Cannes, France: India wrapped up its campaign at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025 on a triumphant note, clinching a total of 32 metals—a significant leap from last year’s tally of 18. The final day saw BBDO India winning a Silver Lion in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category for Ariel’s #ShareTheLoad (10 Years) campaign, a decade-long movement promoting gender equality in domestic spaces.
Indian agencies have delivered a significantly stronger performance at Cannes Lions this year, especially when compared to 2024, which saw them take home just 18 metals — their lowest tally since 2019. This year’s results mark India’s most successful Cannes Lions outing to date, with the country bringing home 1 Grand Prix, 9 Golds, 9 Silvers, and 13 Bronzes—reflecting the creative industry’s growing global impact and evolving narrative around purpose, innovation, and cultural resonance.
FCB India Emerges as Top Performer
FCB India dominated the Indian leaderboard with 9 awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix for its campaign ‘Lucky Yatra’ for Indian Railways. The campaign also secured 6 Gold Lions across categories like PR, Direct, and Creative Commerce, making it a standout entry of the festival.
Ogilvy, Leo India and Havas Follow Close
Ogilvy Mumbai followed with 7 wins, including 1 Gold and 6 Bronze Lions, for culturally rooted campaigns such as ‘Erase Valentine’s Day’, ‘Eye Test Menu’, ‘Chai Bansuri’, and ‘Vi Guardian Beads’.
Leo India shone with its impactful campaign ‘Tailor Test’ for ACKO Insurance, winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Havas Creative India earned 1 Gold and 2 Bronzes for ‘Ink of Democracy’—a bold initiative with The Times of India to combat voter apathy through a symbolic purple protest.
Independent Agencies and Fresh Voices Shine
Indie agency Talented made waves with wins in Entertainment for Sport and Outdoor for campaigns like ‘Avani’s Gold’ and ‘Nature Shapes Britannia’, taking home 2 Silvers and 1 Bronze.
FCB Kinnect earned a Silver for ‘Too Yumm! To Cheer’, a smart activation turning stadium snack bans into edible fan gear.
VML India bagged a Silver for ‘The Girl Who Played The Tutari’, spotlighting gender empowerment through music.
Purpose-Driven Innovation Gains Momentum
Creative ideas with strong social messages struck a chord at this year’s festival. BBDO India’s win for #ShareTheLoad in the SDG category underscored the enduring power of purpose-led storytelling.
Godrej Creative Lab was recognized with a Silver in Health & Wellness for its ‘Naga Saint Eye Test’, while Lowe Lintas won a Silver in Pharma for ‘Dawai Reader’, a digital tool for frontline healthcare professionals.
India’s Rise on the Global Creative Stage
With 32 Lions this year, India has cemented its place among the top creative markets globally, thanks to a blend of strategic depth, cultural insight, and innovative execution. From government initiatives to FMCG, insurance to health tech, Indian entries resonated across categories—highlighting the country’s dynamic, socially relevant, and increasingly global creative identity.
As the curtains fall on Cannes Lions 2025, the Indian advertising fraternity celebrates a historic year that not only raised the creative bar but also amplified the country’s voice in driving change through communication.
