MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • However, there's reason for worry as there were many categories where we scored a nought.

    1 Minute View: Thirty-three metals… way to go!

    If you were to look at the way Indian entries performed at Cannes Lions over the years, there is a fair reason to bring out the bubbly. Remember, we won only 14 metals last year even though we had sent in 18 more entries. And the five-year high is 25. So it is indeed reason for cheer.

     

    There are some who argue that for a country with over a billion people and a few hundred agencies, winning just 33 awards from the 1110 entries sent isn’t good enough. But that’s possibly not the best way to see it.

     

    However, there’s reason for worry as there were many categories where we scored a nought. Cyber and mobile, for instance which is the future is. And creative effectiveness, innovation, film, promo and activation and radio. Also, it’s key to have PR agencies winning in PR and media agencies in Media. Well, one could say that film we did win a metal, for, even though the entry was sent by Lowe London, it’s an ad created by the Lowe team in Mumbai.

     

    The Cannes Lions, one can argue, is not the only advertising award in the world, but since it is the biggest for Indian agencies, there is a need for a concerted effort to assess what will work well and how we can fare better.

     

  • The ASCI upheld complaints against 40 ads in April 2013, of which one was an SMS ad for a McDonald's outlet.

    I’m lovin’ it! ASCI pulls up SMS ad for incorrect claim

    By A Correspondent

     

    In April 2013, ASCI’s Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 40 ads. Health & Personal Care and Education were the main categories that continued to make misleading claims and come under the scanner of the CCC. Health & Personal Care sector leads with a whopping 52 per cent ads (148 out of 287) complaint upheld in the first four months of 2013.

     

    ASCI is proactively strengthening its awareness to cover ads in every media form. One such step was taken in the month of April when, for the first time, it received and upheld a complaint against an SMS ad sent out by Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd for McDonalds. (Details in the CCC report below under ‘Others’ category).

     

    HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE:

    The CCC found the following claims in Health & Personal Care product or service ads released in (newspapers) the press to be either misleading or false or not adequately/scientifically substantiated and hence violated the Chapter I of the ASCI code. Some of the Health Care products or services ads also contravened the provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act. Complaints against the following ads therefore were upheld:

     

    – Naaz India Company: Naaz Fat Cut Granuals in their advertisement claimed that they are a ‘new invention regarding obesity’, ‘result of 10 years of hard work of doctors’, ‘no side effects on body’, ‘body does not become over weight or underweight’, ‘skin becomes tighter, youthful, beautiful &doesn’t loosen again’, ‘stomach becomes flat for sure’, ‘government recognized medicine’, ‘expert doctors of Naaz India health care company have made Naaz cut granules for complete fat reduction & it is approved by Government Ayurveda department of India’.

    – Sagar Dispensary’s advertisement claimed that ‘Dr. S.A. Ali is an expert in STD’. ‘Treats patients with problems like less sperms, impotence & provides complete and permanent cure’, ‘our successful treatment has cured lakhs of disheartened patients and given them new life’.

    – Anant Clinic’s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides successful cure of male infertility’, ‘internal weakness’, ‘premature ejaculation erectile dysfunction’, ‘childlessness’, ‘skin disease’, ‘psoriasis and tumour in breast’.

    – GM Pharmacy: Sadabahar Sugar Free’s advertisement claimed that ‘Sadabahar sugar free is a diabetes killer powder’, ‘most effective medicine in diabetes’.

    – Nature Green Herbal Care’s advertisement claimed that, ‘it increases time of your sexual activities’, ‘made with miraculous desi herbs’, ‘100% result, and no side effect’.

    – Herbal Icon India: Trugesic’s advertisement claimed that it ‘helps to get rid of kidney stones in just 9 day course’, ‘magical ayurvedic medicine’.

    – Alshifa Churna’s advertisement claimed that it gives ‘result in 10 days of extra fat reduction on stomach’, ‘gets you relief from constipation, sugar, high blood pressure, gas, acidity and piles without operation’.

