Indian Advertising concepts: Good, bad and the ugly

Yes! We know of some ads that are made to stay long in our minds while popularizing the brand so much. We know how much of an impact did this new Fiat Linea Song as well as ad has created. Kids and adults alike appreciated the concept and making of this ad so much so that there have been so many requests piled up for the new Fiat Linea test drive. The Fiat Linea India ad is just about 3 weeks old but the impact it has already created reiterates how a great concept that can emotionally connect to the viewers, will synergize in brand promotion.

I can't imagine anyone skipping the Indian Linea advertisement on any channel. Indeed its no exaggeration if I say that a program will be skipped for this song and ad :)

I also loved the Vodafone ads, they always pump in something creative and their 'happy to help' ad concepts are incredible and try and evoke some sweet emotions, I would say. The Amaron batteries ads are also made very creative with some alien creatures and so are the Fevicol ads with great creativity. But if I am not sounding rude, I get a strong feeling that Fevicol ad makers seem to pour same old wine into new bottles. Don't you get a feeling that they should come out of their old school to make people watch their ads or buy Fevicol if any?

That apart, I want to know if you think along same line like me in writing off of some ads; I hate all of the Fair and Lovely and Fair and Handsome commercials. Miserable themes and lousy scripts altogether. I also can't stand the Zatak ads and some of the Axe deo ads. They are even branded and banned as obscene by various Asian governments. But Axe body wash ad theme is somewhat a good effort although it still kind of assaults women folk in general.

Special Bonding

As I come out in the evenings with my kid for an evening stroll, I see this cute little girl just near the staircase - Ankita by name, she is seen holding her young mother's hand. The mother would be talking to her friends and when she is let down I see her bubbling with energy, and she runs around (not disappearing from mother's vicinity) with kids of her age.

The girl shows some kind of shyness when I call to her or see her. Still lovely thing is that she does'nt shy away to the extent she doesn't like to see me. I call her 'Ankita' and the sweet girl with that shy smile (I still love that) pops her head out, sees me with a smile and again digs her face into her mother's. But then she every now and then makes sure if I am there. I doubt she doesn't want me to leave that place.

That was the story of past......of late....
Without my own knowledge or intent, a secret rapport has developed between me and the small kid, Ankita. I believe this is not being noticed by any other people, including her mom - Only my daughter noticed this.

I call her and she as usual reciprocates with that shy-rich smile. She would still be burying her face in her mother's lap or shoulders but then slowly looks up and checks if I'm gone. If I am there, she tries to convey something in her own language (we dont share a common mother tongue). I wonder she now that I am indeed her friend. There is some trust and some kind of a what can be said, a speechless bonding that only we two share. I see her stretching her cute tiny fingers and she points out some things to me that maybe I would not have observed myself - that could be to another girl who would be jumping or dancing that she enjoys or at a small sparrow hopping here and there on the ground, or a small squirrel wagging her bushy tail while struggling to climb the tree or even at a millepede walking gorgeously along the aisle. Following her little fingers, I know I would see something ever so beautiful whenever I meet her.

Her face lights up to the extent you know I feel that the day will be brighter to me!

What is this 'this site may harm your computer' bug?

Yes, I am wondering if the biggest search engine Google.com is hacked? Ask me why? I was unable to open any site and its showing a message
This site may harm your computer
And When I dared to click open the link I saw a page like this:

Suggestions:
Return to the previous page and pick another result.
Try another search to find what you're looking for.Or you can continue to http://fans.wwe.com/alloutwrestlingnews/blog/2009/01/29/no_way_out_poll at your own risk. For detailed information about the problems we found, visit Google's Safe Browsing diagnostic page for this site.For more information about how to protect yourself from harmful software online, you can visit StopBadware.org.If you are the owner of this web site, you can request a review of your site using Google's Webmaster Tools. More information about the review process is available in Google's Webmaster Help Center.

In my browsing history I have never seen a warning like this (for all sites and links). I first thought its the work of some virus program that my PC caught. But a few of my friends are complaining of the same.

I checked with two browsers the Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox to make sure its the same status with both.

