I very distinctively remember the Ad... where the middle aged Master-ji (teacher) praises the healthy & well maintained teeth of his student Raju ( Bachchon yeh hai hamari danthon ki banaawat. Raju Thumare Daanth tho motiyon jaise chamak rahe hai...)... the student giving all the credit to Vicco Tooth powder (Dental powder?)... while another smart-ass student making comments about Master-ji’s decaying teeth (Aur Master-ji Aap ke daanth??).
Being a high-schooler myself... used to enjoy the take on Masterjis who tortured us by giving us lots of homework & assignments... till that part got censored by Masterjis association going to court & suing Vicco for defaming their profession [ and people think Aunt Sue...Uncle Sams wifey... lives in US]
Coming back to Vicco Vajradanthi... it was THE toothpaste & tooth powder in those days. No one had heard of Gel toothpastes, shining, multi-colored toothpastes... Tooth pastes meant some gooey white stuff applied on teeth...
This Vajdradanthi [ meaning the ’Diamond Teeth’... No.. not some very old Bond movie ;)] also came as smooth(?) mud red colored powder called ’Tooth Powder’.
Now how to brush your teeth with powder... Using your middle-finger [ the one you remember when you lose your temper] as ’Natural Brush’... Now isn’t that ingenious!!!
Using a fully Ayurvedic [ at least it was touted as one] tooth powder, brushing with natures own brush... singing ’Mere saamnewali kidki mein...’... OK let me stop here.
Now what are the benefits of using Vajradanthi tooth powder...
1) It is fully Ayurvedic & free from harmful chemicals
2) So strong in taste... no chance of children swallowing it... I tried once & realized why germs die on seeing it :)
3) No need for toothbrushes... saves lot of money in the long run
4) It keeps the dentist away... no I didn’t mean by bad breath :))
I really do miss the simple powder.. in the days of multi-colored good tasting toothpastes which look more of a fashion accessory [ with God knows what all ingredients :(]
I don’t even know if they still market this product... and someone still uses it... Where are you Masterji & Raju... and the last bencher who said ’Masterji... your teeth’???
Masterji Ad : The Ad is actually about Dabur Lal Danth Manjan... but somehow... due to some weird unexplainable phenomenon [called failing memories]... it reminds me of Vicco Vajradanti...
Real VV Ad : The Vicco Vajradanti ad had a Marathi actress and she and her husband / lover/ BF were eating apple, sugarcane, walnut happily - the secret being VV.
And the tag line...
’Ayurvedic jadi bootiyon se bana sampoorna swadeshi.. Vicoooo Vajradantiiiii.. ting ting’
( Courtesy : My real friend Prasad [fatcat]... a friend who helped me in my hour of need. Thanks Prasad )