Brilliant Ads!!!

(Best viewed on the blog http://vipages.blogspot.com)

A while ago I'd put up an article on horrible & stupid television advertisements and its high time I shared some of the brilliant TV ads of all time. A very good ad makes the viewers watch it completely (probably multiple times), drive the message across and most important of all make people remember the product. Some ads even go beyond that and create such a good impact on the viewers that phrases or the songs from the ad is used by people in their day to day lives. For Example: The "Hamara Bajaj" song, the dilogues from Woodwards gripe water, etc.

Here are some of those ads that have defined how good advertisements must be made. These are ads that feature in Indian televisions and the below list does not include International ads.

Bajaj Pulsar:

The Bajaj Pulsar involving dramatised stunts that hit the screens is by far the best 2 wheeler advertisement we've seen. The starts with a disclaimer and then goes on to portray a stunning display of some breathtaking stunts performed using the highest selling two wheeler in India. The background score is mild yet aggressive and simply brilliant! The visual and the audio together makes pulser look like the most desierable two wheeler!

Nike India:

No other advertisement has managed to capture a day in India so well. The ad brilliantly captures, the chaos in a crowded traffic junction, the guys trying to play cricket amidst the chaos and different people coming toghther to play cricket. They've even managed to use a statue from that junction to relate to cricket. Simply Brilliant! The music gives a rustic feel to the whole ad and brings a smile in the viewers face. The highlight of the ad is when the screen freezes with a bowler in the air and Nike's phrase "Just Do It" appears with the tick mark logo. No other ad has managed to capture the essense of a brand like this one. Worth watching many a times!

Pepsi Helicopter Shot:

This is one of the best off the innovative ads Pepsi has made off late. Its amazing how they managed to link that one legendary shot of Dhoni's to something else. Though it is not related to the brand directly, it sure will make you laugh the first time you see it. And for an ad that does not relate directly to the brand like the others in this list the brand still does make an impression with the viewers! The other similar Pepsi ads with other crickets some how does not impress.

Tata Safari:

This is another brilliant ad that makes the product make a striking impression. The music that plays when the vechile apprears on screen makes the presentation stunning. The expression on the animals faces and the appearance of the Safari on the screen is so well orchrestrated that you could not ask for a better projection of the brand and the product. The ad captures the essence of Tata Safari and conveys the message loud and clear that the Safari is an all terrain conquerer.

Vodafone Number Porting:

This is a very good ad of Vodafone promoting the number porting facility. No words spoken and yet this ad features the most simple yet effective portrayal of  the number porting facility. This ad clicked becuase you can easily relate to this ad - what you see here is something you might have experienced in your own life. The selection of the cast is also good and the ad does drive some amount of adoration.

Another brillinat Ad campaign of Vodafone is the Ad series featuring one of the most adorable on screen characters the "ZooZoo." These ads are the coming together of amazing creativity, a very good sense of humour and brilliant advertising. Each one of the ZooZoo ads are a class apart and never fails to communicate the features that the ad is set out to advertise. The best of all is the one which features the ZooZoo as a superhero promoting the launch of the Vodafone 3G services.

Samsung 3D LED TV

This is by far the best Television ad for a Television ever! The new 3D LED TVs of Samsung takes tv viewing experience to an all new level - that's the messsage Samsung had to convey to the viewers and the message comes out loud and clear in this ad.

The ad starts with a soothing music where the 3D LED TVs are installed in public places and what follows is simply breathtaking! The visuals shown through the television are either life like or better than 'life like.' This ad helps project this product of Samsung as one of the most desirable products you would want to possess.

Samsung Smart TV:

This is another brilliant ad from Samsung for their Smart TV. The ad displays an array of stunning visuals (that you see through the Smart TV) and brilliant music. The Smart TV can connect to the internet and bring the whole universe in your television screen, which is exactly what the ad shows you in a striking yet suttle way. The 3D LED and the Smart TV ads of Samsung are two of the most innovative ad campaigns in recent times.

Honda Jazz

This ad takes you back to your childhood, reminds you of those fun moments you would've had in the various rides you would've enjoyed as a kid (like the swing, shopping cart ride, etc). The ad brings back the feeling and so does the Honda Jazz addording to the ad. The way the vehicle makes an appearance in the ad is also quite impressive and the music just gets grander when the vehicle comes in. You see the Jazz coming in, in reverse and effortlessly does a 180 degrees drift in motion, quite similar to the other rides they show in the ad.

