Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Please Help ! -5 Star

Ad By: Ogilvy & Mather

Chocolate is about sadness and happiness. 5 Star didn't miss either of them in their new ad campaign. 5 star is the second biggest brand in chocolates from Cadbury lagging behind just Dairy Milk. The brand has always been loved by all chocolate lovers because of its taste and is well recognised by its Golden pack since 1969. The marketers for 5 star never had to bother about the sales figure of the product as it is well accepted in the market and is considered as premium chocolate by middle class youth consumers for whom the price is slightly more when looked at the quantity offered. So, the communication made to the consumer of 5 Star is not to sell it but to maintain its brand image.
The ad very wells takes attention of the audience in this new ad. A young guy sits to relax in a park with his 5 Star chocolate. He seems to be all set to get lost in his own world. Somewhere it shows that how a person feels relaxed when he takes a chocolate. Thats what chocolates are known for. Giving a good feel when tired mentally/ emotionally or anyhow. Next it moves to a thief who is obesrving this guy and very well knows that once he takes 5 star he would be lost in other world and won't know when things with him would be moved off. He is shown as taking advantage of 5 Star consumer who loses his senses. But a subtle humour is added when other thief comes up pointing that a thief should not leave his moral values. He explains to his colleague that we should understand the condition of 5 star consumer and should not take advantage of a helpless person. It says- Be a responsible citizen and help 5 star consumer. Interesting ! Humorous ! And somewhere also leaves a tinch of social responsibility that help others. In a very distinctive manner, they have explained about high taste of 5 Star. This is to pitch in the positivity of product by a negative portray.

Seriousness of humour well showcased !!!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Salary Dependent Chocolate


Ad By: Ogilvy & Mather

Is it about the happiness of getting pay or the pay itself?

Cadbury has always maintained in their communications to its customers that this chocolate is a company in every event of happiness. Sounds something like Coca Cola. But still the way two showcase the similar theme leaves a different image in minds of consumers. The new campaign from Cadbury also tries to speak on same lines which says that 1st day of month is Pay Day for working person in India and it is a day when every one is happy. So this day when everyone is happy, they celebrate it with Cadbury Chocolate. Till the point, the intention is to show that its the moment of happiness thats why cadbury is present there, the ad seems to be ok. But that sole intention doesnt come across ad so clearly.

The advertisement starts with a boring traditional office setup where a middle class man is working and his boss comes congratulating him for getting his pay on Day 1 of the month. The man is very happy and he is singing dancing with the earned cash in his hand. He keeps singing that he is happy but with that he also keeps flaunting the money he has just got. During that celebration only, he hands over a chocolate to his kid. Certainly it shows that Cadbury is present when he is happy but also it gives an impression that its his salary that he has just got with which now he is able to afford buying chocolate for the kid. If they wanted to show happiness and cadbury then they could have shown that as soon as he gets his salary he distributes cadbury to whole office as he is sharing his happiness. Just giving to the kid on Day 1 with salary hints more towards his affordability. Moving forward in the ad, it shows wife is waiting for husband to come back home in time so that they can go for movie. Again, how does it show that the family- husband and wife love having cadbury at this moment of happiness.

The execution of the ad is interesting and different giving it a look of 50s and similar kind of song in background. Also, it perfectly conveys that in India, for a middle class family, 1st day of the month when they get their salary is a very important moment of happiness. Thus, although the ad successfully conveys that Day 1 is moment of happiness for everyone but somewhere it also gives a feeling that its more about affordability. Besides that, it is correct to maintain a consistency in brand image by saying it is a company in moments of happiness but it is known that chocolates are best to move out from sadness. So may be Cadbury can show turning a sad moment into happy moment for someone. Also, this particular ad restricts the target segment for Cadbury chocolates. According to ad, it is for middle class working professional who gets their salary at regular intervals. Interesting ad but something missing is making it confusing.

Chocolate is for everytime & everyone.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Talk + Walk = What an IDEA SirJi !

Ad By: Lowe


An IDEA can indeed change your life. For Good or for Bad, depends on self.

