MUMBAI: Havas Creative India has left an indelible impression at Cannes Lions 2025, taking home one Gold in Print & Publishing and two Bronze Lions in Direct and Best Use of Media for its bold campaign ‘Ink of Democracy’, created in partnership with The Times of India.
The campaign transformed the newspaper’s editorial page into a wall of silent protest — printing it entirely in electoral ink purple, the same hue used to mark voters’ fingers. The striking visual served as a powerful reminder ahead of the general elections: democracy thrives when ink hits paper and the ballot.
Havas India, Group CEO, South East Asia and North Asia, Rana Barua said, “Our momentum at Cannes Lions 2025 has been incredible with one Gold in Print & Publishing and two Bronze Lions in Direct and Media for Ink of Democracy. These wins reflect the kind of culture we’ve been nurturing at Havas, a culture rooted in meaning, collaboration, and fearless creativity. It is also a testament of the product and ecosystem we’ve built over the last 7 years. I’m incredibly proud of Anu and our young talents who brought home the lions. A big thank you to Joji and our global teams for the continuous support. Our hearts are full, and I believe this is just the beginning for us.”
Havas Creative India, joint MD & CCO, Anupama Ramaswamy added, “We’re incredibly overwhelmed and humbled to bring home two more Bronze Lions for Times of India – Ink of Democracy in Direct and Best Use of Media, along with our Gold in Print & Publishing. For a country that still begins its day with the newspaper, this was more than a campaign, it was a responsibility. And what could be more direct than telling 1.4 billion people to leave their homes and go vote? We didn’t chase engagement; we sparked participation. We didn’t count likes; we counted inked fingers. This is creativity serving democracy. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners at The Times of India, and a big shout out to my brilliantly talented young team — Soham, Ravinder, and Annie. You made this real. These wins matter. They bring visibility, open doors, and most importantly, they shine a light on the next generation of talent. At Havas we are committed to making sure they’re seen, heard, and celebrated.”
Stripped of headlines but not of intent, the campaign challenged apathy with colour and symbolism, proving that sometimes, silence shouts the loudest.
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