Tata Manza & Indica:

Tata Motors is one of the brands that makes some really good ads time and again. Some of their ads are humourous and help create a long lasting impression on the viewers for its brand. Here are two of those ads that sell on humour. The new Tata Manza ad and the old Tata Indica ad.

Tata Manza - A Class Apart

Tata Indica

Dairy Milk:

There is one brand that has been consistently making "feel good" and brilliant ads for years now - Cadbury's DairyMilk. Two of their ad campaigns that stand out are the one where the girl barges into the cricket field and starts dancing to celebrate and the one where they show a family having dinner together.

The first ad will sure bring a smile in your face and it makes you a good feeling & make you feel nice. The second ad, will simply make you feel like it is happening in your own household.

One more aspect that really stands out in DairlyMilk ads is their selection of actors/models. They are so real and you can relate to the actors/modes in the ad. They look like people you come across in your daily life or even people in your family or fiends circle. Besides a brillint selection of cast the ads also shows simple things from our day to day life that brings joy & happiness - one of the reasons why their ads are 'feel good' ads.

These are some of the brilliant ads that have created a long lasting impression, however this is not the end of the list, there are a lot more good ad campaigns that have stood out from the rest all these years. I will share those in the upcoming edtions.

Independence Day?

August 15th 1947, India becomes an independent nation.

August 15th 2011, India is still feeling proud about getting Independence 64 years ago.

Since morning I've been receiving text messages wishing me a happy independence day and that people are proud to be indians, patriotism is in the air, etc. I just have one thing to tell you all. "Wake Up" people. Its been 64 years since India got Independence and for how long more will we feel proud about the same thing and keep saying we are proud to be Indians, partiotism is in the air, etc. You don't need an Independence Day to feel patriotic or feel proud about your country. How come we don't see any of us saying these things on days other than August 15th of January 26th?

Independence Day, 

• Is not about sitting at home and watching Gandhi or Roja in National Television or any of the other special programs that are telecasted in almost all the channels.
• Is not about buying new stuff because all the stores are giving discounts.
• Is not about sending text messages with India Flag or India Map to all the mobile numbers in your contact list.
• Is not about about participating in a flag hoisting and getting chocolates they distribute after that.
• Is not about decorating the cubicles and iles in your work place with Indian flag.
• Is not about making the Indian flag your facebook profile picture.
• Is not about putting up messages like "Patriotism is in the air," "Feel proud to be an Indian." in your facebook or twitter profiles.
• Is not about going to a multiplex and watching a movie that released on that day.
• Is not about setting Vande Mataram song as your ring tone.
• Is not about wearing ethnic wear to work.

The real independence is when we as a race come together to make this country a better place. In my opinion, there a couple of things this country needs to act on immediately. (There are quite a few fellow Indians who have started to act on the below two but a majority of us are yet to commence)

Stop Reporducing:

The country is facing a terrible population crisis and we still plan for and feel proud about having 2 to 3 kids when even one kid seems way too much.

          - Why do you think we can't keep our cities

            clean?

          - Why do you think our public property

            can't be maintained in good shape?

          - Why do you think education, healthcare,

            oil, gas and everyother basic necessity is

            getting way too expensive day by day?

Because all these can remain in control only if the number of people it is being catered to is under control. We as a race seem to reproduce like rabbits and we are just adding more and more people each day making it difficult for us manage all these efficiently. We produce more kids each year and send them to schools and then we sit an complain about the donation we have to pay for the school to build a bigger facility to manage the increased number of children. Most of the problems this country is facing today have had a direct or an indirect impact due the population crisis. We already have enough stomachs to feed and we don't have the infrastructure to address this, how much more difficult do you want this to get?

Stop Pollution:

The whole world has been crying about the emission levels and the need to bring it under control. We don't seem to listen. More and more people each year results in more and more energy being consumed and we what are we giving back to planet earth in return? more pollution to fight with!

Just step out on the street and take a look at the number of vehicles we have and just take a look at the number of vehicles that emit thick black or white smoke and take a look at the traffic cop who doesn't even care to stop them and enquire. And we just won't stop honking wihile on the road.

