The Indian advertising industry is now starting to get recognition on the international stage; there are nine Indians forming the jury panels at Cannes Lions this year. There are nine categories in all, and an Indian features on the jury of each one.
Sonal Dabral, Chairman, Bates David Enterprise, and Regional Executive Creative Director, Bates Asia Pacific, is part of the Film Lions jury. Priti Nair, the National Creative Director, Grey India, will feature on the Press panel. Prasoon Joshi, Executive Chairman, McCann-Erickson India, and Regional Executive Creative Director, McCann Asia Pacific, is the president of the Outdoor Lions jury.
The Direct Lions panel will include Nishad Ramachandran, VP and Group Creative Director of iContract. Lodestar Universal’s CEO Shashidhar Sinha will be judging entries on the Media Lions panel. Karl Gomes, Executive Creative Director, Arc Worldwide, is judging the Cyber Lions, while Senthil Kumar, Executive Creative Director , JWT, is on the Radio Lions jury. Roshan Abbas, MD, Encompass, will be seen on the Promo Lions jury panel, and Sudhir Sharma, Strategy and Design Founder of Elephant, is a juror for the newest category, Design Lions.
“There is a good trend of recognising Indian advertising at Cannes,” says Nair. As this will be her first time as a judge at Cannes, Nair is anticipating some quality work being presented as entries. “What comes to mind is the Luxor print campaign, which has been done in sharp detail,” she adds.
The newest category at Cannes is the Design Lions category. Entries will be judged on the graphics. Additionally, packaging and branding will form a part of the overall judging criteria.
“Design awards aren’t big in India yet, though they are a big deal in the US and in Europe,” says Sharma, feeling sure that with Cannes having included the category, Design will be one of the more coveted awards in time.
“In India, we are beginning to see a lot of integrated campaigns with digital playing an important role, and not just as a campaign website or a display ad unit. Today, we have virals, downloads, widgets, Facebook applications and a lot more social and mobile merchandise with integrated campaigns. I truly believe the time is now, when most brands can have, not just transparent dialogues with their consumers, but use the Internet and its various tools to react and optimise efforts,” says Gomes.