    – Sarkar Dispensary’s advertisement claimed that it ‘is the Best Ayurvedic clinic of 2011’

    – NCP Herbal: Sovolin Ayurvedic’s advertisement claimed that it ‘gives soft, smooth and silky skin with the touch of Sovolin which other cannot give’.

    – IPSA Labs Pvt Ltd.: Eraser Ayurvedic Skin Cream’s advertisement claimed that it ‘is a mixture of 8 essential herbs which removers every kind of spots from your face and skin’.

    – Musli Sakthi Herbals Pvt Ltd.: Musli Sakthi’s advertisement claimed that there’s ‘no need of Viagra now’, ‘first time in the world Musli Sakthi in silver colour powder form’. ‘Complete result within 7 days’, ‘happiness in sex and immediate solution for the sex problems’.

    – Gogaji Hair & Skin Care Centre: Gogaji Hair Oil’s advertisement claimed that ‘Gogaji Hair Oil stops baldness, stops hair fall.’

    – Stammering Cure Centre advertisement claimed that the centre ‘Partha Bagchi (world leader in stammering cure since 22 years) cures stammering in 12 days.’

    – R K Herbals Pharmacy’s advertisement claimed that ‘this formula is 400 years old and has been used by the Nawabs and the Maharajahs to enhance their sexual life.’ ‘It improves vitality, increases volume and quality of semen, helps in treating erectile dysfunction.’

    – Raj Power Capsules’s advertisement claimed that ‘relief to sex weakness in males within 2 hours’, , ‘nervous weakness’, ‘quick disposal of sperms’, ‘inability to enjoy long time sex’, ‘sex effects due to diabetes to cure all these problem’.

    – KPR Herbals’s advertisement claimed that ‘Sex weakness in men and all sex related diseases can be cured by Power Booster’, ‘not interested in sex’, ‘couldn’t achieve complete satisfaction in sex’, ‘erotic problems’, ‘fast disposal of semen while on sex’, ‘couldn’t satisfy sexually your mate’, ‘weakness of sperms all these can be cured through our herbal medicine treatment’.

    – Lotus Granges (India) Ltd: Scent Soft Bio’s advertisement claimed that ‘it is made to eliminate objectionable odour with helpful microbes, which digest bad smell’.

    – Naaz India Company: Naaz Hair Up Oil’s advertisement claimed that it ‘stops hair fall’, ‘provides successful cure of baldness’.

    – Kamboj Foods Pvt Ltd: Kamboj Proper Diet’s print advertisement claimed that ‘Benefits of Kamboj Proper Diet 100% Natural QPM grain are that, it helps you rid of obesity and weakness, increases IQ and immunity power, makes your married life happy, keeps IT professionals away from stress.’

     

    EDUCATION

    The CCC found following claims in print ads by 12 different advertisers were not substantiated violating the ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions and hence the complaints against the ads were upheld:

     

    – Lakhani Academy advertisement claimed that ‘Lakhani Academy will give 100% fees refund, if students fail in IPCC/CPT.’

    – Indian Institute of Learning & Advanced Development’s advertisements claimed ‘100% assured placement’, ‘earn back upto 100% of course fee’.

    – Maharishi Basant Tutorials in its advertisement claimed that ‘guaranteed success program for IIT-Jee, else 100% fee refunds’.

    – Alchemist’s advertisement claimed that ‘it has more than 22 students in 99 percentile and 78 students in 95 percentile’.

    – Mukils English Academy’s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides 100% job guarantee on all courses’.

    – IT’S THE Education Group, Sai National Intuition of Technology (SNIT)’ & Tulip India’s advertisement claimed that they ‘provide 100% placement’.

    – Fastrack Institute of Technology’s advertisement claimed, ‘100% Job Guarantee’ & ‘100% Course Completion Guarantee’.

