If you have not won on Day One, you have already lost momentum --- this was evident in India’s performance at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival 2009. The only metal won on the day was Leo Burnett’s Bronze in Promo Lions. India drew a blank in Direct, which was a huge disappointment from the ‘Teach India’ campaign. The situation was perhaps worst in PR Lions, where Indian entries did not even make it to the shortlist. (Check out exchange4media’s Cannes Lions content for detailed coverage on the three categories)

Three categories down; eight more to go. India camp at Cannes is still hopeful. Unlike last year, 72 Croisette, better known as Gutter Bar was not buzzing with Indian creative heads. Some of the faces that made an appearance were JWT India’s Senthil Kumar; CreativeLand Asia’s Raj Kurup, Vikram Gaikward and Anu Joseph.

Also seen were Pradeep Guha, ZEEL’s Joy Chakraborthy and Ashish Sehgal (who said he was here on a holiday) and BCCL’s Sujoy Ghosh.

Meera Sharath Chandra, who informed us that Absolute Radio’s Sharath Chandra is also here, was seen earlier in the day.

It is learnt that Leo Burnett India has decided not to send any delegates and conspicuous by his absence was K V Sridhar (Pops). Also Rediffusion Y&R’s CEO Mahesh Chauhan may not be seen at the event this year. Mudra too has decided not to send any officials to Cannes. There is only one delegate from JWT this year.

There were two kinds of conversations going on at the Gutter Bar in the initial stages of the night --- the fact that India was not winning this year, and second that there was hardly anyone around. As the beer and wine kept flowing, there was light banter, and some cheer amid the India camp. The creative heads though are still thoughtful --- it will take a miracle for India to equal the 23 metals that it had won last year.