Annoying advertisements

Few months ago I had blogged about advertisements that make us smile and the ads that have borrowed a little space in our list of sweet memories. Link here.

I love watching advertisements and I always end up humming the bgm if the tune is catchy and so does my phone  Being such an avid ad lover, certain ads take on my nerves and I end up changing the channels.

Men’s deodorant ads top the list.  When they demonstrate that a mere spray can make girls go crazy and act weird, the chauvinist in me feels like punching the TV screen and sending a note to that ad maker, ‘Girls are not that cheap… FYI’. These ads make me frown and search for the remote. But there is one recent male deo ad that actually made me smile. Old spice deo where he ends with a surprise asking “Did you know that am riding the horse backwards?”. Its a male deo ad with a difference. It doesn’t show girls drooling over the guy in the ad but still drives home the point that the guy using this deo could definitely be different from the rest. Hopefully, this should be a trend setter and the other ads should follow suit featuring a different marketing strategy.

Next comes the fairness cream advertisements. The girl with a dusky complexion is portrayed as a laughing stock and with a low confidence level. She needs a counselor to make her feel confident and not a the dabba of fairness cream. The teenagers especially at the helm of adolescence get into a wrong notion that dusky skin is something to be ashamed off. There was this ad a while ago where the groom comes to the bride-seeing ceremony and the guy blatantly rejects the girl saying she is not fair. Instead of bashing the guy, the girl is advised to use that fairness cream. The same guy sees the girl on the road and falls for her. Isn’t it ridiculous? 

The soft drinks ad are equally unrealistic. The aerated drinks portray a guy jumping from a peak, diving into a ocean, chasing the goons immediately after drinking the product. What does the ad infer?  The drink tastes so bad that falling from a peak is better or it does the same that can of spinach does to Popeye… I don’t get it!

The airtel 1 Rupee video ad. It isn’t irritating but on the other hand it makes you raise an eyebrow when the cab driver shows the video for the Re 1 that he has to pay. First of all, none of us will make such a big scene over Re 1 and secondly, a video taking the place of money..Isn’t it dumb? Will the bus conductor give me a ticket if I show him 3 videos instead of Rs 3 ? I know its a PJ but still that’s what comes to my mind whenever I watch this ad.

Few of the regional advertisements aren’t far behind. The recent  “Divya-ku sure ah kadaikuma?” campaign tested my patience rather than creating curiosity. The ad has many people asking this question which will irritate us to the core.The tweets and FB wall posts told me that I was not alone. It was an ad for ‘Daal’ offering prizes to the buyers.

The next is a hair oil ad where the kids boasts of recommending the product to their parents/teachers as they notice the latter suffering from hairfall. Kids have umpteen better things to do rather than noticing hair fall. In fact childhood is the only period when looks, food, nothing matters to us apart from playing, playing and playing. It’s irritating to find the kids sitting and discussing hair problems.

Though there are many good ads, these ads are a bit depressing and make me frown. Ad makers… All that we say is we love watching advertisements. So please make sensible, creative ads that make us say Wooooow instead of Ewwwww 

The Zorro prediction

It was Saturday and I got up unusually pretty early (early in my standards  ). The idiot box always comes to the rescue even before you mouth the word “bored”. I started exercising my thumb as well as testing the performance of the ‘next channel button’ in the remote  (In other words I was switching channels  ).

If we watch TV(even radio) early in the morning, we can find almost all the regional channels giving a peek into your day ahead. The day to day predictions are so common and it has become a habit for many to listen to the ‘wise looking’ experts and follow accordingly.

Though I put up a disclaimer saying I don’t believe in all these, my hand (when switching channels) or eyes(while reading)  immediately stops when they see my zodiac symbol. The curiosity overpowers my disclaimer notification and finally I end up seeing the prediction. As soon as I finish reading, I completely forget  about it and carry on with my day.

On this particular day, a short and stout guy who  can definitely bag the chance to become  ”Humpty Dumpty”  if we were to film the rhyme, was doing a good job of reading out his piece of ‘discovery’. His sing song tone and sudden raise of voice whenever attention is required can make him a sure shot ‘best performer’ if we stage the play.My brain immediately snapped back from its chain of thoughts as soon as it saw my zodiac sign symbol rotating on the screen in bright yellow. Our Humpty Dumpty started his dialogue delivery in a low tone to imply expect something bad.

“Your home planet was saving you all this while, thereby antagonizing the other planets. Today your home planet is weak and has disowned you. You might face the wrath of other planets. Effects: Your family will disown you. You may have hassles completing your tasks. When you are about to complete your work, you will have somebody disrupting it. Not to worry, this is just for today, your home planet will become stronger by tomorrow. Avoid blue colour as it might invite trouble. Lucky colours: yellow, red and orange.”