The joke is even when I searched for Google.com the result had the same message. I also searched surfing through other search engines such as Yahoo, msn and Dogpile and found even they had the same.

So started wondering if the Internet as such taken in control by a nasty HACKER or if its a bug that could be easily fixed? To this point, I am writing this post, the bug is still there !
I only wish its fixed asap and we all have safe surfing experience like before again. Did at any time such a thing happened at all? I dont recall one. Do you?

If you have got two hens...

Got 2 hens?
Check how various corporates deal with the two hens:
Conventional Corporate:
Sells one hen and buys a cock
The brood multiplies and so the economy improves
Sell the brood and then retire on income obtained.

American Incorporate:
You have two hens
You sell one and still force the other to produce eggs
You are aghast when the hen is dead

Incorporate:
You have two hens
You go on a strike because you wanted 3 hens

Japanese Incorporate:
You have two hens
Redesign the hens to nano size of an original hen but still lays 30 eggs at a time
The make cartoon images, name ‘Henimon’ and trade them across the world

German Incorporate:
You have two hens
You will engineer them so they can live for 25 years, eat little, and lay once in a day

British Incorporate:
You have two hens
You assume both are useless

Italian Incorporate:
You have two hens
you don’t know where they are and you take a break

Swiss Incorporate:
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you
You charge others for storing them.

Chinese Incorporate:
You have two hens
You will have 200 people taking care of the two
You will still claim full employment and high hen productivity
You will have the media reporter who disclosed the numbers arrested

The 20th day of January 200 witnessed a history with Barack Hussein Obama’s inauguration. The first African-American became 44th US President and I was all my eyes and followed the event of Barrack Obama’s inauguration with the First Lady Michelle Obama and their two kids Malia Obama and Sasha Obama.

The Harvard-educated First Lady walked gracefully in a gold-yellow shift that had a matching overcoat. The lady of substance and style carried a lot of poise and grace when she walked with Barrack Obama. Her gold-yellow brocade shift looked classy and the neutral color did reflect her state of mind and complemented the mood of the event too. I did like her teal shoes and the green gloves that matched her suit.

She didn’t over accessorize herself and a diamond brooche and studs suited perfect for her yellow shift and also the event. Isabel Toledo, the New York designer deserves all praises for designing the First Lady’s costumes for inauguration ball. To hire a native American for her costume shows the love and confidence Michelle Obama has in the American designers.

If you have not missed to see, Malia Obama came in outfits having BIV colors and Sasha Obama came in RO colors and Michelle Obama in YG. And you have the full spectrum of colors (VIBGYOR) worn by The First Lady and the First Girls, and you can’t ask for a better statement given to build the confidence and change the country needs especially when its facing worst ever economic slump.

Shilpa Shetty to appear without her tresses in The Desire

Beautiful Shilpa Shetty is all ready to do a Shabana Azmi in her forthcoming R Sharath's venture 'The Desire'. By doing Shabana Azmi I meant she will tonsure her head and will be without her beautiful tresses. But Shilpa Shetty unlike Shabana Azmi will not receive a fatwa for her daring act. Shilpa was found commenting about her in role in 'The Desire' to be the most challenging one in her career.

It is learnt that Shilpa Shetty who is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer is going to Shri Ratikant Mohapatra an Odissi exponent and guru for Odissi dance classes. Shilpa is playing an Odissi dancer in 'The Desire' and she proves her committment yet again. Way to go Shilpa!

But what for she had to forgo her thick and lustruous tresses? Is she donning a monk....keep running your imaginations wild!

Courtesy: Mail sent by a buddy!

Surf Excel Ad: Dirt is good

How adding a little emotion and sentiment in ad making get viewers emotionally connect:

It’s an old Surf Excel ad and we have seen it over and over on almost every Indian television channel but I just wanted to tell you how an emotional ad gives long lasting impact!

The storyline is this: Two cute kids; a brother and sister going to school. Sister reciting numbers, as to how bigger number 2 is over number 1 and suddenly she falls in a puddle. She starts crying and points her fingers to the puddle. The annoyed brother goes and literally hits the puddle asking it not to repeat to his sister (the result is so many stains on his and his sister’s clothes). He then says (after obviously tired beating the water) to his sister that the puddle is saying sorry. The sibling says okaay fine leave it. This fella turns back says …."never repeat this to her."

