Ad-Mad World!

The recent exploration into the happenings of the idiot box filled me with the sense of nostalgia.I was expecting to find some hit songs like "Lifebuoy hai jahaan,tandarusti hai wahaan".But....
The genre of commercial advertisements in Indian communication channels can be divided into 3 broad groups(Strictly according to me as no doubt,u can categorize it into as many groups as possible).
It all started with the ads,whose basic ideas was promotion of the product.In the 80's,the common were "Jo biwi se kare pyaar,woh Prestige se kaise kare inkaar","Hamdard ka tonic Cinkara" and the songs of Bajaj bulb,if you don't remember,it started something like "jab main bilkul chhota tha,badi sharaarat karta tha,meri chori pakdi jaati......." and then the famous song,"doodh si safedi,nirma se aayi,rangeen kapda bhi khil-khil jaye...sabki pasand nirmaaaa..washing powder nirma..."
During this entire phase of advertisement,the songs were made catchy and the product was the hero of the ad.
however,then came the period of punch lines...the second genre,which had major promos like,"Neighbour's Envy,Owner's Pride","Choc-latee khao,khud jaan jao","Mummy bhook lagi hai....bas do minute"..
Due to increment of ad rates,the songs were dwarfed to single liners and then almost all the products carried one-liners,with which they were associated,in order to differentiate between Phillips and BPL,Maggie and Top Ramen.The time and effect of advertisements were so strong in influencing public that 'Vimlaji's' "Bhai Sa'b!" established the regime of "Surf" completely and instead of asking for washing powders from the shopkeepers and then selecting between them,people used to demand,simply 'Surf'.
But then there was something missing.It was filled by Amitabh Bachhan.the third genre according to me started with product wars with stars in them.no doubt,in all previous ads too there were stars but they were not the Big and Famous one's.we had Asrani in Laxman Sylvenia,Satish Shah in Hawkins,and Deepika post 'Ramayana' in Nirma Super.But it was none in comparison with the Bachhan and Aamir and Sachin and then Shahrukh and the list has continued.No doubt,many ads have been made which copies the dialogues from hit movies.
However,the current trend seems to be reaching towards a collapse of ideas.The ad of Samsung television,has evolved itself.They use different products as their base to mobilise their own products.Similarly,the cola wars have been drawn close by Dew and Thums-Up.
I remember watching Dream-Merchants on Zee TV long time back when they showed some european ads in which after the 3 minute ad was over,it was shown that the ad was of electrical appliances.
These days however,they make their ads short,precise and on the product.
ours is the reverse case and the only possibility that I find as the future of Indian advertisements is reaching the identity crisis of the products.
what suggestions would u like to provide on this matter of emerging ads??

Secular Curriculum.

Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology,which is supposed to be the heart and soul of the educational system in Punjab alongwith PEC,Chandigarh finds itself sometimes drawn apart on the matters of secularism and it's curriculum.The recent incident which happened today is a repetition of an old example.
It's 1700 hrs in the evening and time for most of the student to leave for home after a week long extention of their exams.Suddenly comes a notice which mentions that Monday has been declared a Holiday on the occasion of 'Ramnavami'.The sattire associated with this incident is simple.The college knew the date of Ramnavami,since the year beginning,although I don't know which calender they follow,but they prefer one with least holidays,and they don't consult priests before declaring or denouncing a holiday.But more importantly,for the college administration,is to calculations hundreds of linear,simultaneous and quadratic equations to find out out how much loss in syllabus,academics and money are they going to suffer when they call off for holiday all of a sudden,going against their prescribed schedule..and the secrecy of the matter is always always given highest priority for even the Assistant Registrar and the Dean of Academic Affairs pretended that they didn't know about the issue today at 1600 hrs.
No doubt,it's Ramnavami,so they might have fallen into pressure from the 'Hindu' Blocs,coz had this been Eid(as it's coming this 22),they would not have given a second thought in denouncing the day to be a non-holiday,be it the biggest festival of Muslims(we don't have holiday on 22 yet for Eid).
The question comes out here is that the number of Government declared holidays in India for maintaining it to be a secular State is highest in the world.God knows if each and every person of each religion are committed to their respective festivals to this extent or not that they require a day off from work for the worship.However,on the other hand,the Private Organisations and Institutes try to keep them aloof from all such indulgence in heavenly affairs.I would rather like to ask from you,what is the criteria for every Indian to show their association with Secular thought?Should the things be judged in Economical way,like the Private Groups or should they rejoice with all the people of different religion,taking part in each and every festivals of everyone?
I would suggest that social bondage is important.Depriving Indians from their freedom of religion is not going to help in long run.I have found and I firmly belive that religion is something on which almost many people fall back at the end.For quick reference,visit "ISKCON" temple in 'East of Kailash' in New Delhi and meet the devotees.

