MAM
The Hindu launches 1950 Republic Day collector’s edition on Blinkit
CHENNAI: The Hindu has rolled out a specially curated collector’s edition of its iconic 26 January 1950 Republic Day newspaper, now available for purchase on quick-commerce platform Blinkit, as India celebrates its 77th Republic Day.
The original eight-anna issue, which ran to 126 pages, has been streamlined into a 62-page collectible split into two easy-to-read sections and priced at Rs 300 per copy. The edition chronicles the formal birth of the Indian Republic, including the swearing-in of Rajendra Prasad as the nation’s first president and Jawaharlal Nehru’s address heralding constitutional governance.
Packed with nearly 90 photographs, the archive features a full-page visual spread capturing key moments of the era. Highlights include Indonesian president Sukarno’s Republic Day visit, Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha, Nehru signing the Constitution, and candid moments involving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and C Rajagopalachari.
The issue also carries political cartoons, including one by British cartoonist Sir David Low, alongside congratulatory messages from global leaders such as US president Harry Truman and Lord Mountbatten.
Editorial gems range from constitutional commentary and Gandhian reflections to early insights into Indian cinema, infrastructure projects and cricketing legends. Period advertisements and cultural listings add a nostalgic layer, offering a snapshot of India’s social and economic life at the dawn of the Republic.
Click here to order: https://blinkit.onelink.me/z75u/jf4n4lul
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
