I have compiled a list of Top 10 advertisements in Print/TV media that have appeared in the last 2/3 decades. I am sure you will recall/identify with these. I have tried to cover a wide spectrum of products.
10. Political:
Congress Party: "Mera Bharat Mahaan". This adv. became a cult, and can be seen at hundreds of places, from trucks to rickshaws, from Pan shops to bus stops.
This also led to the birth of an equivally popular phrase "Sau mein Neinnyanve beimaan phir bhi mera Bharat mahaan!"
*9. Detergents:
Surf:** Kavita Choudhary immortalized Lalitaji when she said "Bhai saab, Aagar itni saari safedi yadee kaam dam me mile to koi yeh kyoun le, yeh na le" pointing towards Surf. Surf went on to become one of leading detergent.
8. Telecom:
Orange(now Hutch): There adorable doggie and the cute little boy, in one of the most endearing ads, with catch phrase "Where ever you go our network goes with you".
7. Sarees:
Garden Vareli sarees. Some of the best models represented this brand. Never in the history of saree adv. did Sarees look so sensous and you felt that you must buy them. It changed the concept of Saree ads. foreever.
6. Suitings:
Vimal: The slogan "Only Vimal, Only Vimal, Only Vimal, Vimal!" in 80’s from Reliance became a household name. This is probably the only ad. generated curiosity "who will be the next model for Vimal?". Yes! it became a platform for the best Male model in the country. We have had models like Deepak Parashar, Deepak Malhotra, Bikram Saluja, Himanshu Malik modelling for Vimal suitings.
5. Automobiles:
Hero Honda: I would rate the brand recall of this ad in the category of Onida adv. Who can FORGET the adv "Fill it, Shut it, Forget it". Hero Honda-Splendor later on went to create a world record of largest produced bike in the world.
4. TV:
Onida: "Neighbour’s envy, Owners pride" with the Devil behind the TV. This add contributed stupendously to the sales of Onida TV’s and catapulted the company in big league. This adv. is
is considered to have the "Highest BRAND RECALL" value and introduced the Negative adv. concept.
*3. Dairy Products:
Amul:** The AMUL girl and their slogan "Taste of India" unparalled till date. AMUL adv. always had tongue in cheek humour on contemptory topics. People used to wait for a new adv. for AMUL and the moment it was released it would become topic of converstion.
2. Condoms:
Kamasutra: It was called KS, which became a landmark adv. and Pooja Bedi became one of the hottest star due to KS and there is no denying that KS benefited due to the gorgeous bod of Pooja Bedi. Neverever in the history of Indian Adv. a product like Condom was sold in such a well executed and daring adv. This also marked the beginning of adv. for such products, to be beamed at prime time. India came of age.
1. Soaps(not the Saas-Bahu kind):
Liril: I rate this ad as the No-1 ad in my list of Top-10. The mesmerizing smile of Karen Lunel, looking very very sexy(not vulgar) in Green colored(color of liril) two piece bikini, frolicking under a waterful, the energy of the ad with the famous background jingle. The same adv. format gave us Prity Zinta now a top Bollywood heroine.
This adv. helped launch a new soap Liril 20 years ago. Liril is still doing doing well.
One interesting observation: Most of the top ads are those having females(right from very sexy to traditional), animals or even inanimate objects!. Male homo-sapiens not getting much space here:(
Guys! Pour in your comments, debate with your lists of favourite