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Fevicol's 'bus' clinches Silver Lion for O&M<b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#FF0033">Cannes Awards!</font></b>
As predicted by many in the Indian ad industry, O&M has won a Lion for Fevicol’s ‘bus’ commercial, taking India’s Lion tally at this year’s Festival to four
There were many people here in India who had predicted that O&M's ‘bus' commercial for Fevicol would strike metal at this year's Cannes International Advertising Festival. A round of applause for all of them for getting it right. And a round of applause for O&M India. For winning a Silver Lion and making all those predictions come true, and giving Indian advertising one more reason to rejoice.
"This is absolutely fantastic," Piyush Pandey, group president & national creative director, O&M India, actually seemed to be at a loss for words, speaking to agencyfaqs!. "Absolutely fantastic… And credit must go to Abhijit (Avasti), (Arab) Iqbal and Prasoon (Pandey) for this. And I can tell you that we were a lot closer to winning gold than the result suggests. Not that I am complaining… I can never complain about this. I am so happy."
Incidentally, the silver Lion that O&M has just picked up for Fevicol has been won in the Household Maintenance Products category. And no gold Lion was awarded in this category this year. Which, in a way, makes the win as good as gold.
agencyfaqs! caught up with Kumar Subramaniam, client services director, O&M, who handles the Pidilite portfolio. "The feeling is that of pure ecstasy," whoops Subramaniam. "I told you yesterday that we knew this was a winner. I am now headed for office, and I am sure by the end of the day, we'll have a mini party going." End of the day? We think not. "This is as big as it gets," says Nishi Suri, executive director & head of Mumbai office, O&M, the celebratory mood shining through.
To be expected. After all, it has been an exceptional run for O&M India at this year's Cannes Festival. Two gold Lions for the ‘Second-hand smoke kills' campaign - one in Press and one in Outdoor. And now this silver Lion.
Actually, this has been a landmark year for Indian advertising at Cannes, per se. In all, three gold Lions (including one in Lions Direct, won by iContract yesterday) and one silver Lion so far. Never before has India won three gold Lions in one, single Festival.
Does this mark the beginning of India's ascendance at Cannes? © 2002 agencyfaqs!