Ad #4: Little India Resturant

Brief: The Chicken we serve is 'Hot'.

Execution: show steaming chicken (too easy).

Chicken On fire/colored red (cliche).

How about chicken having sex ?!?

Bingo! We have an award winner!

The problem- People (and that includes most of the hardcore non-vegetarians) don't like to think of their food as something that ran around aimlessly a few hours/days ago. Forget about having sex (and the chickens look overweight. Gross.) This ad may bring a couple of chuckles, but will it bring customers to the restaurant? I don't think so.

When you advertise food, advertise food. not safe/unprotected sex. A person completely shocked because of the spicy chicken would have served the tagline better. If client insists, he can be holding a piece of chicken too. Something like the clipart on the other side of this line. Simple, yes. Uninspiring- yes. but I prefer my food to be simple, not having sex with rest of the things on the plate.

(image from clipartguide)

Ad #3: Princeton Review (radio, again)

I don't remember the first part of the ad, which means it isn't that good anyway (if someone who pays attention to ads can't remember it- then you can safely bet no one will) but their sign off line was pretty hilarious/ ridiculous/ baffling. It goes like "(blah bah blah) Princeton Review. It's not just the best option, it's the only option."

This line reminds me of old Hollywood movies- where the government, facing the extinction of earth (or worse), hire the services of a discarded soldier or secret agent, and stay hopeful about the outcome. To quote Hot Shots:Part Deux, "Topper Harley is the best of what's left. we have no other option."

Why would you tell prospective customers that they have NO option? how about saying "You have to come to us, pay the price we quote, and pray nothing goes wrong" instead?

Imagine if the guys said "It's not just the only option; Its the best option." The plates turn dramatically. It shows Princeton Review doesn't care about the competition (because they are the best), and the non-existence of a competition is more of a boon to the students (they are getting the best option any way, and there's no need to search among mediocre/other Coaching centres.)

Ad #2: Lifestyle Radio spot

FM radio is a major source of keeping myself sane during my commute to work. Ads, generally, are skipped, but I manage to catch my share.

Heard a Raksha Bandhan ad today. Voice-over describes a sister being picky about the Rakhi she's going to tie to her brother, and urges brothers to do the same for her sisters- by giving a thoughtful gift.

What would that thoughtful gift might be? a Lifestyle gift voucher. wait a minute. gift vouchers and thoughtful? aren't gift vouchers supposed to say "I don't know much about you, but I HAVE give something- hence I brought this voucher"?

Lifestyle has a good collection of gifts and dresses for women (I know- that's where my sister's gift came from). instead of bandying their gift vouchers- they could have explained about their collection. Better idea would have been appointing special 'gift assistants' to help guys pick up gifts for their sisters. They could have turned this into something big, forcing guys to think hard about their sisters- something that says 'Pick the perfect gift', something that emotionally blackmails guys to spend time in an alien environment. Just for a day.

Ad #1: Fiat Genuine parts

The idea sounds awesome on paper; fake oil spills where cars are parked, forcing the drivers to have a look. But- there's my problem. how can the driver look at something that is UNDER his car? ok, if drivers notice the oil spill before they entered the parking spot, there's no guarantee they'd look at it when they are moving out.

I would have used a fake damaged concrete in front of the parking spot- indicating bad brakes. Copy'd be something like "Duplicate parts seldom save money. Use genuine ____ parts."

What do you say?

(image taken from Ads of the world.)