National Domestic Violence Hotline - Review

A departure from the humorous strains of the previous couple of posts, and on a more serious note, this ad struck a chord for its stark visual(s).

Nothing gory or macabre about it, as one would expect it to be. In fact, quite the contrary. The ad leaves plenty of scope for differing interpretations.

Especially the part in the end where the much abused girl looks back suddenly. The fear in her eyes...haunting; her expression raw with fear...

Tell me what you think about the ad.
Hint: Look for all the tiny details in the ad, for in the detail hangs the tale.

There are times when you might have wished you had done an ad. For me, this is one such brilliant ad. Simply mind blowing.

Don't believe it? Go ahead, be your own judge.

Don't forget to post your thoughts at:

rajni.shriram@gmail.com

Tata Sky Offer - Review

Still no response. Not a word, not even a single tick in one of those little boxes at the end of this page...

Sigh!

Oh God, why are you doing this to me?!

Well, as promised, here is another boring post. I did warn you, didn't I?




This silent TVC is reminiscent of the movies of Laurel and Hardy. Short and sweet, the storyline is superbly supported by some brilliant performances by the two protagonists.

The whole story begins, middles and ends on the message that the price is what it says it is; no conditions to it as is wont in most of the other ads.

This is how the story goes:

Two painters are seen painting a new outdoor ad for Tata Sky informing consumers that Tata Sky is now available at the very attractive price of Rs. 999/- only.

As an afterthought one of the more rotund painters adds an asterisk at the end of the advertisement and then seeks the other painter's approval.

The second painter looks at the asterisk and then hits the first painter on his head because written below are the words "No conditions apply".

Simple message well told and humorously too at that.

Have I bored you adequately? Good. Now I challenge you to ignore checking the boxes. I d a r e you to...

Sigh.

I've lost it, haven't I? I'm either mad or you are cruel. I am compelled to think that it's the former. Are you susceptible to maska maaroing? Because it just might give my case more teeth and you might just bite the bait. What say?

Tick, tick, tick...

Give me a second chance.

Whoever said "A kingdom for a horse"...

... did not know the agony and desperation of a frustrated writer trying vainly to pitch for her 15 minutes of fame!

Micromax's Qube - Review

In a war-torn AnyCity located AnyWhere, two forces kick up a lot of dust waging a bitter battle to its bitter end.

This is the story of one such brave-heart who confronts the enemy just a few blocks away from the scene of the war.

The scene is very authentic and I am told the guns are real to lend more 'dum' to a "striving-to-be" authentic scenario.

Hand grenades blow up cars and the walls and vehicles are riddled with the enemy's bullets. A soldier spots his mate who has taken cover behind a vehicle and who is immensely enjoying the features of his mobile oblivious to the inherent danger he is putting himself through in the process. The soldier faces near death experiences as he dodges a deadly torrent of bullets as he rushes to be with his friend.

In between fierce fighting, the soldier tries to tell his mate to get real or be prepared to die. But the mate is impervious to the soldier's advice as he sits enthralled by the features of the mobile.

What happens next? Do the two men make it alive? Who wins the war... I am not telling.

The truth be told: I want you  to tell me...

I have reason to believe that you are ignoring my posts. And so I will continue dishing out unexciting posts until some of you respond to them! Positive or negative feedback, either is welcome.

Thanks (in anticipation) and God bless. I knew you would never let me down.

(Pause)

You aren't going to(help me), are you?

Ah, well. What can I say? I knew it all along.

Okay then. You asked for it. Wait for another boring post. I'll continue posting such inane monologues, until you report me to Google, or you could transfuse some fresh blood into my blog by filling up the boxes...

Sigh... Restlessly and impatiently waiting...

Nolan's Cheddar Cheese - Review

When is a small piece of cheese kept carelessly on the floor?
You guessed it: When it's part of a trap for an unsuspecting little mouse.

And who wins the cat and mouse, or shall we say, man and mouse game...?
Now that, I'm not telling.. but the music just might.