There are so many cellular connections in market today that leave aside chosing one, people carry more than one connection in their more than one pockets now. Amidst so many new entrants coming with so many new offers and packages, there are few who have reached consumers mind and have now taken permanent residency there. IDEA is one amongst those few. Their customers know them and they know their customers even better. So now after such a long stay in market they dont have to tell their customers IDEA's competency in terms of cellular connections. Rather, if after such a long tenure in the industry they speak about their expertises in their services then they are themselves ruining their image by competing with new comers. So now they are at a position when they just have to remind the audience that "An Idea can change ur life". Thats exactly what they are doing in this ad- Walk when you Talk !


Amongst so many issues to worry, one hugely discussed is that technology has ruined health of human today. So many times, we hear elders saying that in their times, everything was self done and now this technology has made everyone its slave. The ad starts with same note of worry. But then an IDEA clicks to Doctor (Not just the Doctor but Abhishek Bachchan) that who says you need to stay still and talk. The company shows social responsibility by acting upon a social concern. Giving an idea which actually makes so much of sense that you can walk while you talk so that adds to some exercising. The ad is very thoughtful and besides putting the thought creatively, the concept covers everything starting from stating the problem, giving a solution and then showing the results. Moreover, IDEA stays with what they always say "Ek IDEA jo budalde aapki duniya".


When something is good for someone then there is definitely someone who think bad about it. When IDEA says walk when you talk, there are few who says that it can lead to accidents and thus a cellular company should act responsible by not giving such kind of messages. The stated concern is true as we have few examples also about same. 2 years back a film director of Bengali films got killed while shooting at a Railway station, because he was walking while talking animatedly on his mobile and unmindfully started walking between the tracks. He collided head on with an oncoming local train. But then, we should understand that in every aspect of life risk is inevitable. It is our thinking and understanding that how maturely we take suggestions. The idea is to walk and talk but not to walk with closed eyes. For that matter, so many people jog on roads with their ipods earphones plugged in. If accident is the concern then such products should be taken off from the market. Thus, the concern is worth giving a thought but the thought should be moulded with self maturity.


IDEA just gives idea, its on self how to change life with it !

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Openin Happiness in Library


Ad By: Wieden + Kennedy

Place cannot bar happiness !!!

Coke believes that no reason can also be some reason to open happiness. From new bike in locality to senior citizens playing carom, anything can become a happy moment when Coke is accompanied with it. And now this time it is Library. The most unexpected place that can be turned into a happy place. But Coke seems to have no bars. The ad starts from a library (ends also at library) where everyone has their eyes in books lying in front of them, reading thru those boring books with a pen/pencil running from home to end. The obvious expression of boredom on face of guy and girl who are sitting across the table and supposedly reading their books. The guy looks around and tries to break the silence dipped in boredom with the girl. He starts by sketching a guy on his hand that waves a hi to girl. The thought thats obvious in everyones mind when viewing this is that guy is trying to hit on girl and just acting smart to impress her. The reply expected from girl is that she puts him off showing her smartness more than him. But No !!! She replies back with same difference. Another sketch, this time on her hand and in a more smarter way. The conversation is on with sketches on hands taking it along. Interestingly they take the story further with hands full in swing. Now enough of conversation and its time that they get along in some way. How can Coke be missed out when its about happiness. Happiness of two people getting closer. Guy amazingly draws a coke bottle on his hand. To which girl replies with Glass getting filled with Ice (Has to be "Thanda" Coca Cola). The girl gestures a yes by turning her glass towards coke on guys hand. Guy smartly opens the bottle and in the library, both bring their hands together so that coke gets in the girls glass. Wow!!! Cool, interesting, youthful though i also feel slightly kiddish but fun idea.
Only if they could also show that guy was also interested in the Coke and was not just interested in hitting on to girl then that would have been like "The Coke Effect". Or when the camera zooms out, showing other people sitting in the library, that time other people can be shown as bringing their hands also towards that guy. But still, Coke has always been interesting in their ideas and executions. Earlier ads has been on lines that how simple small things of life are important and are worth making moments of happiness. This time its about any place can be turned into stage to open happiness. Creative for sure. Coke maintains its image in the entire tenure.

