If I'm getting this spot right - and I've seen it a lot as it's running non stop on Star Cricket channel during the ashes debacle - then i'm Neil appalled from Holland Village!
The story seems to be about a series of indian men who are rushing to get to work and are apparently running late. Towards the end of the spot we realize that their job is to be human light bulbs for their masters because of the teeth whitening effect of Happydent chewing gum... Sometimes they're illuminating the tennis court with their dazzling teeth, sometimes their heads are the headlights on their bosses cars and sometimes they are simply part of the human chandelier that their bosses use to light their dinner time.
REALLY? Thats here we are in 2011? That's how India wants to present itself (albeit via a chewing gum brand) on Asia-wide TV?
Shame. Or am I being way too sensitive?
4 comments:
Here is the spot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlfU-cCdhfs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Dear Appalled of Holland Village,
I am afraid you are suffering from an exaggeration of sensitivity. Were this a case of patronising occidental 'smile so we can see you at night, darkie' you would be well within your rights to be outraged. However this is an Indian ad made by Indians for Indians - you're watching the Indian cricket coverage, so it isn't pan-Asian. It's been around for a few years - it's interesting that they've revived it now - though I think it is entirely justifiable as it is a clever and funny ad.
Yes. It's a case of a non-patronising Indian 'smile so we can see you at night, darkie'. And pre-colonial at that.
Don't burn your bra. You need it...
This is ridiculous. As an indian i love this ad, because there are things about it that I get. And you dont. Like the the song running in the background which is beautiful poetry...the lyrics say that when your heart is lit, so is the world. It also an exaggeration of how things used to be, and therefore funny and nostalgic. We are not interested in what a bunch of foreigners with a limited worldview and even more limited understanding of what development is think of us.
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