This July marks the beginning of my 3^rd year as a copywriter. A career, which is almost serendipity, began because I wanted to do something ‘cool’. But thankfully, with a lot of hard work and some amount of luck, I have reached a stage that I am really proud of. I now know for a fact that choosing the field of advertising to make a career in was the right decision. That said, I hereby list a few ads that I grew up on, which were instrumental in seducing me towards this great business.

Some of them are not the best ads we’ve seen and there are few which are only 2-3 years old, but in the context of my life and my career, they too played a major part in making me what I am today.

So here it goes…

Roshan tha Bajaj

This Bajaj Tube-lights and Bulbs ad is probably the oldest one I remember. The young kid hiding below the bed covers and then gulping tablets, which notoriously looked like Gems, when he grew old, still register easily in my mind. And I still remember the jingle, Jab mein chhotta bachcha tha, badi shararat karta tha…

Vadilal

This ice-cream parlour ad still makes my mouth water like it did in those days. I remember the girl with those big glasses and the guy with that heavy beard and ofcourse the jingle, Vadilal brings something new…

Nirma

The Nirma girl, Sangeeta Bijlani and jhaak dher sara…

Lifebuoy

Tandoorasti ki raksha karta hain Lifebuoy… Lifebuoy hain jahan, tandoorast hain wahan…

Yehi Hai Right Choice, Baby

Probably the first ever Hindi-English slogan. Coke’s future ambassadors Aamir and Ash rocked in this Pepsi ad and ofcourse; there was also the then-little-known Mahima.

Amul

Probably one of the world’s longest running campaign, parts of which have truly been Utterly Butterly Delicious.

Tuff Shoes

At that time I didn’t know what Milind Soman and Madhu Sapre were advertising, but their infamous pose is forever etched into my mind.

One Black Coffee, Please

This Erickson ad is probably one of the best mobile phone ads ever. I used to watch TV hoping to come across it.

Vicco Turmeric

Vicco Turmeric, nahi cosmetic, Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic cream… another good jingle ad.

Dhara

Don’t remember much, but I can still picture the young girl shouting, ‘My Daddy Strongest’.

Mayur Suitings

One of SRK’s first endorsements. Not so brilliant but I remember their line… Shah Rukh Mayur Khan.

Esselworld

Esselworld me rahunga main… Ghar nahi nahi nahi jaaunga main….

Nestle Polo

Another one of the longest running slogans… The Mint With A Hole

Liril

Karen Lunel to Preity Zinta and now Deepika Padukone. Everybody likes seeing models in lime green or orange bikinis getting drenched, me included.

Fevicol

The Fevicol ad I really liked was the one with the corny village guy and Katrina Kaif. The Fevicol ads defy logic but pass out the message in the most wonderfully subtle manner. Pakde rehna, chhodna mat…

Sprite

I would probably not want to jab at other brands to enhance my own brand, but I enjoyed watching the Sprite Spoofs. The Lux spoof with Lisa Ray was one of the funniest ones.

Pepsi – What’s there?

The Pepsi ads featuring Kareena, Preity, Saif and Fardeen weren’t outright brilliant but I liked the line, Mausam garam hai, Pepsi ke liye hum besharam hai… What’s there?

Amaron Batteries

The Amaron tortoise-rabbit race ad is probably one of the best cartoon ads. Lasts long, really long!

Reliance

The Reliance Karlo Duniya Mutthi Mein ad is one ad that I love to hate the most. Oh, hold on, Sehwag ki Maa ka phone aayaa…

Coca-Cola

Thanda Matlab Coca-cola, so simple and so so brilliant. Hats off to Prasoon Joshi.

Indica V2

A brilliantly creative way of showcasing a car. Nothing run-of-the-mill like most car ads. More Car, Per Car… Must Be True!

Hutch

Yet another brilliant campaign and superb use of a mascot. Made the entire pug breed famous!

Well, phew, that’s about it. Thanks to all the great people for creating these great and not-so-great ads. Cheers to you all.  

And if you might have noticed, the ads that get remembered over ages are the ones that have great jingles. Just a little something to think about, and maybe even a lesson or two to learn, for us - the creative people of today.