Overall, the ad conveys wonderful message Dirt is good. There are no big heads and big just a voice over still spreading the message that if something good prevails with stains, then stains are good.

And the tagline of the ad obviously goes like this: ‘Daag achhe hain’ or 'dirt is good.'

And, I would say that this innovative ad gave wings to my nostalgic childhood memories; how I spent those happy go lucky days and my parents gave me that freedom to spend such a childhood. I would say that the creative Love's team who made the ad hit the nail through head and probably educates even parents how to bring up kids than cutting through the brand alone. What say?

As product evolves advertizing of the same improves. And no better example than Surf detergent powder! We can expect more from surf excel as product and its ads! Great work!

What is the reaction of a school of sharks to the Titanic Movie ending?

I thought I will tickle your funnybone with this one. Its a mail sent one!

Just for laughs

Contemplating on buying An iPhone? Check This Out

When Apple first announced that they would be releasing a cellular phone that would work as a multimedia device, the electronic industry began to salivate. Already the company revolutionized the mp3 player by creating and distributing the iPod. In fact, much in the way that Kleenex and Coke are commonly used identifiers of tissues and soft drinks, the iPod has become a reference for any mp3 player. Now, it seemed, Apple was posed to retool the ways in which we view and discuss cellular telephones in everyday life. Are we just a few short years away from referring to every cell phone as an iPhone? If this is the case, then what are the pros and cons of purchasing such an innovative device?

First off, let’s go over some of the reasons why buying an Apple iPhone would be a wise investment. To start, it should not be discounted, although it has already been written off by some, that the iPhone houses within its parts an iPod. The iPod is the name in music on the go. Even if someone already owns an iPod or other mp3 player, the iPhone possesses the most technologically advanced (next to the almost identical iPod Touch—the iPhone without the phone capabilities) music player on the market.

Secondly, the Apple iPhone serves as a cell phone. In this day and age, it is hard to even survive without the ability to call up someone on the road or away from home. Of course, this also means that most people already have cell phones, but few possess the quality of the iPhone. Already, this item not only doubles as a phone and an mp3 player, but it doubles as the best phone and the best mp3 player; a two-in-one cellphone.

Finally, the iPhone has the most productive handheld web browser around. Not only can you purchase songs for your iPod portably now, but also you can replace most needs for a laptop computer. Save the ability to type large documents comfortably, the iPhone’s Internet browser offers the same online experience as any laptop or desktop computer. No other device on the market combines portable music, cell phone use, and Internet browsing into one, easy-to-use gadget.

Now, what are the cons of purchasing an Apple iPhone? To start, it should not be forgotten that the iPhone carries a steep price tag. And while the price maybe due to the fact that the device is the most technologically advanced thing on the market, the more frugal of customers might not be so impressed by it.

The answer to whether or not you should buy an Apple iPhone boils down to this. If you already own an iPod, already have a cell phone, and either had an internet-ready laptop or lack the desire for web browsing on the go, the iPhone is JUST NOT FOR YOU GUYS. But if you are a sucker for the newest in technology, would like to combine two or three of your gadgets into one—in a high end package no less, or simply have money to throw around, then the iPhone from Apple would be a wise investment and you can just freak on it and it has loads to offer you guys!

Those of you who didn't my earlier post on iPhone, check this out to know what an iPhone is http://liv2rite.blogspot.com/2008/08/iphone-coming-to-india.html

Plug-In Hybrid Cars- Answer To Over Exploitation of Fossil Fuels

Whether or not you buy into the idea of global warming, it is hard to argue against going green. Especially when considering the health consequences of smog buildup, something needs to be done about our overuse of fossil fuels. In recent times, hybrid vehicles have been able to stem the tide somewhat, but unfortunately, these vehicles seem like band-aids that are being applied to a deep gash.

Realizing that the current crop of hybrids is a good start, but not the ultimate answer, the state of California is upping the ante. The California Air Resources Board has ordered the states carmakers to begin producing plug-in hybrid vehicles, or cars that can tap in to electrical mains as a primary energy source. This may not be a bad idea, but is it really a step-up from the current hybrid set?

