Seven Indian agencies win Clio 2004 nominations; nine entries in shortlist

With just over 10 days to go for the annual Clio Advertising Festival to kick off at Miami Beach, Florida, the shortlists for the Clio Awards 2004 have been announced. And as per the shortlists, it turns out that nine Indian entries from seven agencies have made it to the Finalist stage at this year's awards. The agencies that have won Clio nominations are Saatchi & Saatchi India, Ambience Publicis (both with two entries), McCann-Erickson India, Alok Nanda and Company (ANC), Leo Burnett India, JWT India and Mudra Communications.

Saatchi India has won its two nominations in the Innovative Media category. While its campaign for Ariel, created by its Bangalore office, is the first entry in the Final round, a campaign for The Lions Club of Babulnath (created by Saatchi, Mumbai) is the second. Ambience's Mumbai office has accounted for both the nominations that the agency has won. A poster entry (‘Cuban Food Festival') for Mumbai-based coffee bar Mocha is one of Ambience's entries in the shortlist (in the Retail Food category), while a print ad (‘scratch-n-sniff') for Vicks Inhaler (in the Toiletries/Pharmaceuticals category) is the other.

McCann Mumbai's poster entry (‘female infanticide') for Heal Foundation of India has won a nomination in the Public Service category, while Burnett India's ‘Italian Seafood Festival' print ad for Senso Restaurant is in the running for a ‘Statue' in the Retail Food category. And ANC, Mumbai, has ensured a place in this year's Clio list by virtue of a DM entry (‘date pad') for Kaya Skin Clinic. Interestingly, a three-ad print campaign created by Mudra's Delhi office for Dabur NatureCare is also in contention for a Clio this year. And surprisingly, India - which hasn't had too many nominations in Film at international award shows - also has a Clio nomination in the Film category. The ‘double agent' commercial created by JWT India's Bangalore office for Levi's Reversibles has made it to the shortlist in the Apparel/Fashion category.

Purely from a number-of-nominations point of view, this year's Clio shortlist has proved to be a bit of a climb-down for India. India had 13 nominations at the Clio Awards 2002, a figure it matched at last year's Clio shortlist. So, on the face of it, the nine nominations this year aren't particularly encouraging. However, it must be added that even though India had 13 entries in the 2002 and 2003 shortlists, on both occasions, only one of the 13 entries went on to pick up Clio Statues - the ‘Second-hand smoke' ad won O&M India a bronze Clio in 2002, while the ‘clips' hoarding for Ariel got Saatchi India a silver last year. So, even if just two of this year's nine shortlisted entries manage going that one extra mile and converting a Finalist nomination into metal, for all practical purposes, it would be a better showing for Indian advertising.

Roughly 12 days from now, the results of this year's Clio Awards will be out, so it won't be long before we get to know whether or not India actually improves its Clio record. Till then, all the very best to the shortlisted agencies… © 2004 agencyfaqs!