Havas picks up 13 awards at ADFEST 2025 including a Grande for India’s ‘Ink of Democracy’
The creative performance of the Havas network was one of the highlights of ADFEST 2025. Havas scored 13 awards including a Grande. The campaigns that won included Havas Creative India’s Ink of Democracy for Time of India, BLKJ Havas Singapore’s JBL Quantum Guideplay and Project iContact for UMobile and Havas Creative China’s Call Me When You Need Me for Vivo.
The network secured 13 awards from 15 shortlists across India, Singapore, and China.
Havas Creative India picked up a Grande, along with 1 Gold and 2 Bronze awards. BLKJ Havas Singapore made an impressive impact, winning 2 Innova Lotus awards for innovation in technology, alongside 2 Silver and 4 Bronze wins. Havas Creative China further contributed to the network’s success with 1 Bronze award.
Additionally, BLKJ Havas was ranked #2 agency in Southeast Asia, while Havas Creative India secured the #4 spot in South Asia.
Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, SEA & North Asia, said: “This incredible showing at ADFEST is a reflection of our commitment to bold creativity and strategic excellence across Asia. Our teams continue to push boundaries, delivering work that is culturally resonant, insight-driven, and impactful. These wins reinforce our One Asia approach—fostering collaboration, harnessing our collective strengths, and driving meaningful change for brands and audiences alike.
“And this is just the beginning; there’s much more to come from us.”
Joji Jacob, Regional Chief Creative Officer SEA & North Asia and Chair of Havas’ APAC and member of the Global Creative Council (pictured below), “I’m really delighted with our results at ADFEST 2025. The Grande for the incredibly simple but powerful Ink of Democracy, and the Innova Lotuses for JBL Quantum and U Mobile’s iContact show the breadth of Havas’s prowess across media. My congratulations and thanks to our clients and teams!”
The impact of the “Ink of Democracy” campaign was unprecedented, contributing to a record-breaking voter turnout:
• 642 million voters, the highest ever in Indian history
• 30 million more voters than previous elections
• 280% increase in brand mentions and engagement
On the campaign, Anupama Ramaswamy, Joint MD & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Creative India, added: “My young team, Soham Ghosh and Ravinder Kumar, came up with a simple yet powerful idea. One look and I knew this was magic. Because the power of an idea is to drive a meaningful change. In this case, we made the most popular newspaper remind the citizens about their duty and help shape the future of our nation.”
Havas full win list:
Havas Creative India
Ink of Democracy – Times of India
• 1 Grande, Creative Strategy Lotus – Contextual Insight
• 1 Gold, Creative Strategy Lotus – Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
• 2 Bronze, Direct – Print & Outdoor and Press – Corporate Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
BLKJ Havas
JBL Quantum Guideplay – Harman International
• 1 Innova, Innovation, Innovation in Technology
• 2 Silvers, Radio & Audio – Use of Audio or Voice Technology & Digital Craft – Music & Sound Design
• 4 Bronze
• Radio & Audio – Use of Radio & Audio as a Medium
• Entertainment – Breakthrough in Gaming
• Digital Craft – Use of Technology
• Brand Experience – Emerging Technology & Tech-led Brand Experience
Project iContact – UMobile
• 1 Innova, Innovation – Innovation in Prototype Technology
Havas Creative China
Call me When you Need Me – Vivo
• 1 Bronze, Entertainment – Fiction/Non-Fiction