The hybrid vehicles on the market now are able to charge their batteries via an engine, resulting in low fuel consumption. The proposed hybrids charge batteries from the mains, which evidently will result in an even larger cut in fuel use.

California has told its automakers that at least 58,000 of these vehicles must be manufactured for sale between 2012 and 2014. Should the companies fail to follow the guidelines, their only recourse is to 25,000 vehicles with absolutely no emission. Failure to comply with one of the two orders will result in an unspecified punishment.

Being someone who believes that global warming is a severe threat to our way of life (or at least our future way of life), I applaud California for implementing such a plan. Obviously, current hybrids are not the solution. These new hybrids are probably not the ultimate fixes either, but they at least improve upon a great idea. If society continues to make gradual steps toward a more eco-friendly way of life, we just may kick this global warming yet.

Blu-Ray? How Is It Different From HD-DVD

Well, it's over. The High-Definition home video format war has come to a close. The winner: Blu-Ray by a technical knockout. With sales of HD-DVD slumping to the point that virtually all of the formats supporters have jumped ship to Blu-Ray, retailers have decided that HD-DVD is done. Markdowns of and the refusal to stock HD-DVD are the main components of the premature death.

This surprised me quite a bit. I thought that the fact that the Playstation 3 (a big supporter of Blu-Ray and an actual player in its own right) seemed to be struggling would signal an advantage for HD-DVD. Take this into account with the fact that the X-Box 360 (PS3 competitor and backer for HD-DVD) had a one-year head start; I just assumed that this format would pull away from Blu-Ray.

Additionally, I was under the impression that name recognition would give HD-DVD an advantage. Many people have HD televisions and almost everyone has a DVD player. It would then seem obvious, to me, that when faced with the choice of selecting an HD-DVD player or a Blu-Ray player, consumers would pick the HD-DVD format. I theorized that the name Blu-Ray would intimidate or confuse consumers. Evidently, I underestimated the buying public. Because not only is Blu-Ray the preferred medium for experts, it also has become the format of choice for the public.
At the end of the day, it probably does not matter which medium wins the format war (unless of course you purchased a now-obsolete HD-DVD player). I just hoped that the HD-DVD format would prevail, if only to put the ever-cocky Sony in their place. But now, I think it is time to move everyone on to the same page and make Blu-Ray a consumer-friendly and high quality for viewing films in the home.

Lithium ion batteries will now last for long

How many times have you faced this scenario? You are running behind, you grab your cell phone, and you realize that your phone's battery is on its last legs. Or, you have taken your laptop outside the home to do some work, but your unit is almost out of juice in just a couple of short hours. Chances are, we have all been in these situations. Luckily, scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois have preliminary plans for a solution to these and other problems with lithium ion batteries.

These researchers have created new energy for lithium ion batteries that increases a battery's life. This new battery averages an increase of over 30 percent in power compared to the current offering of lithium ion power supplies. These batteries also address a problem common in today's crop. While old lithium ion tended to lose its ability to recharge itself in a fairly short time span, the new batteries also improve upon the old set's length of life.

Finally, the new lithium ion batteries offer a safer alternative to the old. The chance of fire in an overcharged or damaged unit, quite common in old batteries, is virtually eliminated. In fact, up until a couple of weeks ago, the only hold-up in manufacturing these units was the inability to find a cost-effective producer. Enter Toda Kogyo.

This Japan-based company claims to have the capacity to build and manufacture 30 million laptop batteries a year. The scientists at Argonne think that Toda Kogyo is the ideal candidate to make their dream battery a reality for the average consumer. They have selected the company as their primary battery producer, but nothing has yet been confirmed as to when these units will begin showing up in computers and cell phones for consumers to purchase.

Whatever the timeframe is for these new lithium ion batteries to hit the market, I think it is safe to say that they will be a welcome sight. Any improvement, no matter how marginal, is beneficial when dealing with the limited lifespan of the current crop of batteries. Hopefully, this will prevent the dreaded out-of-power scenario (although it would probably take an infinite power supply to stop people from letting juice dissipate without charging) from continuing to be the recurring problem it is. I applaud these researchers, and I look forward to having these batteries available to purchase.