The CG specialist in me, picturised the entire prediction in a filmy shtyle. My home planet as Zorro with a sword trying to fight the baddies (other planets ). While this hero smashing  many villains in one hand continues, this one villain planet stabs him from behind. Zorro falls down saying ‘Et tu Lupitter’ (Latin word for Jupiter  ). Zorro has a tough time breathing and hands over the sword to me saying “Protect yourself, I don’t think I can help you anymore”.  The bad guys are closing in with a villainous laugh. I keep fighting all through the day while zorro tries getting back his power. When my sword falls and Lupitter is attempting to repeat his stabbing action , zorro finds a can of spinach inside his dress. “Tan ta ta datta tan…” Bgm plays when zorro tosses the spinach can and the spinach falls into his mouth. Zorro’s power returns and in one kick all the planets fly away. “Am strong to the finish ’cause I eat my Spinach… Am zorro the Saviour man… Swoosh Swoosh (sound of sword when he draws a Z in the space)” Curtain falls!

I patted myself and was quite impressed with the direction. Thinking about my career as a director, I shouted “Amma coffee”. My mom retorted back ,”I didn’t know we have a princess here who has employed servants to serve at the seat. If you want coffee, get up and come to kitchen. Else forget the coffee”. Sigh! Though this scene was an usual one at my home, my brain retelecasted the prediction, “Your family will disown you”blared inside my head. 

I was instructed to go to the nearby shop and get a packet of detergent. I immediately obliged and rushed to the shop (an act to be reowned again). When I stretched my hand with the money, a fat lady literally pushed me and got her things. Finally the shopkeeper turned towards me, “Anna 1 packet surf excel”. He returned the money saying “Sorry ma! we had only 1 packet and that lady got it”. My CG specialist drew 2 red horns and a tail to that lady who smirked victoriously taking her cover.

When you are about to complete your work, you will have somebody disrupting it…. I wanted my brain to stop its selective timely retelecast of the prediction.

The day was pretty smooth apart from the initial hiccups.In the evening I was to attend a reception. I chose a blue dress (Avoid blue colour… My brain sang in that Humpty Dumpty’s voice). I rubbished it and finally reached the reception. My CG specialist was searching for people to draw red horns and tail but all seemed to be good with a ring on top of their head. When I confirmed the allz well status around me I loosened up a bit. That’s when an elderly woman arrived. CG specialist notified me about the impending danger as horns and tail fitted her perfectly. She pinched my cheeks hard and remarked “Helllloooo Kanna” making me squirm. She started playing “Guess-who-is-this game with me. I was clueless completely and when my mom tried helping, she remarked “No lifelines allowed” and laughed at her own joke. She didn’t leave my side and continuously kept showing me people and asked me to decipher the relation. I felt like a captive with a gun pointing at me. Avoid blue colour as it might invite trouble, I heard humpty dumpty laughing with his huge tummy juggling up and down.

When I went to bed, I hoped my zorro should have got his spinach can and also decided I will never see the predictions again. My stupid brain keeps connecting even an usual happening to the prediction. Sigh!

The Yellow Moonjis

19-Sep-82 11:44 Scott E Fahlman 

From: Scott E Fahlman <Fahlman at Cmu-20c>
I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers: : -)Read it sideways.
Actually, it is probably more economical to mark things that are NOT jokes, given current trends. For this, use :-(

*curtain raises* *claps* Ladies and Gentlemen… Introducing the most important conversation fillers of the future…SMILEYS   *fireworks* *drumroll*

Thus came the Yellow Moonjis (tamil word meaning faces) and also got its cousins red, pink, black, green moonjis to sit in the chat windows 

Initially, say two years back we used to have just  ,  and a very few others. People hardly used it and found it kiddish.With instant messengers like watsapp, hike entering the ‘virtual era’ , the variety of smileys multiplied.  Two years back when you send a reply ‘Fine‘, you wouldn’t have expected your friend to text back asking ‘what’s wrong?’. When you are actually fine, people expect you to reply ‘ Fine  ‘

Hello Everybody   

Hello Everybody!

The difference is obvious. The first hello gives you a feel (I assume) that am smiling broad while greeting. But the second ‘hello’ seems formal with a straight face. The three little yellow moonjis can make a whole lot of difference in the sentence. Off-late these smileys have become an integral part of the conversation.

These smilies can come handy as conversation fillers. If am at loss of words and don’t have anything to reply, smiley comes as my Aabath pandava (saviour during crisis) . I happily send a smiley. Done! I have replied, at the same time I haven’t replied (in the true sense). My friend happy, am happy… Both smile(for different reasons) seeing the smiley 

Smileys depict our mood to the reader. They can get the actual modulation of what we are trying to say. For example, if my friend is late and we end up waiting for her we send her a message “Where are you?” She replies saying “On the way“. When I send “Where are you?”    She replies ” Coming Coming… Sorry yaar… struck in the traffic  Will be there in 15 min  ” Our emotions are easily conveyed through these emoticons. It brings life to the otherwise ‘just’ sentences.