We go after things that are cheap and end up damaging the environment which will take ages to fix. We still seem to be standing strong with the "I don't care what happens to the world after I am gone" attitude. Our government participates in Climate Change summits only to ensure that we get our attendance recorded. We need to act now, its already too late and how much longer will we wait?

The real independence is when we as a nation get to gether and work towrds making this a better country. If we don't act today, at the rate we a going, a few years from now we will not have a reason to feel proud about being Indians on August 15th.

I will be publishing more articles on the above two topics and how we can make a difference in the coming days. Do watch out for this space. Until then please give this some serious thought and action.

  

(Note: Pictures in this article have been randomly picked from google.)

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara - Movie Review

How often do we come across a movie that is crafted to perfection - every bit of it? How often do we come across a movie that makes us feel so good? How often do we come across a movie that inspires you to change?

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is one such rare occurance in the world of movies! What do you get to see in this movie? Life! Its a story of three friends who go on a road trip through Spain and each one has something in his agenda. The narration is simple, straight forward, witty and brillinat. The movie does not preach on how you should live but makes you realise what you've been missing in life.  

The starcast is perfect with each actor fitting in so well in their characters, one couldn't have asked for anything better. The performances, brilliant! One actor who steals the show right through the movie is Farhan Akthar, brilliant performance be it acting, singing, dancing or the dilogues he wrote! Katrina, looks ravishing and this is one of her best appearances. Farhan, Abhy, Hrithik, Katrina & Naseeruddin Shah look so natural in their characters that you never get a feeling that you are watching a movie. There is one more very interesting charachter called Bagwathi played by a new face, that one will sure have you in splits

:-D

The songs and the background score have complemented the movie very well. The songs blend in so well in the movie, so much so that people in the theatre sat and watchched the complete song that appears when the end credits roll. The movie makes you feel good and the background score enriches that experience. Check out for the background score during the sky diving sequence, bliss! Shankar Ehsaan Loy have always made brillinat music for Farhan Akthar and this time they have done it for Zoya Akthar too.

The photography is astounding! The camera work is very well done, probably one of the reasons you don't feel like you are watching a movie. The way the entire skydiving sequence has been covered is brilliant, we've nevver seen anything like this before! Carlos Catalan is the cinematographer, have not done much of mainstream cinema but has his creidts on a lot of short films.

The dilogues complements the characterisation, they are witty, well written and very well executed. Kudos to Farhan for the same. Phrases like "Arjun my buoy. Tum the is the uniform mein toh the mental lag rahe ho" and "Because only the Mr the Dubey can the talk like that." are already part of the day to day conversation for most of us. Javed Akthar has done what he is best at! The lyrics and the poems are simply superb.

I was not very impressed with Zoya Akthar's first movie Luck by Chance but man what a transformation Zoya has brougnt in since Luck by Chance! She's made this movie so well that it has pushed her brother's (Farhan Akthar's) 'Dil Chahta Hai' to second spot in my list of all time favourite movies. 

In a nut shell, the movie is astoundingly brilliant, refreshing, makes you feel good and gives you an enriching experience.

You only live once but you can definitely watch this movie howmany ever times you want.

(Note: Pictures in this article have been randomly picked from google.)

Songs of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara:

Here is the list of the songs from the movie in the order of my preference.

Sooraj Ki Baahon Mein

Dil Dhadakne Do

Toh Zinda Ho Tum

Khaabon Ke Parinday

Der Lagi Lekin

Senorita - This song is sung by Farhan Akthar, Abhy Deol & Hrithik Roshan themselves.

Ik Junoon

PJ Time

After being away for a long time, I finally got some time and a few PJs to share...

Vimal: You are taking good photographs.
Leeni: Thank You.
Vimal: Good to know that you are learning something from me.
Leeni: Yes, how not to take Photographs.
Vimal: ?!?!?!

Vimal: I saw Paris Hilton

Leeni: Really! where?!

Vimal: Then I saw Paris Holiday Inn and Paris Mariott as well

Leeni: How did I fall for that?

Vimal: I haven't eaten anything since morning.

Amith: Oh Shoot.
Vimal: I can't, don't have a gun with me.
Amith: He... He... He...


In Dubai

Malcolm: This building you see here is a villa that belongs to this Sheikh
Vimal: See macha one shake only he got a villa, imagine if he had to shake 2 - 3 times what all he'll get.
Malcom: Shut up man.