Fiat Linea India Commercial

Thanks to one Ramya, I did get answer to what I was looking for. The Fiat Linea Indian Commercial is not what I otherwise thought to be one Makob Wegmann's work who did give so many pretty cool jingles for several automobile production houses. If you don't believe my word check the 'Over The Bridge' song composition; the take off is amazing and you will love Makob Wegmann for his great work.

Check Makob's 'Over the Bridge' in the YouTube right here http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=PF-nRc9s04A

Anyways, that apart this song, 'because I am stuck at the sight of you' is the ad jingle that is especially made for the new sedan by Fiat, the new Fiat Linea

Check the song here Fiat_Linea_Song.mp3 (Courtesy http://advertisemeant.wordpress.com/ )
The lyrics (I did transcribe after downloading the mp3 song...) go like this:
't was an ordinary day...
then you came by....
looking so fine...
Oh! You were divine...
Now I'm stuck at the sight of you...
Stuck ...at the thought of you
There's a voice from inside
saying you're the best side....
my heart doesn't need to know
Oh! how you scream...
b'cause I'm stuck at the sight of you….Babe...
Stuck at the thought of you
stuck so stuck.........."

The music directors for the Ad commercial are Ehsaan and Loy (and what a job they've done? I heard that there are many DJs who are after the song) and the script for the Fiat Linea ad commercial was given by Sonal Dabral. The composition was sung by Clinton. The credit of directing the Fiat Linea commercial true to its tagline "Admiration Guaranteed" goes to Prasoon Pandey of Corcoise Productions. Bravo for the wonderful job. Some ad commercials are made to stay for so long in our hearts and this will be one!

I thought you might also be interested in reading this post http://liv2rite.blogspot.com/2009/01/indian-advertising-concepts-good-bad.html

President Obama, you are the one with right mindset!

Barely 24 hours after taking over, President Barack Obama reiterated on investing $2 billion as global education fund. Kudos to president for identifying the education deficit and identifying education as a tool to set right the mindset of extremists which is the root cause of increased global terror.

"Liberal education can only be alternative to the otherwise extremist schools," remarks Obama and how I echo with his thoughts. He is one who is going to bring a sea change in the way the world looks! I love you President!

Innocence of children? Seems we paid it as price to technological advancements

India's National Crime Record Bureau presented the statistics of crime increase and crimes committed by various sections of people in society, and it's so disheartening to learn that there has been increase of 11 to 15 per cent in crimes committed by children. Isn't this alarming? Should this be attributed to their upbringing? Should it attributed to the poverty they are growing? May be not. In fact some of the children hail from so called hi-fi families where both the parents would be working leaving the home in the hands of caretakers. The parents are only interested in fat checks end of every month and for their kids growing up is not all that fun and games and they become patients of emotional casualty.

The innocence a child harbors is such a wonderful thing that keeps the child untainted and enjoy in its own world of joy unlike what an adult sees the same world. It's distressing to see loss of innocence in some kids and children who see the world like an adult does. Where is their innocence going? Did we pay it as a cost so they learn about life super fast?

It was so disheartening to learn that children of 11 and 12 years get access to condoms (a school garbage in Bangalore had used condoms). Gone are the days where children had so much reverence to teachers and Internet is now their guru. If the parents fail to detect the signs and symptoms these children will take the path of crime and become a menace to the society.

Is there any remedies to this? Because childhood and innocence are inseparable and thats the best thing any parents can gift their child in the best interest of their kid as well as the world!

When is it we are learning to give respect to the national flag?

The national flag deserves much more loyaly, respect and dignity than this - was my reaction after learning about the abashing faux pas at Port Blair and Bangalore.

60 years and still......
In Port Blair, the Indian tricolor was unfurled upside down (:eeek:) and the irony is that the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bhopinder Singh, formerly served the Indian Army as Lt. General. Obviously, the Lt. Governor looked so disappointed yesterday after it was pointed out from someone in the crowd.

