What better way to salute the year just going by, talking about some of the finest ads that came out this year? By far this year has not been one of the years, which has seen anything of remarkable proportions happening for the Indian ad industry per se. But still some of the ads did make us sit back and notice and this review is an ode to such ads.
The red carpet for the top 10 goes as: -
- Times of India’ A day in the life of India’ ads
The ads mark a change in strategy for TOI as a brand, which has until now relied on humor. The ad is a wonderful mix of modernity and traditional India. For more: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/The_Times_of_India_’Prakash_Mirajkar_selected’_commercial-89966-1.html
- Airtel’ Express yourself’ ads
The ad has oodles of emotions and that typical Indian color to it. For more: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Airtel_’Dil_ki_Baat’_commercial-88628-1.html
- Surf Excel’ Daag acche hai’ ads
Wonderful ad, one that is part of a world wide marketing strategy adopted by Unilever with the theme ‘ dirt is good’. Check out: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Surf_Excel_’Daag_achche_hain’_commercial-85464-1.html
- Coke’ Piyo sar utha ke’ ads
Stars the ever so dependable Aamir Khan in the lead. A slice of life ad, which has been done very tastefully. For more: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Coca_Cola_’Piyo_Sar_Utha_Ke’_commercial-85262-1.html
- Maruti Alto’ Boondein’ ads
Super ad with just the right brand message keeping in mind the target audiences. Maruti has really got its act together off late with some cool and catchy ads with their segmentation and positioning working spot on. For more: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Maruti_Alto_’Nakhre_Dikhati_Bunde’_commercial-85196-1.html
- Toyota Innova ‘ Desire to stay ahead’ ads
Well what to say the brilliance of Aamir all the way for this ad, nothing more nothing less. For more: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Toyota_Innova_’Aamir_Khan’_commercial-89161-1.html
- Tata Indica ‘ Must be true’ ads
Super use of humor to come with an ad, which is sure to drive home the point, that Tata Indica is values for money buy. The way the guy keeps getting boxed when he lies is superb. Check out the review of snigdhandream .
- Bajaj Avenger’ I feel like god’ ads
My first reaction to this ad was that what are they promoting, the bike or the model, but now after seeing it n times, I do realize it is a cool ad shot with the right brand message and keeping in mind the target audience. For more on this check out the reviews by iamsujaij/pulsarian/mariner2
- Asian Paints’ Har ghar kuch kehta hai’ ads
This ad is a continuation from the earlier AP ads, the theme has been used quite effectively and as always kids have played a key role in this ad. The innocence of the kids and their spontaneity shines through this ad. Check the review by ashishpruthi.
- Tata Safari Dicor’ Reclaim your life’ ads
Brilliantly captures the monotony of our day-to-day lives where we yearn for that spunk, that jazz in our lives, which is so awfully missing and juxtaposing it with the beast of a SUV that Dicor is. For more on this check out the work of iamsujaij.
The other noteworthy nominations for the year were lapped up by: -
- Visa’ Richard Gere’ ads
Opinions might be divided on this ad, while some feel it’s a cross-cultural mockery while some like me feel it’s a brilliant ad which depicts and power and reach of the brand, Visa. Check out the reviews of donkey, blue_angel for more.
- SBI Bank’ Surprisingly true’ ads
SBI employing a humorous storyboard to talk about things, an ad that has caught the fancy of the audiences. Check the reviews of madsadman, jyotsnabubble and ram_cv for more on the ad.
- Air Deccan’ Simplyfly’ ads
They have made flying a reality for the common man and the ads are an ode to the spirit of the brand. Check the review by rajni_raj for more on the ad.
- Hindustan Times’ Let there be light’ ads
Boy now that was some out of the box thinking for the ad, the way people have been shown blindly doing things without putting their minds to work and then juxtaposing it with a man reading HT, a picture of calm and knowledge amidst all this chaos is rather apt and spot on.
- JeevanSaathi.com’ Meet your woman’ ads
This ad shows how a man has married the biggest mistake of his life, the way he is treated by his wife and then the brand message of the site is quite tasteful and drives home the point quite succinctly.
- Naukri.com’ Guess who just heard from us’ ads
Wonderful ad depicting the freedom of thought and peace of mind an employee enjoys the moment he finds a worthy job in any other company and how he finds the guts to stand up to the atrocity of a tyrant at workplace@boss.
- SBI Life Insurance’ Taaki rishton ke beech kabhi dooriyaan na aaye’ ads
Use of aged people and way their emotions and feelings for each other has been captured are indeed touching and does strike an instant note with the viewers.
- Hutch ‘where ever you go’ ads
Some really out of the box ads this year for Hutch, be it the SMS tones ads with the kid band playing a lively tune, or the man shouting and hearing his echo in the mountains for the low cost long distance calls from Hutch or the 50 paise SMS facility ads or the subtle yet effective recharge options ads with Irfan Khan, Hutch has done it all this year and in style.
- Chevrolet Optra ‘For a special journey called life’ ads
Brilliant use of Indian emotions and imagery where a husband drives his way to the beach for her karwa chauth moon sighting. For more check: -
https://mouthshut.com/review/Optra_’For_a_Special_Journey_Called_Life’_commercial-75846-1.html
- Sangini Diamonds ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ ads
Phew emotions and relations seem to have been the mantra all through 05 for the ad makers. This ad shows the love and bondage between a 20 something couple so sweetly, an ad made keeping in mind the young executives and businessmen class more then anyone else.
Please let me know your take on the ads, and if there are any other winners that I might have missed out here.
Till then, have a smashing new year and may all your wishes and dreams come true in the coming year.