As India entered its 75th year Independence yesterday, there were many heart-warming messages from brands reminding us to cherish our hard earned freedom.
The meaning of independence in these uncertain times is ever changing, and many brands defined it in their own unique way, from highlighting their Indian heritage to saluting the armed forces- there were several messages that tugged at the heart strings.
One of the campaigns that stood out was from Hindustan Times.
Hindustan Times rolled out the campaign #HTLegacyofTruth through a set of 5 immersive 3D audio stories from key milestones of independent India. The 5 stories anchored on the Hindustan Times’ historical archives of the editions published on the very day that:
#1 The British Rule Ended
#2 Indira Gandhi became India’s first Prime Minister
#3. 1942 Congress Demanded Withdrawal of British Power
#4 India emerged victorious in the Kargil war
#5 Supreme court struck down Section 377
Conceptualised by Dentsu, and produced by Wat Consult, #HTLegacyofTruth is a digital audio first campaign under which Hindustan Times celebrated its journey in the nation’s development and the struggle from the pre-independence days till the present.
It brought to life the stories of pre-independence India, followed by stories that truly made the country feel independent. These stories have been turned into immersive 3D audio experiences & an illustration led treatment for visuals to keep the audience engaged. Through the series the brand weaved in the story of how Hindustan Times has remained a prominent partner in the country’s struggle for independence and a major player in its development post-independence by voicing the issues that matter.
To leverage the fast growing Podcast audience; the campaign was launched via HT Media’s Podcasting Hub – HT Smartcast.
Aparna Bhawal, Vice President, Marketing at Hindustan Times said, “Hindustan Times has been at the forefront of Indian journalism for almost a century and an integral part of the independence struggle as the fourth pillar. The written word has its own magic, and going through the Hindustan Times archives to conceptualize the campaign was an emotional experience that moved us and at the same time transported us to the India of 1947. We wanted to share that experience with our readers, especially contemporizing history for the millennials & GenZ, who at times can feel disassociated with the sacrifices of the previous generations, and give them an experience that takes them back in time to the pre Independence era, as well as remind them of the milestones of free India. We were able to achieve this with our partners who conceptualized & executed the vision perfectly. “
Chief Creative Officer of Dentsu Impact, Ms. Anupama Ramaswamy shared her thought on the campaign “The occasion of Independence Day fills us all up with a strong feeling of patriotism and country-love. On such an occasion it seemed more than apt to bring back some historic milestones from our country’s rich history. Fortunately for us, a brand like Hindustan Times has shared that legacy in it’s own way. The idea was just waiting to be found.”
“The medium of 3D audio was also something that excited the entire team on both sides. While the world seems to be moving more and more towards visual communications, this reinvention of the audio medium was just too fresh and impactful to be ignored.” She added.
The campaign can be experienced here: