Among the recent crop of ads, the one highlighting the savings potential of Havells CFL bulbs is a stand out. No complicated computer graphics, no major plots, yet so watchable. The simple idea of ‘you are a bulb, if you waste’ makes it memorable. The claim ain’t new – others in the category too have said this – but the creative execution and the audio burr of ‘bulb’ makes it so distinct. By the way,…

Apparently, the newly launched Bajaj Discover DTS-Si has sold over 100,000 units in the first 50 days of launch – a record of sorts. What seems to have worked? I am not a bike aficionado but my gut tells me it is do with this utilitarian appeal of better mileage. The creative execution – discovery of interesting places at a 100km milepost – is off the beaten track. It is likely to appeal to hardcore…

A new poster campaign for the UK e-retailer, Dixons is making the rounds of UK ad blogs. It plays on a simple insight – that many of us love to visit fashionable stores, soak in the ambience, enjoy the service, gather facts about a particular product…only to buy it elsewhere if it’s cheaper. The online stores are a great bargain that way – I too have realized that online stores like Indiaplaza, J J Mehta…

Saw two new ads for Parle Monaco featuring Aamir. Taking off from where left off with the car sticker ad, Aamir makes life interesting thanks to Monaco. But instead of being mean to or pulling a fast one on others, this time around the contrast between a ‘pheeka’ (tasteless/dull) situation and a ‘namkeen’ (spicy) one is presented. In one ad, Aamir plays out the ‘aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai’ in a dirge like fashion.…

Just back from a short break. Lolling in the pool with my daughter for an hour was great! #positweets # Someone's upset when they find out Enfatico is toast http://tr.im/zhNB # Aargh, lost my wallet. Not much cash but the assorted cards are blocked. Careless me. # Technology is Anthropology and Baba Shreepakdeva's advice to Fake Steve Jobs http://bit.ly/1NE4G # Onida ko dekha toh devil yaad aaya http://bit.ly/nbb7x on the new Onida TVC #onida #…

Unilever India recently took a road-block on the Star & Zee Networks for an entire day – all the ads on these channels were for brands from the Unilever stable. According to some reports, this was seen as a ‘perplexing move’ as there was no ‘new news’ or re-launch that was linked to these roadblocks. The last time such a road block happened was for Vodafone India’s name change from Hutch. I am sure many…

Imamyam TV. Makkal TV. WIN TV. Polimer Channel. Jesus TV. Chances are you haven’t heard of these Tamil-language TV channels. Neither have I, until I stayed in Pondicherry over the last weekend. One was aware of Sun, Vijay and Jaya – the popular channels, but the width of choice available to small-town India was amazing. It isn’t just about the choice of channels – the visual language of these channels is so far removed from…

It’s obviously too early to say if the new Onida ads will do good for the brand. I caught glimpses of one of the ads on TV and saw all 3 on YouTube. On first pass, will they be noticed? I think the sheer curiosity of what the ‘devil’ is being replaced with will ensure an audience, at least among the marketing & advertising community. But my gut says these set of ads will take…

Tanishq commits to going social http://tr.im/yCZV #tanishq #titan # Someone tempting me with iPhone 3GS. Involves jail breaking. Head says no. Heart says yes. Decisions. Decisions. # @rjauhari Abso. It all looks deceptively same but faster start up, shut down. Little nifty tweaks in dock. All good. in reply to rjauhari # Ed Whitcare and the pitfalls of Chairman as salesman http://bit.ly/ynRiS #whitcare #GM # Innocent techie in jail, sues Airtel for Rs. 20 Crores…

I remember seeing the Quaker Oats TV commercials on Indian television on and off. Don’t remember what they said since it’s all lost behind the haze of health commercials. I think today’s full page ad in The Times of India did more good for the brand than all the TVC’s put together. The sharp focus on Healthy Heart and the tie ups with Apollo Hospitals and Times of India is a disruptive effort. It propels…