    – Swami Vivekanand Institute of Technology’s advertisement claimed that it ‘provides 200% placement.’

    – Saffron Eduworld Pvt Ltd: Saffron Eduworld Coaching’s advertisement claimed ‘JEE 100% guaranteed result or money back.’

    – INPTC advertisements claimed ‘100% placement’ & ‘INPTC-

    – Mahatma Tutorials: The advertisement claimed that Mahesh Tutorials ‘provides 100% success guarantee’.

    – Subhash Bose Institute of Hotel Management: The advertisement claimed that ‘273 out of 273 students were placed in 2012’ by the institute.

    – Amity University: In the ‘MBA 2013 Admission Notice’ print advertisement, the Amity University is showing its rankings given by ‘Business Today’ and ‘The Economic Times’ without providing the details of the years of ranking which is misleading.

     

    OTHER FMCG:

    Ganesh Wheat Product Pvt Ltd: Ganesh Atta’s print advertisement claimed that they are ‘processed through reverse osmosis, Ganesh bajra Atta and Ganesh Makkai Atta, prevent several health hazards and give you more nutritious and delicious rotis every day, Bajra (pearl millet) and Makai (Maize) are processed through water purified by reverse osmosis which makes the rotis more wholesome’. These claims need to be substantiated. In the absence of comments from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claims mentioned in the advertisement were not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was upheld.

     

    CONSUMER DURABLES:

    Aqua Corporation: Aqua Pure Guard Water Purifier’s print advertisement claimed that it is ‘World’s No.1 water purifier’. This claim needs to be substantiated. In the absence of comparative data from the Advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claim, ‘World’s No.1 water purifier’, was not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. The complaint was upheld.

     

    OTHERS:

    Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd: – McDonald’s promotional SMS shows ‘McVeggie or McChicken FREE on order of Rs. 200/- above with McDonalds. Mention coupon code MCD07 while ordering, valid till 7/1/13. Call Now 66000666. T & C.’ The complainant was at the McDonald counter at the Food Court, Inorbit Mall, Malad (West) on 6/1/2013 and was informed that this SMS was sent purely for home delivery ONLY.

     

    According to the complaint, (The) the SMS advertisement that McDonalds sent was totally misleading. It simply said “call now” and not that it applies only for “Home Delivery”. The CCC concluded that the advertisement – SMS was misleading by omission, as it did not mention that the offer of a free McVeggie or McChicken applies only to Home Delivery. The advertisement – SMS contravened Chapter I.4 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

     

    Pernod Ricard India P. Ltd: Jacob’s Creek, the print advertisement is a promotion of a liquor brand. Advertising of liquor is prohibited is prohibited by most States. The CCC concluded that the communication was an Advertorial pertaining to a Surrogate product. The complaint was UPHELD as it contravened the Brand Extension Guidelines as mentioned in Chapter III.6 of the Code.

     

    Dr. Nigam’s Health Pvt Ltd.: Dr. Nigam Hair Multiplication’s “Dr. Nigam” has been tarnishing the brand of RichFeel and maligning it in their ads. The brand has also been deliberately using RichFeel’s brand template colour and a misrepresented brand look alike logo (RichFeel’s logo has two E’s, one of which is a mirror image of the other) as well, besides picking up scientifically proven points pertinent to RichFeel in their communication and negatively portraying the brand. The CCC concluded that the advertiser has made unjustifiable use of the name of Richfeel and taken unfair advantage of the goodwill attached to its trade mark and goodwill acquired by its advertising campaign. The advertisement contravened Chapter IV.2 of the Code. The complaint was UPHELD.

     

    Akansha Hair & Skin Care Herbal Unit Pvt Ltd: Akansha Sukhparash’s advertisement claimed that it ‘makes your face fair and removes wrinkles from your face’. After reviewing the advertisement and advertiser’s response, the CCC concluded that the claim, “makes your face fair”, was not substantiated. The advertisement contravened Chapter I.1 of the Code. This complaint was UPHELD. After reviewing the advertisement, the CCC realized that the ad does not claim to remove wrinkles from face, this complaint was NOT UPHELD.

