Pretty maids all in a row...

My maid thinks she is Madhuri Dixit (I wish she looked like her, too). She's got a flip-open cell phone (it's an android). She keeps talking on the phone about her job and about things she has to put up with. She complains that we eat too much oily food and leave subzi stains on plates (so what are we supposed to do? squeaky-clean the plates with our tongues?). She showed disgust when we told her that we do not use some hitherto-unheard-of cleaning liquid (their union must be endorsing it). She generally behaves as if she doesn't need to work, her husband's got a high paying job in medical profession and they live in the US where they  plan to buy a shopping mall or something!
In all, she makes it evident that she is doing us a favor by showing up in the first place! But then, most of the maids in Mumbai are like that.
Coincidentally, she was watching TV (as usual before starting her work) when this particular ad came up -

She didn't like this ad at all! Perhaps she thought it was all too realistic to be of any interest. But I could identify with the expressions of those housewives.
I have decided to fast for a day. Not against this ad, (although there are enough reasons to do so) I'm doing it this time just to keep the plates clean.
Jai Winston Fletcher, Jai Hind.
- Anna.

How can anyone eat anything after this?

I pinched myself hard when I saw this for the first time. Hoping I will wake up. Often when I fast against something or the other, I get such nightmares - food everywhere, women singing about eating, a pot-bellied chef who looks like bad news. But I panicked when I did not wake up and had to go through the rest of the ad. I do not understand much of what is being said, neither am I fully aware about this actor's fame, but all this just seems excruciatingly horrible. (If there is a temple dedicated to him somewhere in southern India, I will face a lot of opposition from that quarter after this post).
I can't tell you what I think is wrong with this ad. I just saw it 3 times and I can't even think!
Therefore I am going on a week-long fast against this mind-numbing experience. But I doubt if I ever will be able to eat again. Did you see how he could not even get up from his chair to dance?

Jai David Ogilvy, Jai Hind.
- Anna.

Lambi fasting ka faarmulaa

Well, for starters, my dear friend Baba is not going to like this! Walking on fire is a feat reserved only for those who seek spiritual attainment, but in this ad, it becomes accessible to everyone who puts on a dash of Jinjola! Sacrilege!
And don't miss the clever competition-bashing by repeating repeating words words like like cool cool. But just because you shoot in Rajasthan and use strange looking cast, you don't sit alongside those Ogilvy-Piyush-Prasoon-Chetan kind of ads of yore.
I strongly recommend you show this ad on Radio from now on.  Because there's only so much visual Jinjola one can put up with. I was going to sit for an indefinite fast against this ad, but will protest with just a day-long one. Because, thankfully, the monsoon is here and will soon drown all prickly-heat-talc ads.

Jai Charles Saatchi, Jai Hind.
- Anna

PS: As recommended by a disciple of mine, I will be fasting Maharashtrian style: eating 'only' the following food items: Bananas, Sabudana Khichadi, Sabudana Vada, White Potato Subzi, Variche Taandul (a small grain rice), Daanyachi Amti (a curry made with groundnuts) and all this just three times a day. This should really shake up the competition...

25 join in the 'Satyagraha' against bad advertising!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the 25th follower of this blog! Things are heating up as pageviews reach close to 1,500! But this cannot continue unless you all contribute by reporting stupid ads that I should protest against.
Since I have just completed a two-day fast against the Parx Deo commercial, I would not say too much. I will just finish this glass of juice.

Jai David Ogilvy, Jai Hind.
-Anna

Train of conflicting thoughts.

Indian trains are crowded. People who travel in them belong to all age groups and all 'socio-economic classifications’. Unlike the train you see in this commercial. This one is an advertising paradise! All travelers are of SEC A+, or thereabouts and belong to the 25 to 35 age bracket.
No amount of deo can help you in Indian trains, and you don't get to move your arm to reach for the deo in your bag, let alone spray it on yourself! But here, there is room for all the good-looking and flirtatious co-travelers you can fit in thirty seconds.
Here people don't mind if you sit on their luggage. They don't mind your kiddish behavior when you play 'bike'. In fact, others join in and wave goodbye when you get off the train because you are such a cool guy! (Well, sitting on someone else's luggage is the only touch of realism, but it is not followed by people questioning your parentage, your sexual preference, etc).
Demanding suspension of disbelief from your audience is not wrong. But it should be for an effect worthwhile. Look at the way Axe demands it in the following commercial and you will see what I mean.

The Parx commercial demands a two-day fast. Partly because what it is, and partly because I still have bitter memories of my youth when I used a deodorant, and it did not work the way the ad said it will.

Jai William Bernbach, Jai Hind,
-Anna.

Agreement with the Center

It's been more than a week since I went on an indefinite fast against the menace of child labour brought to my attention by the Surf Bar ad (those who missed the post, just scroll down). All my disciples were worried about me. Someone tried to replace the glass of water with a glass of juice. But I could smell, and couldn't be fooled. I also got a call from someone claiming to be the boy's father and he agreed with my demands. I was pleased. As I was about to eat my first laddu, it struck me that the father's voice closely resembled that of my pet disciple! In anger I threw the laddu at him! God forgive me for this display of Himsa.
Everyone thought that I will not break my fast. But then there was some movement at the 'Center'. I saw the following ad and smiled for the first time after enduring months of boring advertising. Prickly heat remedies, soaps, personal care... Sigh! Only I know the pain banal advertising can cause. Sometimes it is more revolting than the ads I protest against... Anyways, I would like to see this ad more often (not too often, though. Even a good commercial has a shelf life)
Jai Keith Reinhard, Jai Hind.
-Anna

Belabouring Child Labour

This ad will make you think that our young generation is very smart. Not only do they know the spelling of Lemon, Bleach, Blue and Vinegar but they also know their stain removing properties! They know where to get them in one place (why go to different shops? - so they are smart shoppers, too), how much these things cost and how to get the money to buy them (perhaps from unsuspecting parents' wallets). Even the saleswoman at the counter knows all this and suggests that the kid buys Surf Bar so that he can save some money for himself. Questions like "what the hell are you doing here unsupervised?" do not pop in her head (although the scriptwriter/servicing/client has cleverly given the reason in the end - they are busy bringing home his baby sister, silly!)
Usually I protest against an ad, but this time, I have decided to go on an indefinite fast to protest against child labour. Ever thought why does the child know so much? Because, sadly, it must be a part of his daily chores!! Therefore, unless the boy's parents call me and promise not to use this kid as domestic help again, I will not eat.

Jai Stanley Resor, Jai Hind.
- Anna.

Do the right thing for the society. Report a bad ad today.