Watching Television these days is like watching an advertisement marathon. It feels like we are actually watching ads and are occasionally interrupted by a movie or tv show in between. Half the time I do not even remember which programme it is I am watching coz there are so many ads in the interim. How much can I tax my poor short term memory? And to add to that, about 90% of those are absolute rubbish. I thought I’ll just compile a small list of my current least favourite and most awesome ads.
We’ll start with the rubbish ones:-
1. Fair and Lovely – It is not one singular ad that I dislike. It’s all of them! From the make-up man’s dark daughter becoming a star after using the cream, the can’t get married cos she is dark till she uses the cream to the dark girl who uses ayurvedic fair and lovely to become fair and becomes the face of a ‘modern’ cosmetics company. These ads are just reinforcing the mentality that is so stagnantly prevalent - that girls with fair complexion are more beautiful and more successful than dark-skinned girls.Ugh! And they are super-irritating as well.
2. Fair and Handsome – I am making this different coz its a different product and honestly, though I hadn’t thought it possible, it’s worse than the fair and lovely ads. To top it all Shahrukh Khan is endorsing the product! - “Mard hokar ladkiyon wali (fairness) cream”. And the stupid song,”Hi Handsome! Hi handsome!” (where are my ear-plugs and paper bag!)
3. Some freaky pickle ad – Ya, the name is Nilon pickle and this guy in the ad has a reeeeaaallly long index finger. I’m sorry but if that’s not perverted, I don’t know what is. First of all that’s impossible. Secondly, he has apparently got that long finger cos he keeps digging and licking pickle out of the pickle bottle! You see what I mean! What were the creators even thinking!? It’s unnerving and gross.
4. Mankind – It’s not only that the ads are rubbish, but also the very names of the products! They have an emergency contraceptive pill called ‘Unwanted 72’. Yes nobody wants an unwanted pregnancy but why make it so literal? And then the condom – Manforce!! (Manforce? Really??) A really stupid r-rated ad with ‘Pehli nazar mein’ playing in the background throughout. Cheesy as hell.
5. MDH masalas – The thing that I find funny and a little creepy is the old man featuring himself in all the ads and trying to portray himself as Cool and Young! LOL.
Ok Now, the favourites:
1. Five Star fruit and nut – This is the first one that comes to mind, the current one that they are showing with the five star bar in the classroom with a teacher. The ad is alright with all the students being just one student cos five star contains everything, but the clincher for me is the 2 second scene of the teacher enjoying the chocolate and then its cuts to the teacher slapping the ‘naughty student’! I think it was very smart and I found it hilarious!
2. The Save the Tiger ad – The one with the little story of the 2 month old cub. It was very touching and seeing that makes me wonder how can people be so ruthless. My eyes stung by the end of it. It was very well made and brings abut the message in all its starkness and horror. Good ad for a great initiative. Visit here to join the initiative - www.saveourtigers.com
3. Bournville – Hay this should have been number one. Anyhow, it’s a dam cute ad with the butler- who-never-learns finally losing it. I loved the first ad also with the Black flying creature attacking the anchor who casually eats the chocolate – “British mumbo-jumbo”. I like the whole concept of ‘earning’ a Bournville. And I for one feel that all the hype is deserved because Bournville is such a treat. You seriously have to earn it!
4. Tata Sky- The ads featuring Aamir Khan and family are very well-made. He does an awesome job even in the ads and I just love the way they are very cleverly and humorously promoting the advantages of owning Tata Sky plus. Almost makes me want to buy one :P
5. Mentos lemon – This is an old one but I thought I’ll still mention it. This is the ad where a grandfather hides behind the door to try and scare his grandchild. The kid comes near the door and the grandfather says “Bhow ! Bhow beta Bhow!” and the kid just laughs at him and goes away. I found it really really hilarious the first time I saw it!
The Fair and Lovely advert is pretty smart one actually.I saw this technique used by Peggy in Mad Men...
ReplyDeleteIt reels you in with the drama created in the first 4 secs.Then becomes an informative summarizing the basic steps involved in applying make-up(read Talc powder) on correctly.
Step 1.Stare at mirror and bring up family issues.
Step 2.Douse yourself with the white powder "AAISEY AAISEY"
When this doesn't help.You BUY THE CREAM,withdraw admission from acting school,tear down Konkana Sen/Nandita Das/Thandie Newton posters and Voila your a movie star!!!
Hook.Line and Sinker!
If this doesn't work you get your money back.Honest! OR Talk to chick from the Garnier hair color adv whose life(with shallow Rohan) is finished!! to feel better.
I stopped reading after you put the MDH ad in the BAD section!!!!!! That was blasphemous....religious sentiments were hurt.MDH uncle has done has done so much for the community.i dont understand all this hate
LMFAO!!!!
ReplyDelete@KD and Sahal - LMFAO too!
ReplyDeleteLOL!!!
ReplyDeletethis one was really funny. And so true.
I've hated Fair n Lovely ads for as long as I can remember...they are demeaning, to say the least.
you know what irks me the most about these ads? The way kids are used to sell everything from a washing powder to furniture to household appliances to food to every possible thing under the sun!! Sheer exploitation!!
Hay momofrs, thanks for stopping by. And I totally agree about the exploitation of Kids to sell all kinds of products. I feel they lose their innocence. I don't even find most of these ads cute anymore.
ReplyDelete