When asked for explantion buck passing continues, but as an Indian who savor the freedom and owe it to all those great leaders, I would like to see the officials involved in the faux pas suspended from their service for this national offence. It is such a pain to know this.

And again , in namma Bengaluru, our beloved CM BSY missed flag hoisting, for arriving 20 minutes late to the function. Yeddy also breached the protocol of arriving earlier than the Governor, and so had to miss hoisting of the flag. Honorable Governor Rameshwar Thakur hoisted the Indian tricolor in the absence of CM. When it comes to flag hoisting, we need to give attention to even minute details. But when is it the maha nethas going to learn?

Hooliganism by so-called Hindu moral police in Mangalore

As the news trickled in that once again women were assaulted by Hindu moral police in Mangalore, the Amnesia Lounge, I followed the news closely only to literally go into a state of shock. TV channels aired scenes of Hindu literally peeling away women off the pub in Mangalore; I saw the women manhandled beaten and driven out of the pub by who proudly acclaim themselves as Hindu moral police.

These moral police belong to an outfit named Sir Rama Sena (literally mean Lord Sri Rama's brigade). Tell me where in Hindu culture would you see Lord Rama or his disciplines physically attacking or assaulting women? It's such a shameful act by Sri Rama Sena activists what they've done at the Amnesia Lounge Pub and Bar. And, Sri Rama Sena's national president, Pramod Mutalik owned the responsibilty. However, what made me ponder is that Mutalik justifying and substantiating the act further. He remarked, "we are ones who will not allow attack on Hindu culture. He further said "we've got information that they are all drug addicts....." He seem to be justifying that the Sri Rama Sene men did right by beating and driving the women out of the pub and takes pride that they did not molest them.

This Sri Rama Sena is a pro-Hindu organization which has its base in Hubli and it is Pramod Mutalik who floated this after bidding adieu to BJP and Bajrang Dal. I am all glad that the organization celebrates Hindu festivals in grandeur, being a Hindu myself. But this kind of moral policing will bring disgrace to the organization as well as tarnish the image of Hinduism per se which follows the path of tolerance. No where in the Hindu puranas or itihasas do we see women ill treated this way. And certainly will this be the so called Ramrajya?

What this Pramod Mutalik said shocked me. Manhandling a woman is an offence and media has footage of what happened? If the government has any guts arrest those dastardly cowards first.

If not snatching away one's freedom what is this called? And where are we going? The Taliban way, as the Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Renuka Choudhary puts it? To drink and/or to dance in a pub by a girl/women is entirely her personal choice. Similarly how to dress is her personal choice.

What do you call interfering in one's freedom in the name of culture policing? I think this virus is seriously spreading from Maharasthra to Karnataka and a peaceful city like Mangalore is on world map for all wrong reasons today. CM? Wake up from your slumber! High time you step in and take stern action against the hooligans lest we will see Karnataka/India becoming another Taliban rajya and no Hindu woman will appreciate this, not even the women at home of Sri Rama Sena moral cops.

With due respects to Mutalik Saab!
Does it mean beating women in public protecting Indian culture and women? Give treatment to the roots that are collapsing the Hindu culture. Who are we to treat the symptoms of the problem, heh!

Tribute to all those braveheart soldiers

Happy Republic Day to all fellow Indians!! We have not one but many reasons to feel proud to be Indian and as we celebrate yet another Rebublic day lets salute to the souls of braveheart soldiers who lay their lives! Here's my way of saluting them!

The news broke in that it’s Mumbai once again
a soft target for anti-Indian elements to spread the element of terror in each and every spine
it was the NSG commandos who put up the brave fight
attempting to rescue every hostage who was affright

People watched all of this, as most television channels aired
admiration for the fighting NSGs multiplied; religions spared
and then there was a news that a brave commando fell dead
His mother cried, and every mother mourned

His colleagues saluted believing that their man died after doing the thing he felt right
and the nation will forever remember him as its beloved knight
maybe his father could hold back every drop of tear
the soldier who lay his life made the nation blear

the son of this soil is no mean wiffet
and gave the nation a reason to feel proud en effet
his efforts didn’t go in vain
because all of whom he saved are thankfully breathing life amain