     

    During the month of April, the CCC also received complaints against 11 other advertisements. The complaints were received against the advertisements of Aviva Life Insurance Company India Ltd, Euro Fashion Inners International (P) Ltd – Euro Briefs, Great Eastern Management School – GEMS B School, Hindustan Unilever Ltd – Comfort 1 Rinse Fabric Conditioner, Keya Seth’s Ayurvedic Solution – Keya Seth’s Umbrella Sunscreen Lotion, Kaleesuwari Refinery Pvt Ltd – Gold Winner Sunflower Oil, Mankind Pharma Ltd -Manforce Condom, McNROE Consumer Products P. Ltd – Wild Stone Deodorant, Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd– Vespa, Times Business Solutions Ltd – Magicbricks.com, United Spirits Ltd – Kingfisher. However, as these advertisements did not contravene ASCI’s codes or guidelines, the complaints were not upheld.

     

  • Nothing wrong with the treatment, and the single-minded communication ensures the promise is delivered smoothly. But here's the problem: This sort of a promise alarms me.

    Debrief: Toyota service: No hurry, take your time!

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Cool ad for Toyota  service. The idea is simple: By the time ma’am gets decked up for the noon show, our man will be able to get his Etios all serviced and ready. The commercial intercuts between the lady doing her make-up while cribbing about the car having been sent for service, and service personnel working fast on the car. Promise: Super-fast service.

     

    Nothing wrong with the treatment, it’s slice of life stuff, and the cribbing lady acts quite naturally (all those of you who are married will identify with this situation). In fact, it’s her acting skill that makes sure you don’t get bored on repeat ad exposure, even though it’s an ordinary commercial. And the single-minded communication ensures the promise is delivered smoothly: No more waiting endlessly for your car to be serviced.

     

    So all very well. But here’s the problem, and it’s for the Etios guys to worry about, not their ad agency: This sort of a promise alarms me. Because my experience with care service stations has always been horrid. The staffers are usually careless, they work in a slip-shod manner, most of the complaints filed by the car owner are ‘forgotten’. I don’t want to worry you much, but I have seen these guys damage cars in a hurry to finish their jobs. Which is why the ‘quick service’ promise frightens me.

     

    I would much rather have a car maker tell me the service will be patient, careful, that their staffers will treat my gaadi like their own car. And I don’t mind if they take their own sweet time, I rather have an upset partner than a car that arrives half-done, or worse, dented. For a change, I am questioning the promise, not the creative.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 2. Dicey strategy. But creative is okay.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views of the writer are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • As advertisers seek more bang for the buck, there will be a tendency to innovate and offer solutions that would not clear standard advertising code.

    1 Minute View: ASCI’s wakes up to SMS ads

    Okay, we know we are being a little unfair by saying ASCI wakes up to SMS ads, but clearly an ad is an ad is an ad. And the medium and mode of delivery should hardly be a factor.

     

    The Advertising Standards Council of India, in its new superactive avatar, has been playing the role of a self-regulator remarkably well. As technology dictates the media we consume, it was imperative for the ASCI to look at newer media vehicles with gusto.

     

    So whether it’s SMSes, internet and mobile ads, kiosks, scrollers on television… whatever, the ASCI should review the ads and, of course, entertain clients.  One is not very sure if the National Advertising Monitoring Service (NAMS) will be able to do much with SMS alerts, but it would be good for it to keep an eye for any incorrect claims and excesses in ads in new media.

     

    As advertisers seek more bang for the buck, there will be a tendency to innovate and offer solutions that would not clear standard advertising code. It’s nice to note that ASCI reviewed an SMS ad sent out by a large advertisers.

     

    Smile, the world is in safe hands.

