Dense commentary on social media, PR, marketing, advertising and branding.
Originally published in Brand Equity (The Economic Times), February 5, 2020. When Manu Kumar Jain (Managing Director of Xiaomi India) Madhav Sheth (Realme India CEO) and C Manmohan (General Manager of POCO India) stumble upon each other in an event, how do…
It was quite a surprise to see Lifebuoy’s ad in Hindustan Times, Mumbai edition (January 31, 2020). And then again in Telegraph, Kolkata, on February 1, 2020. The word-building around FIGHTS seemed rather forced, but I understand the sentiment. The surprise is…
Stand-up comedian Vir Das opens his new Netflix show, ‘Vir Das for India’, with a visceral love-hate for Chyawanprash! ___ “If you want to experience our country, you have the taste our country. Therefore the first thing you must put in your…
I have a feeling I have been seeing a LOT of news about Vakrangee in the past one week. It was on 28th January (Tuesday), and again, today, in ET. Also on January 29th, in Moneycontrol. The interesting connecting point between all…
Google’s new Super Bowl film is a poignant affair. Watch it first. What I found fascinating is not the emotional current per se; that is very, very well done, of course, in true Google style (made in-house). You can’t help but feel…
In August last year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of UK banned 2 TV advertisements made for Philadelphia, the Mondelez-owned cream cheese brand and Volkswagen. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) offers guidance to ASA. Using the CAP guidelines, people could complain…
I have referred to the UX of a banana reasonably often on Twitter. But I think I have not said enough, in context. I have a very special admiration for the whole of the banana species given how extraordinarily it puts itself…