The music sets the mood for each successive scene. When the mouse finds the meat, in this case, the cheese, he is "on top of the world"; when he is trapped, "This is the end..." is played. And as for the finale...? I'm not telling...

Watch it to find out, and then post in your thoughts to: rajni.shriram@gmail.com

Hint: The ad famously plays on the word 'strong'. Guessed it, eh? Well, what can I say...? Was never good at keeping secrets!

NIKE - I am the Rules - Review

The ember is still hot and the smoke still blowing, long after the ad was first published, as I watch the ad for the nth time.

Of what substance are legends made of? Why do some reach the echelons of super stardom, while the rest of us struggle to keep pace with our peers?

This ad is a peek into the attitude of legends, the kind of stuff that Nike symbolizes and/or endorses.

In this ad, Nike doffs its hat to all the sporting legends who have broken all rules to carve out a niche for themselves.

Nike invites us to follow the path of these sporting legends and join them in the crusade for non-conformity, by setting and living by our own rules and on our own terms.

A must watch for all those who think differently. Watch this fast-paced ad for its sheer brilliance and don't forget to save it for posterity. And a word about this ad would be incomplete without a mention of the magnetic music.

As a parting shot, I'd request you to download the music as well, for its electrifying and alluring presence that has been woven so well into the fabric of the ad.

It's astonishing that in this 60 second ad not a word is spoken, yet so much has been said.

Watch it for the play on lighting, (light, darkness and shadow), for its sudden bursts of colors, heck, for everything an ad should be. I'd be surprised if I ever got tired of a masterpiece such as this one. Great work of art!

This ad will find a place in my collection of all-time greats. How about you?

Pepsi Max (India) - Review

Q: What would you do to get a job?

A. Depends on how badly I want it!

You would think that an interview would be just another run of the mill kind of ad, nothing much to it. Well, what do you know!

The story kicks off as soon as an interviewee takes a swig of Pepsi Max.

An innocent question, "Why do you think that tumhe yeh job milna chaahiyein?" triggers off a series of events that gets the boss quickly embroiled knee deep in hot water. After a brief pause, this question is met with a reply that baffles the boss as much as it confounds the audience. The boy slaps himself on the face and then asks the boss loudly, "Sir, mujhe kyon maar rahe ho?" He then goes on to noisily knock off fragile items from the shelves, after which he thrusts his head in an aquarium. He then tears his shirt and knocks himself so hard against a wall that a painting on the other side of the wall is knocked down.

While the boss looks on  bewildered by the sudden turn of events, there is a pandemonium outside the room where all the agitated youth scramble their way out the door.

All except one, who it turns out, is a friend of the 'harassed' boy.

Needless to say,  the  second boy gets the job.

And as the racy story speeds to its grand finale, it made me fervently wish that I too had such a eclectic group of friends as also such an introduction to my boss!

Nice try, guys!

That got me thinking...

Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Pause

Don't think I'll do it?

Pause

Wanna bet?

Pause

OMG! My boss is walking towards me with smoke in his ears!

Do I see a noose? And is that me hanging?

RBI - Paisa Bolta Hai - Review

With Gulzar, the doyen wordsmith of Indian Cinema, who lent his two cents to the crafting of this ad, can anything go wrong?

The ad is born out of the simple idea that Indians examine everything before buying, so why not the note?

The note, being the protagonist of the ad, invites the viewer to examine its myriad colors, to touch the note, handle it; its premise being that the consumer examines everything. So it follows that the consumer get habituated in examining the note as well.

The ad is set in a rural and vibrant India, in its simplest form. No translation, not even a dissertation can compete with Gulzar's word for careful word.

It is often said that in simplicity lies profundity and Gulzar does just that in his inimitable style.

He displays the simplicity of a master craftsman who has sharpened his art with his very own signature style, a fact that is appreciated by the laborer and his master in a language that is singularly 'their's'.

Great script, remarkable idea.

The purpose was to enlighten the people of rural India. Did the ad achieve it, I wonder...

"Aah, yes. Even for them; especially for them." Thus spake the paisa in this thoroughly engaging ad by Publicis Ambience.