This is a Facebook post on the Bodyform wall (am the only one who thought ‘uterine wall’ just now?), written by a man asking why sanitary napkin makers have lied to him for years. Bodyform responded with the following video by Caroline Williams, the CEO of Bodyform (played by an…
A good friend gifted me ‘E Squared‘, a novel about a cutting-edge/crazy-ass advertising agency, entirely told in the form of electronic communication (blogposts, emails, chats and SMSes). I loved that book so much that I couldn’t wait to read the original that sparked off the idea. E, even better (aren’t…
This ad by Gillette has been on TV for awhile now. It started off with the intriguing ‘Soldiers wanted’. The build-up was great. And when it ended, I was groaning. Really now? We need to recruit men into ‘supporting women’? Like it’s a cool thing to do, not the have-to…
This ad by Gillette has been on TV for awhile now. It started off with the intriguing ‘Soldiers wanted’. The build-up was great. And when it ended, I was groaning. Really now? We need to recruit men into ‘supporting women’? Like it’s a cool thing to do, not the have-to…
This ad fell in the category I call ‘So bad it’s good’. What’s really funny is that it lasted so many years. I still see this ad on old movie VCDs and occasionally on the cablewalla channel. If it ran today it would offend at least some of the following…
I spotted this advertisement for Luna motorcycles from back in the 1980s, in my Youtube travails. This wasn’t one of the top-of-mind campaigns like Nirma or Rasna. But when I saw it, I knew ‘Chal meri Luna‘ was coming even before the clip ended. The advertisment depicts the average Indian…
Here’s a poster I spotted on the walls of Tulsi Pipe Road, at Lower Parel. Think it’s a notice for a missing person? Look closely: The text on the poster says: ARNAB BAGCHI Age: 31years, Complexion: Wheatish, Height: 5’11”. Please share any information with Vidya Bagchi at www.facebook.com/kahaanithefilm This strikes…
If you grew up in India in the 80s, you’ll remember this short animated film that would show just before the Sunday morning specials and on occasion, before the Saturday evening movie. “Hind desh ke nivaasi sabhi jann ek hain. Rang roop, besh bhasha, jaati anek hain.” Maths (1 to…
Take a look at this Cadbury’s ‘Only the best cocoa from Ghana goes into making a Bournville’ advertisement: Am I the only one who thinks this advertisement is a metaphor for racism and actually glorifies it? Look at the situation being set – A white man in an oldworldly suit,…
Tanishq has a new campaign on air and I don’t think it works. It’s not that I don’t like their designs. Indeed, they were probably one of the first brands that brought contemporary designs to gold jewellery in India. But their recent advertisements leave me cringing. Here’s one of them:…
Tanishq has a new campaign on air and I don’t think it works. It’s not that I don’t like their designs. Indeed, they were probably one of the first brands that brought contemporary designs to gold jewellery in India. But their recent advertisements leave me cringing. Here’s one of them:…
I get that Coca-Cola’s ‘Do diye jyaada jalao‘ advertisement is cashing in on the festive season sentiment. Except that anybody who has grown up in a Diwali-celebrating culture knows that this is a with-family festival, not a go-out-celebrate-with-others one. That’s Christmas, Holi perhaps (minus the hooliganism & harassment) and yes,…
What are these Reliance NetConnect advertisements about? Why would I want to do business with someone who’s playing mind-games with me and chuckling while I race through life-threatening situations? Do you really want me to think of the company as this evil, twisted creature? Let’s say for a minute, that…
Considering the number of commercial messages bombarding the TV viewer (and mallgoer and movie watcher and city traveler), advertisements are as much pop culture as anything else. Saw a new ad the other day and old instincts dying hard in me, I perked up in attention. The ad went thus:…
E Vestigio dropped in a fortnight ago to keep me company, to gup a bit and to cheer me up. She brought with her two books, my belated birthday gifts. Book recommendations from E are always interesting, given her diverse reading habits. Her gifts were ‘The Interpretation Of Murder‘ by…
I’m quite offended by this new Sprite ad. A lot of ads seem to be offending me these days…no, it isn’t because ads have suddenly become offensive, it’s because I’m watching more TV. And being increasingly appalled by what popular culture is shoving down our gullets. But to come back…