     

  • To all those speculative TV anchors now singing hosannas in the captain's honour, here's what I have to say: I may write a Booker winner, but if I have been accused of evading income tax, that victory doesn't absolve me of the charges.

    Anil Thakraney: ICC Champions Trophy Diary

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Nope, I did not follow the just concluded championship trophy, though I made it a point to watch the final match, as am sure most Indians did (aside from those in Uttarakhand, sadly). Droopy eyes at work on Monday was a clear tell-tale sign. The reason I did not care much for the ICC Champions Trophy is cricket fatigue, post the IPL. Even though I like the game, there’s only that much of it I can take. Anyway, here are some notes.

     

    Totally enjoyed the final between England and India, not just because it was a tight game but because it was good to see Kohli, Raina, Rohit, Dhawan, etc, play alongside each other, and not against each other. Every year I yearn to see this soon after the IPL ends. Don’t like the image of our cricketers snarling at one other, that should be left to our esteemed netas.

     

    I had written in a previous post that we in the media need to go easy on Maahi over the ‘conflict of interest’ allegations. And I still maintain that. However, I suspect our fickle-minded media, now soaking in the victory, will completely forget all about it. That too is not correct. If the man has done wrong, he should be investigated; the idea is to be fair to him. To all those speculative TV anchors now singing hosannas in the captain’s honour, here’s what I have to say: I may write a Booker winner, but if I have been accused of evading income tax, that victory doesn’t absolve me of the charges.

     

    It was great to see our young cricketers perform courageously. They appeared neither intimidated by the opponents nor by the bigness of the event. I like this spirit of Young India. Despite Sachin, Saurav and Rahul’s greatness, this is one quality I seldom noticed in them. The oldies would get nervous while reaching a milestone, and their faces showed tension during crunch moments. But these young chaps seem to give two hoots for pressure. I think the retirement of the old stars has done a lot to improve the can-do-will-do spirit in the team. I see brilliant times for Indian cricket in the coming years. Provided, of course, the boys manage to keep the bookies at bay. The problem with today’s kids is while courage is on the rise, so is greed.

     

    Lastly, Sunil Gavaskar’s contradictory comments left me a bit befuddled. During the tournament, when asked if the team is out to prove a point following the recent scandals, Sunnybhai denied any such thing. He said the boys had left all that behind in India, and were focused on the match at hand. However, after the final win, he seemed to have changed his mind. He said Dhoni was hurt by all the scandals, and that’s why the animated reactions after the England match. Hmm. Guess the cricket legend got over-awed by the victory. Hota hai, cricket does this to many in India.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Nothing brilliant about this ad, but it’s a cool idea. What I like most are the breathtaking car shots. They make you want to own this machine.

     

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • The jingle is sweet and the ad is shot nicely. I like it that they haven't shown adult faces, their presence is only suggested. This keeps the focus on the little girl, and that's what makes the ad endearing.

    Debrief: Kotak Mahindra: Catching them young

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Kotak Mahindra Bank has decided to expand its market share. And no, unlike IndusInd Bank they aren’t offering you a lucky number, they have decided to go after your kids. The bank has launched Kotak Junior, a new scheme whereby bachchas can now have their own account.

     

    As you would expect, the commercial is cute. A sweet little girl goes about collecting chillar from her family members by hook or by crook. Once she’s amassed enough, it’s time for the next step: Open a bank account. The jingle is sweet too and the ad is shot nicely. I like it that they haven’t shown adult faces, their presence is only suggested. This keeps the focus on the little girl, and that’s what makes the ad endearing.

     

    However, the TVC leaves some key questions unanswered. I guess Kotak Mahindra is hoping that sufficiently enticed, and under pressure from their kids, parents would visit the local branch with queries. I am not too sure that gamble will work in this case. Since the juniors will only land up with a membership card, with no direct control of the account, the delicious add-ons that Kotak Mahindra would most likely offer the kids need to be indicated in the ad. Today’s kids aren’t simple souls as bachchas from my generation used to be; they are very smart, and without tangible promises, they would not get interested.

