Ink of Democracy
The Times of India / Havas Creative India + HAVAS, Mumbai
CREARCHIVE Score
260.2
The Times of IndiaInk of Democracy2025

Case Film
Campaign Images
BrandThe Times of India
AgencyHavas Creative India + HAVAS, Mumbai
Award ShowD&AD
CategoryDIRECT
Year2025
CountryIndia
Description
In the previous Indian General Elections, around 33% eligible voters didn’t turn up due to laziness, lack of awareness, and political alienation. This led to 7,500 litres of unused electoral ink - a purple-coloured ink, normally used to mark fingers after voting to prevent duplication of votes. For the 2024 elections, The Times of India and The Economic Times printed their pages in purple ink instead of the traditional black. For every 132 absent voters, one page was printed, totalling 2.28 million prints and one appeal: Don’t waste a drop of electoral ink. Don’t waste the power of democracy.
Awards
- • Cannes Lions — D07 - Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility — Gold
- • Cannes Lions — B03 - Use of Print — Bronze
- • Cannes Lions — F04 - Social Behaviour — Bronze
- • Cannes Lions — B03 - Use of Print — Shortlist
- • Cannes Lions — C01 - Innovative and adapted use of Print & Publishing — Shortlist
- • Cannes Lions — D03 - Single-Market Campaign — Shortlist
- • Cannes Lions — D04 - Social Behaviour — Shortlist
- • Cannes Lions — D07 - Corporate Purpose & Social Responsibility — Shortlist
- • Cannes Lions — F04 - Social Behaviour — Shortlist
- • D&AD — Direct, Impact — Yellow Pencil
- • D&AD — Direct / Press & Outdoor — Shortlist
- • D&AD — Direct / Printed Materials — Shortlist
- • D&AD — Impact / Campaign Communications — Shortlist
- • Clio Awards — Media / Print — Gold
- • Clio Awards — Print / Print — Gold
Credits
BrandThe Times of India
ClientBennett, Coleman & Co.
Design AgencyHavas Creative India
Entrant CompanyHavas Creative India
Advertising AgencyHavas Creative India
Production CompanyHavas Creative India
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