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O&M, McCann hit Gold at Cannes
MUMBAI: It’s celebration time for the Indian contingent (and it’s a big one that) at the ongoing Cannes advertising festival.
Good old Ogilvy and Mather India (O&M) and new kid on the ‘Cannes’ block McCann Erickson have provided the quality thus far laying claim to two Gold Lions and Silver Lions in the print and outdoor categories.
O&M won one Gold and two Silvers while McCann took home one Gold.
Ogilvy & Mather India has won one Gold and two Silvers for the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) campaign. O&M India’s ‘Cancer cures smoking’ and ‘Asterix’ for the CPAA has already generated tremendous interest. O&M had nine shortlisted entries in the print and outdoor categories.
McCann, meanwhile, struck gold for its “Thanda Matlab Coca-Cola” press campaign in the non-alcoholic drinks category. The ‘Man In The Shadow’ and ‘Barber Shop’ ads were the ones that collectively bagged the honours earlier today.
The low key campaign released in the Indian Express’ supplement Mumbai Newsline earlier this year. One featured a man standing in the shadow of a Coke van while the other had a barber using a Coke bottle filled with water to wet a customer’s hair.
When contacted at the McCann Mumbai offices, art director Akshay Kapnadak said the whole team was keeping its fingers crossed for the results of the TVC category which are to be declared on Friday. That will be the day when the far more celebrated Aamir Khan Coke ad competes with others in its category for top honours. McCann-Erickson India creative head honcho Prasoon Joshi’s fears about “foreigners” not understanding the India-centric nuances of the campaign featuring Bollywood hero Khan may have probably been assuaged just a wee bit by the Lion pocketed by the agency today.
This year India has 428 entries ensuring that “aamchi Bharat” has made it to the Top 10 list at least in terms of quantity. Entries from the Indian ad industry follow those from the US, Germany, UK, Brazil, Spain, France, Japan, South Africa and Canada. A record number of entries (29) from India were shortlisted in the print and outdoor categories alone this year.
Three jury members from India are going to The International Advertising Festival Cyber Lions 2003. Among these are ex-Carat CEO Meenakshi Madhvani, a member of the management committee of The Advertising Club Bombay, Wunderman India CEO Rajat Sethi and DIREM Marketing Services MD Vivek Basrur. The Times of India group chose Ashish Rajyawardhan Pathak as the only Indian participant in the prestigious Cannes Lions Academy workshop for students.
Looks as if the good news has just started filtering in. The Indian flag seems to be fluttering even as adman Piyush Pandey has set his sights high on ensuring that “We have to get a Grand Prix home!”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
