MAM
Cannes Lion 2021: Dentsu Webchutney walks home with seven Lions
New Delhi: Dentsu Webchutney, the digital-led creative agency from the house of dentsu India, has continued its run as the highest-scoring Indian agency at 2021 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity second year in a row.
In 2019, the agency topped the charts with seven metals and 16 shortlists. This time, they have beaten their previous record with 20 shortlists and seven Lions.
The agency has won three Silver and two Bronze for ‘The 8-Bit Journo’ campaign in the Direct Lion, Creative Strategy, Mobile Lions and Digital Craft categories. For the ‘World’s Most Reported Trailer’ campaign, the agency has bagged one Silver in the Entertainment category. Additionally, Dentsu Webchutney has also grabbed a Bronze for ‘The Better Half Recipes’ campaign in the Creative eCommerce category.
Commenting on the achievement, Dentsu Webchutney, NCD, PG Aditiya said, “This year’s Cannes Lions is probably our most meaningful one yet. A huge round of applause for our teams across the country, both past and present, & gratitude to our clients who’ve shape-shifted the status-quo of Indian creativity at a global level, with us.”
dentsumcgarrybowen (dentsuMB) India, CEO, Sidharth Rao said, “2019 showed us Webchutney was capable of creative excellence at the highest level. 2021 showed it was about doing it consistently – the wins this year have firmly planted the ‘new normal’ of what Webchutney’s north star as an agency is. The agency is home to some incredible talent and is a shining example of what the dentsuMB group of agencies and dentsu India itself wants to stand for.”
For the record, dentsu India has secured an overall 22 shortlists and seven Lions at Cannes Lions 2021. Dentsu Webchutney has 20 shortlists in the Creative Strategy Lions, Direct Lion, Media, Digital Craft, Entertainment, Brand Experience & Activation, Creative eCommerce Lions and Mobile Lions categories. Meanwhile, Taproot Dentsu has secured two shortlists for its heart-warming Pooja Didi Campaign for Facebook in the Film Craft and Film Lions categories.
dentsu India, CEO Anand Bhadkamkar said, “This recognition is only a testament to the fact that dentsu India is steadily emerging into becoming one of India’s greatest creative powerhouses. Dentsu Webchutney and Taproot Dentsu have already established a massive benchmark for everyone within the network and for many across the industry with their superlative and consistent performance. I am extremely proud of how our teams have shown such powerful resilience and stayed strong even in these challenging times.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