     

    And by the way, hope Kotak Mahindra is offering a slightly higher rate of interest to the juniors. Itna toh banta hai, boss!

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 2.5 Cute ad. But communication is incomplete.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views of the writer are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • The Pune chapter of Association of Designers of India will hold a seminar on 'Design Flavours' on the occasion of World Industrial Design Day on June 29.

    World Industrial Design Day being marked tomorrow in Pune

    By A Correspondent

     

    On the occasion of World Industrial Design Day on June 29, the Pune chapter of Association of Designers of India will hold a seminar on Design Flavours at Sumant Moolgaonkar Auditorium, ICC Towers on Senapati Bapat Road.

     

    The seminar will feature keynotes by Prof Youngchol Chon (DYPDC), Shashank Deshpande (Clarice Technologies) and Abhijit Takle (Neodes). This will be followed by an interactive discussion with panel including celebrated automobile designer Dilip Chhabria (Founder, DC Design).

     

    The event will commence with a sketching competition at 3.30pm where the winning participant will walk away with a Wacom Bamboo pen tablet.

     

    The seminar will open at 4.30pm and will conclude by 8pm.

     

    Design enthusiasts are welcome to attend and participate in the competition and discussions. Pune has a very active community of design professionals with several Indian and international awards and accolades to credit. Pune also has some of the best upcoming design institutions.

     

  • This is a newly created role and is part of the Lowe Lintas and Partners management team.

    Lowe Lintas appoints Vikas Mehta as CMO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Lowe Lintas and Partners has appointed Vikas Mehta as Chief Marketing Officer. This is a newly created role and is part of the Lowe Lintas and Partners management team. Mr Mehta joined the agency in May 2013 and will report to Joseph George, CEO Lowe Lintas and Partners.

     

    Mr Mehta’s appointment follows his success as the Regional Growth Officer, Lowe Asia Pacific, where he helped take Lowe among the top 10 agency networks in Asia leading new business and strategic growth initiatives.

     

    In this key leadership role, he will play a pivotal role on driving group strategy for organic and inorganic growth, strengthening Lowe’s brand equity in the market place among marketers and practitioners and building the company’s innovation funnel of new offerings. Additionally, the role includes working with prospective clients by aggregating group offerings.

     

    Mr George commented, “Our growth ambition needs to be pursued in conjunction with further enhancing the thought leadership and agency reputation in the market. It is towards delivering on this objective that Vikas joins us.”

     

    Speaking on his appointment Mr Mehta said, “The business of advertising agencies is going through a transformation and we believe it will be a significantly different ball game soon. The mandate is to help our business capitalize on these changes. The purpose behind creating the marketing function at Lowe is to drive our corporate strategy at a group level.”

     

    Speaking on the challenges that come with this role Vikas believes, “The hardest bit is to try and explain what a CMO is doing in an ad agency. It’s a phenomenon I call ‘too many services and too few solutions’. Every discipline in the marketing spectrum today is being sold as a specialist vertical. As a result, a typical client has a specialist partner each for advertising, digital, search, social, CRM, PR, activation and so on. The biggest challenge is to create a solution that drives medium-agnostic brand strategy, and goes on to build a brand-narrative that straddles all areas of consumer engagement.”

     

    An alumnus of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Mumbai, Mr Mehta brings with him experience across international markets. Prior to his stint in Singapore, he was Managing Director of Lowe Vietnam, heading the agency’s country operations. Before joining the Lowe network in 2006, he worked with advertising agencies such as Publicis and Leo Burnett.

     

    Over the years, he has handled brand portfolios for companies such as Unilever, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, Vinamilk, Total Lubricants, Pernod Ricard, Vietnamobile, Intel, Cathay-Pacific, P&G, Beiersdorf, Raymond, Coca-Cola, Heinz, Diageo and Indian Oil.