These Yellow (now available in different colours in selected Apps  ) Moonjis can actually save you from situations that could have turned sour. In a fit of anger I send a text,
“You are such a dumb idiot“.
After I press send I repent sending, it… Tadaaa! Idea *replace bulb above my head while reading*
Insert smiley-> *tongue out* -> send.
Message was conveyed plus it didn’t hurt as I sent a  denoting lighter sense. Same happens when somebody forwards a dumb joke and still we’ll have to pretend to be courteous.. Reply : Lol 
Indeed an Aabath Pandava 

Initially, these smileys were considered a girl thing and it’s too girly girly to uses these Yellow Moonjis. May be as guys don’t express much  Atleast I had that thought till I found my cousin, my friends (guys) use smileys even when they converse with a guy. The chat window had smileys and I had  yellow moonji pop up from my head when I saw that. Now it’s not a girl thing 

At times I become too lazy to type long sentences. What do I do? Go to insert smileys , choose the apt one and send it. Over!

Friend: What are you doing?
Me: *yellow moonji with headchords* (implying listening to music)
Friend: *thumbsup*
Friend: *rain*
Me: *lightning* *rain* (implies heavy rain)
Friend: *Hot food* (implies bhajji) and *coffee* *super*
Me: ++ *music*
Friend: *angel* (implying ‘Feels like heaven’- #PJ Alert: I send out an overcoat smiley for this instead… Raymond… Ok Ok… No tomatoes please )

In the above case,actual conversation is happening with minimal words. The other day when I was having one such conversations, my sarcastic brain pulled out the image from the history book and showed it to me  It was the image of the caves of early age where conversation happened only through drawings  Are we getting back to that ? 

These can sometimes turn into a blooper. There was a sentence that my friend typed that had words like 402(g) and 401(k). On pressing the send button, it turned out like this 402 *gifts* and 401 *redlips*. There was complete silence from both the ends. She again sent the sentence without the brackets and got a reply. In a formal environment at times such replacement make you go  but with friends it becomes another incident to tease about 

All said and done, I love these cute yellow moonjis        on my chat windows.

Thank God "It's a boy"

When the baby starts its journey from a dark place hoping to see light, it is greeted by the people to a place where the darkness in the form of ignorance is spread far and wide. The mom waits in desperation to check the baby's fate. She waits for the three words that could make or break her little one's life.
#Scene 1
Result: "It's a boy!"
Jubilation! The new father is greeted by all. Look of pride on the father's face.The new mom heaves a sigh of relief!

#Scene 2
Result: "It's a girl!"
The new mother is abused for her inability to give birth to a male heir. The baby is taken away without even a second look.The newborn girl is made to bid farewell within few minutes of her arrival and is sent back to the permanent darkness from where she came.

When a girl is born she is seen as the curse to the family as the family feels a girl is a burden. She is seen as an 'unavoidable expenditure'. Thanks to the dowry system (though we boast that it's completely eradicated). She is seen as a harmful piece of flesh that can bring miseries to the family as it develops. She is considered as a black mark. If at all the girl survives this ordeal, the society continues to see her as a piece of flesh, torments her and makes her feel insecure every moment . Her tears are ridiculed and her feelings are massacred.

The three most deadliest words in the world, "It's a girl" ! These three words can make a human turn into a beast. Evan Grae Davis points out the 'gendercide' that's prevalent in India as well as throughout the world and shares the video of a woman from rural Tamil Nadu who admits killing her daughters by strangling to death as soon as they were born. Hearts go heavy when we hear him share few incidents that take place in China and Cambodia.

Can you ever think of the world without girls? The day is not far if this situation continues. As per the video 200 million women are missing in the world due to the 'gendercide'. There is a gender imbalance observed throughout.

We say education and bringing awareness can make the situation better. Even I believed in this till I read this news that a Chief Judicial magistrate of Gurgaon has allegedly murdered his wife. Reason being she couldn't give the Garg's family a son. It's just a speculation, but still even a slightest doubt of this sort on a person who holds a respectable position in the society makes us feel "Are we really civilised?". Link to the news here.

But what do we do? We read this news, scold the society and move on to the next news. There are N number of videos, news articles, campaigns, statistics that are time and again showed but what do we do about it? We appreciate the move, shower many awards, talk about it for a while and then? As it is rightly said in the video "When we say 'Save the Girl Child', whom are we addressing to? " Instead the change can happen only when each one of us turn the mirror and take this owe of saving the girl child. We'll have to be the change that we wish to see in the world.

A girl is a special creation. She has been bestowed with the power to create a life. She goes through all hurdles just to see her loved ones smile. She is an epitome of selfless love, sacrifice and patience. When a girl child is killed, along with her, the share of love, care and affection that the society would have got had she survived is also killed.

I write this post with deep sorrow, regret, agony and rage. While I write this post, somewhere deep down I still hope there will be a change soon.

Link to the video of Evan Grae Davis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=42i1sIZ-9kQ

Franklin Templeton Investments partnered the TEDxGateway Mumbai in December 2012.