Shortlisted at Cannes, but... Can Chennai, Colvyn conquer?

Twenty Indian entries shortlisted on day one, and JWT gets seven of them. Astonishingly, Chennai has produced six (five JWT and one from 1 pt size). It's just Monday, and we haven't seen the TV shortlist yet — so there's still hope for more. What's interesting is where the potential Indian successes come from. JWT, not the most obvious contender in the Awards business, and Chennai, not the most buzzing advertising playground.

This is a significant departure from the recent past, and one that will be welcomed by JWT. And by Colvyn arris. The majority of JWT hopefuls come from Chennai, a branch that the JWT India supremo managed before his tenure in Sri Lanka, and before he took charge of Contract. What makes it doubly interesting is that most of the entries (and this is true of the entire shortlisted Indian entries) are real pieces of communication, created for real clients and with real objectives.

Elsewhere in this issue, too, we talk to the man behind 1 pt size, a young studio which creates a shortlisted entry. A studio which is responsible for the photography in one of JWT's shortlisted entries as well. Elsewhere in this issue, we carry images of ALL the entries that have been shortlisted in print, media, outdoor and direct marketing. Of particular interest is Starcom's Yellow Cab campaign for Emirates, shortlisted for the Media Lions - the only Indian entry to be so honoured. And again, the entry is no scam — it's as real as real can be. By hursday, we will know how many of the shortlist have won Lions. By Thursday, we will know how much India needs to celebrate, and how much to mourn. But Chennai and JWT India can open the bubbly now; whether they win Lions or not, they're both on the map of Indian creativity.