Staring at a huge aquarium that also had a couple of divers besides the the giant fishes.

Russel: What if those sharks eat those guys?

Vimal: They wont, all those sharks are vegetarian.

Russel: But what if those guys are also vegetarians?

Vimal: ?!?!?!?!?

Malcolm: Leeni, don't be sarcastic.

Vimal: She cannot be sarcastic.
Malcolm: Why?
Vimal: She can only be Madamcastic.
Malcom: Shut up man.

Vimal: Do you have space in your shoe rack?

Amith: Space is up above the sky macha.

Vimal: ?!?!?!

At a Restraunt,

Amith: What OS does your phone runs on?

Roy: Some Crap OS, at the end of the day its a micromax.

Amith: What is it in the morning?

Vimal: Oh Shit. What is it from morning till evening?

Roy: ?!?!?!?!

Roy: I ate stomachfull.

Vimal: How was that dish? Tasty?

Roy: ?!?!?!?!

Vimal: You'll have to share my rice also.

Amith: Let me first share my own rice.

Vimal: ?!?!?!

Russel: Where is Amith?

VImal: He is in Poland.

Russel: Which Pole end he is in?

Vimal: ?!?!?!?

Vimal: With this new feature in your car, when you lock the door all the widows close by itself is it?

Leeni: Yup, except Microsoft windows all other windows close.

Vimal: ?!?!?!

Colleague: He must still be jet lagged.

Vimal: He cannot be jet lagged.

Colleague: Why?

Vimal: Because he flew Emirates, so he'll have emirates lag.

Colleague: Oh God!

Leeni: That was a very good photograph. Your shots are good.

Vimal: Yes he buys his shorts from Hum India.

Leeni: How much is the ticket?

Guy at the counter: One Moment.

Leeni: That all, ok let's pay him 2 moments.

Vimal: The bus left?

Leeni: Then what? If you walk 5 times in one frame like Rajini Kanth and come who will wait?

Vimal: ?!?!?!

Leeni: I'm Ok

Vimal: I though you are O'Connor

Russel: That's what the K is for.

I tell you these Asians...

They say wherever in the world you go, you are sure to find Indians and Chinese - Obviously India and China are the two most populated countries in the world. Why are we talking about this, well I'm gonna tell you a story of Indo-Chinese connection in Central Europe. This is a true story...

I'm in Krakow, Poland now and I'm staying in this hotel where there are a bunch of Chinese tourists put up as well. They landed as a big group with big suitcases and bags and made big noises wherever they went. It was a saturday morning, I was just about to get out of the hotel and explore Krakow. I stepped out of my room and I saw this big suitcase pushed against the door of the room opposite to my room, I then realised that this opposite room's door is wide open and the big suitcase was the door stopper!

It was a few nano seconds I would've had my eyes on the suitcase and the door and just when I was about shut my door I heard a woman scream "NO!!!!" I looked up in the direction where the "NO!!!!" came from and I saw this Chinese woman sitting in the opposite room on a chair. While I was still wondering what was going on, that woman said "NO!!!!" a couple of more times and slowly walked towards the door as she yelled a few more "NO!!!!"s. I think her decibel was increasing with every "NO!!!!" she screamt.

For a minute I thought ay be she is telling me not to close my door, may be someone had detonated my door and it will explode the moment I close it. While I was wondering what I should do next, this lady walked u to the door, slowly pulled the big suitcase inside her room and closed the door.

"Unbelievable. I tell you these Asians," I said to myself as I nodded my head in disbelief.

For a moment I was wondering "why did she do that!?" But then I thought may be the last time she saw a brown man was when he ran away with her suitcase.... :-D

(Note: Pictures in this article have been randomly picked from the internet via google.)

PJ Time

Amith: What's the difference between a well and a borewell?
VImal: A borewell is a tenured well that is bored of doing the same job over and over again.
Amith: he.. he.. he.. good one.

Friend (reading a signboard on a highway): Don't mix drink and drive.
Vimal: Ya mix drink with soda.
Friend: ?!?!?!?!?

Vimal: Hey Russel did you see that board over there?
Russel: No what does it say?
Vimal: It says plot for sale.
Russel: OK plot it and sell it.
Vimal: ?!?!?!?!?!?

