The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has announced the winners of the AAAI Young Lotus Contest 2025. The winning duo comprises Pallavi Subudhi and Filoni Gudhka from BBH Mumbai. The pair will represent India at the prestigious Young Lotus Workshop and attend Adfest 2025 in Pattaya, Thailand.
The Young Lotus Workshop is a three-day programme designed to foster the next generation of young creatives from across Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. It offers participants the chance to work with industry leaders, push creative boundaries, and refine their skills on an international stage.
This year’s contest was centred around the theme ‘Support Local, Strengthen India’. The jury panel, consisting of Chetan Kapoor (Saatchi Propagate), Kartikeya Tiwari (FCB Kinnect), and Zainab Haji (Grey), selected Pallavi and Filoni’s entry from 130 submissions across India. The pair’s submission stood out for its insightful and creative execution, perfectly capturing the theme’s essence.
Speaking about the initiative, an AAAI spokesperson said, “The aim of this year’s theme, ‘Support Local, Strengthen India’, was to push young creatives to emphasise the power of local insights in creating compelling narratives. The winning entry by Pallavi and Filoni was a perfect blend of creativity and strategic thinking, backed by insightful storytelling. Their work and impactful ideas set them apart. We look forward to seeing them shine on the global stage at the Young Lotus Workshop where teams from 15 different countries will participate and later on take part in ADFEST 2025.”
“BBH takes its young talent seriously and it’s great to see the industry celebrate our young creative superstars. We couldn’t be happier for Pallavi and Filoni. They are true Black Sheep,” added Parikshit Bhattaccharya, CCO, BBH India.
"This win brings us one step closer to our goal of establishing ourselves in the creative industry. We are grateful to the BBH leadership team for providing this amazing opportunity as well as our mentors, without whom this couldn’t have been possible. We can't wait to take this experience to the global stage at Young Lotus Workshop/Adfest 2025 and make the most of this opportunity,” said Pallavi and Filoni in a joint statement.
This victory marks a significant milestone in the journey of India’s creative talent. With a strong lineup of entries, this year’s contest showcased the evolving landscape of the industry.
Representing India at the Young Lotus Workshop 2025, the winners will engage with some of the brightest minds in the industry across Asia and push the boundaries of creative storytelling.