Romantic'Freedom'

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players".When the time of the most common expression for human philosophy comes in one's mind,erupts this message out of sudden and nowhere.However,the ease,with which this statements devise all our actions a mere play,may offend many people who feel they are serious enough for everything in life..take for example,'Romance'..In terms of Oscar Wilde,"Romance is the privilege of rich,not the profession of unemployed".And a lot many times has it happened,that all those who feel they are in love and they are romancing these days should oppose it.For them,love has nothing to do with money.
However,it's money which has everything to do with romance,if not love.From purchasing leisure for romance to paying for accomodation for romance.From feeding the lovers to nurturing them throughout the time and beyond.And yet,why no one comes up with this truth that yes,"Romance needs more of heart and less of money." But then my dear friends,the crux of this is just a part of the complete story.How many of us really do indulge in romance with the sense of attaining freedom of thought and mind?Everyone loves freedom and wants to enjoy it.But on the price of their inmates.So,things like Love-marriage is truly baseless as it no-doubt curbs the freedom of romancing as many poeple u like.
In breif,we romance with those whom we like.Now the sense of freedom should encourage us to go for romancing with all those whom we like,beyond the boundaries of age bars,caste bars and sex bars!And certainly then,there should be a number of them..(I gues romancing with three different people a day can engage one's knowledge of all the people whom he or she knows and love to romance with)... The most important question arises,is that of affording so many romantic stories!!nothing comes free,nor does romance!Therefore,the concept of romance,which says its enjoying ur freedom fails here because u r following some constraints of number to fulfill the conditions for the freedom of romance.
This is still affordable with some,maybe but that means the poor should never think about it.Well then,the most contradictory question comes out of this romance thing is the concept of marriage post-romance.Does it require to get married with someone with whom u r romancing with?If yes,then how many people will u marry.
This all may sound kind of self-generated story of absurdity but my dear friends,I would recommend u to ask ur romancing partners,what do they think about you when they think over post-romance session?Do they allow you to go for more than one romance experiences than one with you?if not,then why not?Aren't you both are free to enjoy your freedom of thought and taste and expression.You seek happiness and you find it with someone and then you go along with him/her.What in case u find someone more people 'at par' with your thoughts?Whats wrong in romancing them??
Come out of this fundamental of commitment towards one person..You are free for everything.Don't bind yourself to the clutches of your romantic partner.
I know this blog,when read by many will invite unprecedented and hating remarks but who cares.You will understand if I'll bring you some of the success stories about such ideas of romantic freedom minus the commitment.So,whatever you think before commenting here,Just think once.

Ol' flicks...got new!

Ok pals,the next best thing recommended by me are few of the hollywood famous stuff...I saw them while Holi break in IIT Delhi...had I got the chance, would have gone for more...Still to start with,"To Kill A Mockingbird"..fabulous film which is not complete copy of the same story by Harper Lee but whatever is shown in the movie,has been a good depiction of the novel and the recommendation goes not only for this but for fetching Gregory Peck his oscar for the movie...Then comes "In the name of the father"..this Daniel Day Lewis movie was nominated for oscars alongwith "Philadelphia"...But this movie,by far has been best over the IRA issue...even better than much acclaimed "The Devils Own"...and then I saw a completely different movie starrign Edward Norton."The American History X"..this was a marvellous drama about the american society and the neo-nazis living up there...and last but not the least,I saw "The Memento"...A completely different thriller for the reason that it runs from end to start...and no doubt,it has been rated The best Thriller of 2001...
So,budddies whenever,u land into this oppurtunity of landing into movie world,just try to have any of them...to have some good and fats pacing time with the movies....No doubt,I'll be coming up with the next issue of my filmi magazine sooner...till then,keep watching this space...

Long Time No See

Sorry friends and enemies..but it had been real long time since I had the oppurtunity to write about the latest happening with me...But actually this time something in real was happening..I was out in New Delhi spending Holi and i stayed at my friend's room in IIT.."So,whats happening in it? " The happening things were really happening when I didn't sleep for two consecutive days,relying totally on the stack of movies available on the LAN there and the 24hr provison of tea,coffee and so many things out in Nescafe corners and the freedom to smoke in the hostel...It was nice vacation,at the end with one week stay in New Delhi and meeting pals like Piyush and DJ and Matthias and Anuj and Varun and my friends Achal and Abhinav after some gap...
On return trip,there were stories of Akshit Singh and then Anand kapai to add thrill at the end...But then my friends,the ultimate killing machine was waiting for me here in TIET.And that was the second mid-semester exams...Poor me has managed to go for nothing but grim effort towards 2 papers yet...
However,the news for all of you,concerning me is that I'm leaving for Allahabad on 5 May to attend the call of Indian Millitary Academy to join them after SSB...Lets see what can I make it there...1 day dream or 5 days ordeal!!!However,pals sooner,will come up with more news and happening things..till then keep watching this space.thanks for your patience buddies...