Today
we are living a marketing world. I can’t travel a single km without watching
tons of hoardings.
Rickshaw, buses and taxis are loaded with advertisements. Newspaper ads, radio
ads, internet ads, ads ads and ads. But
television still ranks number one.
I
still remember the days when there were no ads in-between serials and the ads
occupied only the in-between slots (yeah I belong to that age group ;)). Then
ads started in-between the serials. And then one day as I was watching TV a flying
image thundered out of nowhere and settled in the topmost corner of the scene.
GOD, I was horrified for a moment and when I closely observed it was an ad of
other serial. Slowly it became a trend and now the protagonist have started to
endorse the products as a part of the serial itself (CHINGS CHINESE for
example) No doubt we are living in a world of marketing.
And
those silly free toys with wafers and what not … I have to change the channel
the very minute the ad starts else a discussion starts and after hours of
negotiation, debates, lectures and what not I give up. He is better than me
when it comes to negotiation. I am talking about my 5-year-old. His strategy is
simple, keep asking until the other person is exhausted. Man, it can go on for
hours. And then by evening he is all smiles with the unhealthy stuff I hate, in
his hand. And the stupid toy…oh, needless to say, is in dustbin within hours. I
wonder what is in those toys that all the existing super toys at home take a
backseat.
Showcasing
vitamins and minerals is the new mantra of many unhealthy products. With a
spoonful of veggies, some products claim to give loads of vitamins. Buyers are
not such fools. Some ads unnecessarily add “India ka” totally out of context
and oh those doctors in every ad, it sounds stupid. God, they don’t fit
everywhere. Somebody just go and tell them. And those deodorant ads; all with 2
main features – stupidity and skimpy girls – don’t register to me.
And a
large percentage of ads thrive on the concept of competition. Use their product
and whoa you will be at the top. Really? Is it that simple. And is it that
mandatory to win every time?
As
much as I hate ads but I admit there are some ads I love.
Some
ads are so beautifully done that I don’t tire watching them. Be it of stupid
couple fights or the mothers convincing their little ones to drink milk. So
much like real life na.
One
such ad is the ad of CHOCOS, featuring Juhi Chawla. I love it when she says
“harna jeetna, it’s all part of the game.” Now that’s the spirit. Too much
pressure to win just leads to unhealthy competition and the spirit of the game
is lost somewhere. Have you ever played without the fear of losing?
Sometimes
I play just for the spirit of playing, without the fear of failure or the
pressure of winning. Those are the games I enjoy the most. And blogging is one
such thing for me.
Well,
enough of my ramblings! By the way, what’s your favourite ad? Let me know in
the comments box. I am all ears.