     

  • Take the spotlight away from politicians and they won't disturb rescue & relief ops: Anil Thakraney

    Comment: News media must black out netas at Uttarakhand

    Representative picture courtesy PIB of the IAF rescue helicopters at Gauchar airport, in flood-hit Uttarakhand on Wednesday, June 26

     

    It is indeed sad to see several dead and many injured as rescue operations are still on in Uttarakhand. What rages us is the game of one-upmanship between political leaders in grabbing camera time and the importance our news vehicles give to these visits. We present the comment by our Editor-at-Large and senior journalist Anil Thakraney on the issue which would normally appear as Hard Knocks on a Friday. – Editor

     

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    In the entire television din over the role of politicians on the Uttarakhand disaster, Prasoon Joshi made the most valid point. (Prasoon, if you are reading this post, I would urge you to take part in the tube debates regularly, we need a few sensible voices out there.) While the others were heatedly accusing the netas of seeking photo-ops during the tragedy, Joshi said the media must consider WHO is providing them with these photo-ops. Very true. If the media stopped covering these opportunistic politicians, they will immediately vanish from the scene.

     

    The defining neta moment so far was the two Andhra politicians exchanging fisticuffs at the Dehra Dun airport, as they fought over who would fly with the ‘cargo’. And no, the cargo in this case wasn’t medical supplies for the victims, but those people who had been rescued, and were anxiously waiting to be flown back home. Absolutely pathetic. And then there is Pheku and Pappu busy scoring brownie points over each other, and the many chamchas defending their actions. At least half of the media time and space gets spent on these jokers. What a bloody waste!

     

    My humble request to colleagues in the media is this: For the Uttarakhand news, take a firm decision not to provide any coverage whatsoever to the visiting politicians. Not only are they unable to help in any way, with their shenanigans, they come in the way of rescue and relief operations. And there’s no keeping these hyenas away, they will come to feed on the dead, it’s in their nature. Emotional situations like these give politicians a cool opportunity to win more fans, or so they believe. Let’s deprive them of it. And let the entire media effort be focused on the victims, the rescue and rehab. And on the jawans who are doing all the hard work, these brave souls who are putting their own lives on the line so that maximum number of people can be saved. I want to see their faces, I want to hear their voices, I want to know their stories. And this is what the media must provide us.

     

    Net net: Let’s make Uttarakhand a template for future disasters. No spotlight on any neta. Let it only be about those who matter, and those who do the real work. That done, no politician will ever arrive to disturb rescue operations. Once the oxygen supply (cameras) is cut off, they won’t see any point of jet-setting in. Good riddance.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

     

  • Hindi news broadcaster India TV has awarded its creative mandate to Eleven Brandworks. The win came after a multi-round & multi-agency pitch process.

    India TV awards creative duties to Eleven Brandworks

    By A Correspondent

     

    Hindi news broadcaster India TV has awarded its creative mandate to Eleven Brandworks. The win came after a multi-round & multi-agency pitch process initiated in April. Eleven’s bouquet of clients includes Eristoff (Bacardi), Times Brand Capital, Archies, NDTV Good Times, Onjus and Nokia maps.

     

    Prateek Bhardwaj, Founder Director, Eleven Brandworks, said, “It is truly exciting to partner one of the most influential media brands in this country. We share the vision the management has for the brand, and our mandate is to enhance India TV’s stature within its viewers as well as non-viewers.”

     

    Ritu Dhawan

    India TV MD & CEO Ritu Dhawan said, “Political reporting is gaining momentum in run up to the elections. In the coming days India TV will present most engaging and interactive news content. Team India TV led by Rajat Sharma is ready to comment, analyze and decode political mysteries. In line with the intent of refreshing the brand, Eleven has been successful in pitching with a few really reassuring ideas. We welcome Eleven & look forward to working with them.”

