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Please allow us to indulge in a little gossip (don’t we all love it) before we turn all patriotic and fervent. The industry received a nice letter jointly signed by Bhaskar Das, President, Ad Club Bombay, and Srinivasan Swamy, leader of the Indian delegation, to the AdAsia at Jeju Island in Korea. It laid out the itinerary and costs pertaining to the tour. Nothing wrong so far, right? Then why are we hearing rumours (it might be official by the time this appears in print) that the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is doing a re-think on its nominee as leader of the delegation? And that too after Mr Swamy stood on the AdClub stage (as we reported) during the road show of the Koreans as the leader? Maybe Mr Swamy is too busy and tired to take on this titular job. Or maybe we got it wrong. If we are right, AAAI’s new president, Mr Madhukar ,will lead the delegation. How we hate being right always!

India turned 60 and the country had a party. The media turned out sterling content and was rewarded with a spate of advertising all attempting to tie in with freedom. Shah Rukh Khan was the most visible brand endorsing freedom, at least in the Mumbai media. We are sure it has nothing to do with the recent release of his film Chak De India, but guess it couldn’t hurt. Most of the advertising seemed pretty predictable. Freedom from this, that and the other was pretty much the common thread that ran through the messages.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Every newspaper and TV channel pulled out the most inspiring people it knew to either cheer for India or to gaze into the impossible crystal ball and see what India would be like in 2020 or even in 2067. We were relieved to see that every social, cultural, economic or political star was sure that the future would be very bright and rosy.

One of the leading English newspapers in Mumbai (there are so many these days) carried on its front page, no less, a picture and interview not with the President or Chief Minister or leading banker or national industrialist or even celluloid star, but with Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. For those outside of Mumbai and the crazy culture of stocks and shares, the gentleman in mention is described by that same newspaper as the present day “bull” in the stock market. Well, in the rich mosaic of Mumbai, the secular temple where everyone worships is the stock exchange and the bulls are the Gods. Move over Nandi, welcome Rakesh!

HDFC Bank sent some of its lucky customers a DVD with exclusive renderings of the National Anthem by the musical maestros of India. The effort has been conceived by Kanika Myer and Bharat Bala. Quite superb! We recall Bharat Bala’s earlier films on the Vande Mataram. Someone should compile those into a collection. HDFC Bank, are you listening?

With everyone hailing freedom from something or the other, we in the marketing advertising and media industries would wish for some freedoms of our own. Freedom from the brutal pressure of quarterly results, so one can have the freedom to build brands gracefully and in a sustained manner. Freedom from clients and agencies that demand and pay (as the case may be)little bits of commission that is seen to be more important than good, honest work. Freedom from ‘competition-minded’ agency heads who believe they should offer their ideas and strategies free of charge to brand managers in pitches that could best be described as corporate ‘swayamvars’. Freedom from underemployed babus in Delhi and other State capitals and their intellectually challenged political bosses who waste the nation’s time drafting Bills to muzzle the media.

AIG India. 60 seconds for 60 years. We loved the poignant advertisement released by AIG India. The thought about “the power of one” was evocative. The look: eye-catching. The copy was inspiring. Is this how Bates’ advertising will look after the arrival of Sonal Dabral? Sure is something to look forward to!

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