What’s with the adfolks? Aren’t they supposed to be sensible, sensitive and responsible about what they communicate to people. Especially when advertisements have such a big influence on how the kids think and behave. I was really shocked to see an ad where a precocious little kid, in presence of guardians and teachers in the school auditorium, proclaims that her mom has another man in her life and that every woman has another man in her life. At best, it can be a corny adult joke, but coming from a kid?
In an automobile ad when a guy in his car is irritated by incessant honking by somebody driving behind him, a voiceover offers him two options: the first one being disfiguring the guy's face. Legitimising road rage? Come on! That certainly cannot be an option, even if the protagonist doesn’t opt for it.
In another ad, this time for a pencil, a school boy throws a paper ball at his lady teacher. He goes unpunished because the pencil enhances his handwriting. The voiceover rounds it off with ‘jab handwriting saaf, to sab kuch maaf’. Next, somebody will show ways to walk away with murder.
Then there are some really insensitive ads for condoms and deodorants with raucous music and offensive dialogues.
It’s time the creative leaders and agency heads woke up to the glaring insensitivity in ads and put their foot down if clients insist on such ideas.
In an automobile ad when a guy in his car is irritated by incessant honking by somebody driving behind him, a voiceover offers him two options: the first one being disfiguring the guy's face. Legitimising road rage? Come on! That certainly cannot be an option, even if the protagonist doesn’t opt for it.
In another ad, this time for a pencil, a school boy throws a paper ball at his lady teacher. He goes unpunished because the pencil enhances his handwriting. The voiceover rounds it off with ‘jab handwriting saaf, to sab kuch maaf’. Next, somebody will show ways to walk away with murder.
Then there are some really insensitive ads for condoms and deodorants with raucous music and offensive dialogues.
It’s time the creative leaders and agency heads woke up to the glaring insensitivity in ads and put their foot down if clients insist on such ideas.
I completely agree Rajesh. This unfortunate trend, and even worse language, apparently work for the baser lot. And that's where consumerist India lives.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't really work there as well. I come from a small town in Bihar and irrespective of perceptions people are sensitive and criticise such ads.
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