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66th Episode.
Taking you back to the crazy days of advertising and the days when parties were regular feature of life. It was as if party was a way for the mad advertising crowd to release all the pressure, to remind that it was this they worked for and loved their profession. The party I am referring to was not for any special reason, it was just the annual party of HTA, above ball bearing market, 35 Rani Jhansi Road, Jhadewalon fame.
The party was held at Mehrauli near Kutub Minar. The theme was VAMPS AND VILLAINS. I worked with enthusiastic set of young team of HTA to help Choreography a song. Yes, you read that right the man with two left feet choreographed or say helped choreographed with practices on the top floor. I initiated the process but for some reason that I would want to selectively let go and forget, I gave it up. Anyway, on that evening, at the Mehrauli lawns it was me in white Kurta – Pyjama (doing a Farooq Sheikh act I think ) who opened the evening with the often repeated Meharbaan, kadradaan, thookdaanm peekdaan aur sath mai aayeh sabhi mehamaan ko sanjeev kotnala ka salaam.
JAGDIP BAKSHI
The party as any was a success. But few images that remain entrenched in my mind. One was JAGDIP BAKSHI who was in unrecognisable in vamp outfit, with all that wig, skirt and waxed legs. He was so good in his act that it was difficult not to give a second glance the lady having her whisky. His hulk was the thing that gave it away. SUNIL GUPTA was I think in that Gabbar role that came naturally to him. There was someone who has gone BALD to depict Sakaal, the kulbhushan Karbanada of Shaan.
There were many other doing the Vamp and villain roles and have invested into the getup. But, then at times you need
to think outside the brief and sometime the answer is so simple. I think it was a case where SAMIR GANGADHAR came direct from office to the party. Having no time to invest in any getup, I think he took help RAMESH THAKUR at studio and walked in. Samir Gangadhar was dressed a white shirt and grey trouser. He was carrying two boards in his body. These two boards were help together with the help of jute rope on his shoulder. His was the most creative contribution. The front board said WOMEN and the board at the back said MEN.
(Now the memory of this one is a bit hazy, so if HTA guys remember it- please help me add / correct and if anyone has a picture from this party it would be really great)
……….. OTHER ADVERTISING MARKETING EPISODES …
TRIMING THE BILL OF BEER FAT – how the bill at a 5 star hotel in Mumbai was inflated with beer fat that needed triming ● THREATENING TO DANCE WITH TWO LEFT FEET – just to get the party going THE CHASE that could have got us killed ● SHARING IS CARING The coded message by a PSU client ● SLEEP How Swaraj Mazda account was won by Anil Maitre ● The other semi-final – How beer has answe to everything ● RUMBLING – amplifying the peace ● COWARD – A sad smiling face had lot of unanswered questions ● OVERDOSE – What happened with a good B2B initiative at holi. ● CAN YOU MAKE SOMEONE AN ENGISHMAN OVERNIGHT ● THE WATCH: How do you know what your client is signalling ● IRRATIONAL DEMAND – how clients expect agencies to do things ● DOUBLE SURPRISE– Never walkin a party not knowing the occassion ● DING DONG EXCITEMENT AT MACAU – the addiction to casino ● HOT RIDE AT PUSHKAR – adventure ● THE WALK : How we discovered the culture at Macau ● The Jump – a team of 7 go skyjumping during annual conclave at Pattaya ● HIGH SEA GAMBLING – the merry making in international waters ● KOTI ANGLES: Gambeling in Goa ● MISSING LIPS : How friendship develops to create different expectations ● The Trap: How the AE searching for adventure got duped ● Equal Opportunity to Indulge: How HR finds itself ina spot in Pattaya ● THE LOST HAUNTING MUSIC– An experience ● UNNAMED SPIRIT- A SPOOKY EXPERIENCE at Mcleodganj ● PUNJABI LINTAS – Amrit Puri takes over Lintas ● DELAYED LAUNCH – Why HT Delhi Colour supplement launch was delayed ● UNDERGROUND – Printing fake currency could have led to jail ● STRATEGIC RAIN BREAK – How ZID KARO DHONI film was shot ● THANK YOU ● RAIN CLAUSE – I – The fight with Whitelight film over Maruti film ● LETHAL COMBINATION ● APPETITE – It does not matter where you get the appetite till you eat at home ● Puncture – how not to get caught ● ADULTERY- THE MOMENT – Its all for you to decide how far you would go ● ASSET – how a famous Indian model was rejected ● I AM SANKAR – soft ragging of new trainee ● THE COUNT ● INTRODUCTION ● TIME BOMB – How to avoid embarrassing situation ● SMALL TILE – eye for detail ● SHOOT REPORT – junior saving the issue by innovative process ● SARDAR KHUSH HOGA – the agency reaction to a demand ● SHOOT AT MUD ISLAND – shooting with Denzil ●KAALI PEELI PICTURE – what do you do you’re your model is featured in Debonair ● UPGRADE – Bangalore ITC ● JUHI EFFECT– there is something called lady luck in gambling ● POWER OF PUNJAB ● OUT – let game be game ● TWO MORE – how not to pay for the drinks ● ELEVEN MINUTES – client tackles late agency ● THE CHERRY WIN –Team plays a prank ● THE PRESENTATION – junior takes revenge for last minute changes ● BLACK GOLD – A lesson on TVC presentation ● BUFFERED –delivery at airport ● CONTINUE WITH CLIENT – The management supports a high pitched battle with client ● NOT FIRED – just in time action by agency ● ONE LESS DECISION – a campaign thought represented umpteen times● HIGH JACKING THE GOAFEST DELEGATES – a ground event that took Goafest by surprise ● THE GHOST OF 35 RANI JHANSI ROAD JHANDEWALAON – The unsiad stories ● THE PROBLEM – Agency tackling a no-brief from client ● IMPORTED ART CARD – a quick retort to finiky client ● BANYAN TREE AGENCY – Agency tackles cost issue on unapproved estimates
