’s showing at Cannes Lions 2025 reflects not just a winning streak, but a narrative of innovation that resonates far beyond the awards stage.
Here's the list of Silver & Bronze Wins of Day 1 as per category:
Day 1 – 4 SILVER, 3 BRONZE
OUTDOOR – 2 SILVER, 3 BRONZE
- NATURE SHAPES BRITANNIA FOR BRITANNIA INDUSTRIES LTD BY TALENTED – SILVER
- TOO YUMM TO CHEER! FOR TOO YUMM! BY FCB KINNECT – SILVER
- CHAI BANSURI - THE TEA FLUTE FOR UNILEVER BROOKE BOND TAJ MAHAL TEA BY OGILVY – BRONZE
- LUCKY YATRA FOR INDIAN RAILWAYS BY FCB INDIA – BRONZE
- VI GUARDIAN BEADS FOR VI (VODAFONE IDEA) BY OGILVY – BRONZE
AUDIO & RADIO – NO SHORTLISTS
HEALTH & WELLNESS – 1 SILVER
- NAGA SAINT EYE TEST FOR EYEBETES FOUNDATION BY GODREJ CREATIVE LAB – SILVER
PHARMA- 1 SILVER
- DAWAI READER FOR ALKEM LABORATORIES BY LOWE LINTAS – SILVER
