A nostalgic walk down the advertising lane

As I was glancing through NDTV Profit on my iPad, during breakfast today, I came across an interesting video featuring the top advertisements of the 80s. This was a special program to mark the 65^th Independence Day of India.

As the old jingles of ‘Gold Spot’, ‘Limca’ and ‘wonderful Doodh’ played away on the screen, I was transported to the world of 2 decades back, to my growing up days. And, in an instant, there were so many memories floating before my eyes – luckily all of them were pleasant. I remembered how happy we were even with very limited access to things such as television entertainment. Serials such as Hum Log, Buniyaad, Rajni & other programs such as Chitrahaar fulfilled our need for entertainment. And these were all just weeklies. Even as the memories came alive, they seemed to be from another lifetime.

And the famous ad jingles of the 80s helped me dwell a bit more in that other lifetime.

The ‘Limca’ ad was at number 10. A very young Salman Khan celebrating his first victory with Limca…  of course, he wasn’t a superstar then J

At number nine was the “oh so unforgettable” ad of ‘Lijjat Papad’. At that time animation was never used in the Indian advertising industry & the little bunny became an instant hit with children. As a child, I loved to mimic the bunny saying “lijjat papad…hehehehe”

The zingy ad of ‘Gold Spot’ was at number 8. That happened to be the first favorite drink of my life ;)

‘Vicks ki goli lo, khich khich door karo’ stood at number 7.

Children loved to mimic the song of ‘Bajaj bulbs & tubes’; ‘jab main chhota bachha thha’…   This stood at number 6.

The famous Bombay Dyeing ad (Oh! my dream lover is a Bombay Dyeing man) stood right in the middle, at number 5.

Who can ever forget Alyque Padamsee’s bold creation – the bikini-clad Liril girl aka Karen Lunel? This was the most controversial ad of our childhood that also rewrote the rules of Indian marketing. Liril ad was placed at number 4.

Now, how many would agree that this was a household song, especially for bathroom singers? Yes, I’m talking about the popular ‘Tandurusti ki raksha karta hai Lifebuoy’ jingle. I’m glad Lifebuoy got the prestigious position of number 3.

Hamara ‘Bajaj’ very deservingly was placed at number 2. We can never forget the heart-warming, heart touching song ‘hamara kal hamara aaj.. Buland bharat ki buland tasveer’.

And at number 1, stood the social campaign for national integration, the song (Mile sur mera tumhara) that still gives me goose bumps. It was first telecast on 15^th August 1988 to promote unity among Indians and it did change the national sentiment to a considerable extent by evoking an emotional response that ‘unity in diversity’ could not be compromised and treated only as empty rhetoric. It’s high time for another such effective campaign considering the fact that a series of blasts rocked Manipur on India’s 65^th Independence Day.

Some of these products have phased out; most of them have been outshined by shinier, smarter products. But, it’s wonderful how these old jingles still stir up roaring memories.

Needless to say, I loved the show and jotting these thoughts is the best thing I have done today.