     

  • Corruption in telecom spectrum allocation, coal mining allocation etc doesn't kill anyone, not directly at least. But corrupt RTOs literally gift people the licence to kill, writes Anil Thakraney

    Anil Thakraney: Media must go after the RTOs

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    And, yet again, over the weekend, two licensed drivers, in panic, ‘forgot’ the difference between the brake and the accelerator. And two more innocent lives abruptly ended on the streets of Mumbai. This has been happening in the past, and will continue to happen again and again. Why so? Because the RTOs give away driving licences as if they were distributing Cadbury Éclairs to children inside a mall. In exchange for some ‘goodwill’, of course.

     

    Now, we all know that almost all the public sector organizations in India run on corruption money. The regular scams that get reported will tell you that. So there’s no reason why the driving licence issuing authorities would want to be left behind. The problem is this: Corruption in telecom spectrum allocation, in coal mining allocation, in arms purchase, in the Commonwealth Games, etc, doesn’t kill anyone, not directly at least. But corrupt RTOs literally gift people the licence to kill, this is akin to culpable homicide. This does not happen in any civilized nation in the world, it’s easy to get laid on the first date in London and New York, but you have to work really hard to get hold of the driving licence.

     

    Which is why I have always wondered why the Indian media hasn’t taken this up in a big way. I have personally alerted a couple of newspaper editors in the last few years, but they seem to have ignored this problem. What is urgently needed is a 360-degree journalistic campaign on the (mal)functioning of the RTOs in India. Starting with massive, nationwide sting operations to expose these buggers. And then going after the big fish with hammers and shovels. Followed by continuous checks, right till the time these guys get their act together, till the processes are cleaned up. And till the time obtaining a driving licence becomes as tough in India as it is in the US and the European nations.

     

    I must also add that I find it odd when the first thing the traffic cops check is if the killer driver was drunk. That should be the second step. They should instead first check if the person is capable of driving at all. And they’ll discover the real culprits are chilling in their own backyard.

     

    PS: Absolutely brilliant car ad. It’s not a new commercial, but it’s worth watching again and again. Not a single shot of the car, and the point of cars being made for human beings beautifully made. It’s another matter, of course, that in India cars often kill human beings.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney

     

  • It's very unlike typical Indian car ads and the Hyundai guys must hope that the car features highlighted will prompt the buyers to suss out the machine, writes Anil Thakraney

    Debrief: Hyundai i20: The ghost-buster

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Haha, scary ad for Hyundai i20, it will give you the shivers. Our sleepy, exhausted dude is driving by the countryside on a dark, rainy night, when he spots this sexy lady standing by the corner. Naturally, our excited hero wants to offer her a lift. But he suddenly finds her standing next to the car, and then inside it, all quite magically. The terrified chap discovers she was standing by a cemetery, and that the hot babe is a ghost. She commands him to drive, and there’s no option but to listen.

     

    Then comes the twist in the tale, as the tables turn. The ghost is petrified when she notices that our man can get the wipers moving ‘without touching a thing’, the headlights come on ‘by their own’, and she really freaks out when the guy reverses the car ‘without looking in the rear’. This prompts the ghost to vamoose.

     

    I like this one because it’s a surprising solution, it’s very unlike typical Indian car ads. And the Hyundai guys must hope that within the ghost story, the car features highlighted in the ad will prompt the buyers to visit the showroom and suss out the machine. Which indeed is the job of an ad: To get the brand noticed, and to get potential customers interested. I think this twin objective has been achieved nicely.

     

    And the sexy ghost ensures the ad breaks the clutter, and is entertaining to watch on repeat exposure. I am definitely going to check out the i20. And shall recite the Hanuman Chalisa while I do so. 🙂

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1-5): 4. Surprising solution. Highly entertaining.

     

    Anil Thakraney is a senior journalist and commentator. He is also Editor-at-Large, MxMIndia. The views of the writer are his own. He can be reached via Twitter at @anilthakraney