Coke opens when happiness is already open !!!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Dent = Happy


Ad By: McCann Erickson

HAPPY DENT...Justifies the name everywhere. Indeed !!!
Leaving behind such a "dent" in heads of audience that they just cannot escape noticing it. Its noticed in such a way that anyone wonders how do they think so simple yet so big. Always leaving behind a "happy" feeling.
The previous ad from Perfetti for Happy Dent which was also said to be the Best Advertisement is still so fresh in minds of audience that today also you can find it in any discussion about advertisements. Kudos to brilliance n creativity, they didnt choose to play safe and stay with an acknowledged successful campaign. Rather before it washes out from heads, they have new concept to cover the earlier dents. Again, the idea is so simple about a jungle and a village which starts on such a simple base that you are perplexed to see the way it concludes. A transport vehicle of Happy Dent broken down in a jungle and few elephants passing from there crushing them all. Day sets and like earlier days of Raja Maharaja (In previous Ad), Happy Dent again brings the brightness. They have never moved away from what they want to say. Any innumerable ways they have used to bring Happy Dent close to people but all they say is brightness lies within Happy Dent. Besides the superb execution of simple concept, the music in background compliments the entire picture. The video, the audio, the idea, the execution, the dent, the Happy feeling...makes it "The Ad".
The advertisement is definitely interesting but the best thing about it which is always there in Perfetti products ads is that they are equally interesting everytime they are seen. Surely, it is talked about, it is known around, what more is required to reach the consumer and get your product rolling.
When you win the race once, you are liked; when its repeated then you have to take onus of being champions. Happy Dent needs to meet the expectation of its viewer and consumer everytime now. Doesnt seem tough though !!!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Mark never lets U c Dark !!!


Ad By: Lowe

A Marker can be a life saver. Thats what Camlin shows. The advertisement starts with such a sad set-up. The typical Indian village scene at time of some demise. A man on his death bed and the whole village is surrounding the house, the ladies start mourning, there is cry all over. The lady, the wife of man who just took his last breath is sitting besides the bed in state of shock with no expression. Other ladies start removing her bangles, all the jewellary she is wearing, everything that symbolizes a married lady. Supposedly she is a widow now so the vermillion mark is also supposed to be removed. Every lady tries but could not. Huh?? A surprise to the audience who is viewing it for the first time. And an irresistable laughter. Suddenly a sad situation takes a hilarious turn. Flash !!! Lady goes into memories when her husband as daily ritual has to put vermillion mark on her forehead but he used a Camlin permanent mark instead. Its an interesting way to show that how simple things bring smiles on our faces. The moment when he uses that marker was a moment of smiles which portrays their bond. And at the end when the marker could not be removed from her forehead, its amazingly shown that you just cant take it out of your life now, its permanently with you. The husband gets back to his life. Hilarious but touching, impractical but sensible, insignificant but important. The marker could actually bring smiles on everyones face, in everyones life. So a marker never lets you see darkness in life.
Not sure how much this ad encouraged consumers to purchase Camlin marker but surely the consumer mind is purchased. Simple things can make big differences.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Decipher the Signal


Ad By: Ogilvy India

"Fanta Ka Signal Loud Bunking is Allowed". But what is the signal- Drink Fanta or Bunk? Fanta has always tried reaching the youth in some or the other manner. They have always spoken something which is a part of youth life. Today, this generation demands nothing more than their freedom. After all impatience is the new life. So they seek to get free from all liabilities. They don't want to waste their time in boring school/college, social family dinners, boring dates. They just want to skip all that and have their time out with friends. Youth knows it inside but don't express it verbally outside. They like this careless attitude inside but from outside they have to be part of every politically correct thing. So when Fanta tells them that its ok to bunk then they indeed hear it loud. They like listening to it. Although it doesn't matter to youth and they hardly await anyones consent for doing what they want to. Its not that they hear Fanta telling them this and so they follow it. Its just they feel "connected". And thats what all is required for making yourself heard in pool of advertisements.

Besides taking an interesting concept, Ogilvy has picked an interesting endorser. Every youth knows Genelia D'Souza today especially after her movie "Janne Tu Ya Janne Na". The movie was about life of youth and the advertisement also targets youth. She is known for her bubbly and chirpy character so that adds all the more life to concept. Thus, it portrays a fun filled life for youth. They say that the signal is about bunking and its not saying that drink Fanta. But the purpose is well sufficed. The ad is able to take space in minds of audience and thats enough for Fanta to keep the association.

So at the end Who cares whats the signal, just get heard !!!