Upon reading a sign board that said 'Caution - Men at work.'

Leeni: Obviously, if women were working there would be no need to caution anybody.

Colleague: I can never get a brain fever because there is no brain in my head, its empty. he.. he.. he..
Vimal: Dude don't say that loud, the admin guys will put up 2 cubicles in your head then.
Colleague: ?!?!?!?!?!?

Leeni: Sewag's hit 100 in 30 odd balls, what an innings.
Russel: Obviously if you drop him twice that is what will heppen.
Unni: He was dropped twice?!?!?! How
Vimal: They dropped him once when he hit it close to the boundry.
Unni: Yes when did they drop him the second time?
Vimal: Then they showed the action replay and again they dropped him.
Unni: ?!?!?!?!?!

Colleague: Hey for a minute I saw that guy and thought he was Karthik

Vimal: Which Karthik?

Colleague: Karthik Gangadharan.

Vimal: Why will you think that guy is Karthik?

Colleague: He was short.

Vimal: Hey comeon ya, don't be so mean. This guy is taller!

Colleague: I bought a bottle of wine in Frankfurt and not sure if I actually want it.
Vimal: Big deal, you're return journey is again via Frankfurt so return the wine when you go back and you will get more money in return.
Colleague: How?
Vimal: Well the wine will be a month older than it was when you bought it.
Colleague: ?!?!?!?!?

While negotiation on a night tour in Dubai,
Tour Agent: Do you have the local currency to pay?
Vimal: Well I've got two options to make a payment - credit card or kidney.
Tour Agent: ?!?!?!?!?

At empire after i had ordered for my Beja Fry, Amith asked for Aloo Jeera and the waiter said they don't have it.

Vimal: I'll ask him to bring Aloo and Jeera seperately, you'll eat it together?

Amith: Why don't you have beja and fry separately? Oh sorry forgot, since you don't have brain you'll one get fry.

Vimal: ?!?!?!?!?

Vimal: Hey that's an oxymoron.
Amith: No No you are a moron.
Vimal: ?!?!?!?
(Note: Pictures in this article have been randomly picked from google.)

A Generation’s Gap

Each generation has always found it difficult to convince their previous generation why they do what they do. In the last 2 -3 decades the way things have transformed in India has only added to this complication. One of the things that have been a challenge for our generation is telling people what we do for a living. Here are a couple of instances I’ve come across or know of…

I recently met one of my relatives who was curious to know what I did for a living, and here’s how it went…..

Relative: So where do you work you said?

Vimal: I work for Tesco

Relative: Oh, is it a Tata Company?
Vimal: Well no, it is a common misconception, Tesco is actually an MNC in itself, but in a way you are right we do have tie up with the Tatas in India.

Relative: So what do you do in Telco?

Vimal: Well its not Telco, its Tesco. I work in the Project Management Office, we manage…

Relative: Aiyaiyooo I am asking where you work and what you do and you are telling something something and all…. Do you really work some where or you are just fooling around.

Vimal: Ok, I work for Tesco which is the world’s third largest retailer.

Relative: What is that?

Vimal: It’s a UK based retailer, we sell a wide range of products, like all under one roof types. Something like Big Ba…

Relative: I am not understanding anything you are saying. Hehehehe…. I think you are trying to hide something.

Vimal: Ok, fine. Let me tell you the truth I work for a Provision store.
Relative: Ah-ha…. No wonder I see you in shorts most of the time.

I started my work life at a call centre at the entry level. I have a friend called Vidhya who also started off at the same call centre probably about 3 – 4 months before I did. She is from Ooty and moved to Bangalore when she got the job at this call centre. After she kind of settled down in Bangalore she went back to her home town on a short vacation. One of the many people who asked her what she did in Bangalore was her granny, and this is how the conversation went....

Granny: So where do you work in Bangalore?

Vidhya: I work for this company called MsourcE, its a call center.

Granny: Call Center? What is a call center?

Vidhya: Basically people n America call us asking for some information about their account and we provide information. 

Granny: Oh ok. Understood.

A little later some more relatives came over to Vidhya's granny's place.

Relatives: We heard you got a job in Bangalore?

Vidhya: Yes.

Relatives: Very good, what do you do?

Granny: Some Americans have a telephone booth in Bangalore and she works there!

Relatives: Oh. Ok.