As usual, on Friday, I was having drinks with Vermajee, my friend, mentor and one of the sharpest brand consultant minds. The conversation began somewhere else and, between the second and third glass of whisky, it moved to brands, advertising and the increasingly blurred line between provocation and controversial advertising. “Do you think controversial advertising… Read More: Controversial advertising- is that a media tool? »
I believe that expecting advertising to serve a larger cause is a misplaced demand. I read an article on Mxmindia.com about the recent Bajaj Pulsar advertisement, which called it wrong for not being gender-sensitive, and I initially disagreed. My first reaction was simple: if an advertisement is within the law and the regulatory framework, and… Read More: Advertising Ethics: Is Legal Good Enough for Advertising? »
“Happy Teachers’ Day, Vermajee,” I said, raising my glass to my friend, mentor, marketing consultant Vermajee. And one of my teachers. “Thank you. You are only the second person to wish me this year.” “Disappointed?” “Curious. Teachers’ Day once produced more wishes than mosquitoes after the monsoon. Now, only two. And the second one so… Read More: Teachers, AI and the Price of Being Relevant »
“Six, Vermajee. Six Bigg Boss starting together!” I had barely said it when Vermajee smiled. “Now that is interesting.” “It is not the languages that surprise me. Bigg Boss has been running in different Indian languages for years. Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam have their established audiences. Marathi too had its 2026 season, which… Read More: BIGG BOSS: When Six Houses Open Together, Owning Attention? »
A fireside conversation with Vermajee over his favourite drink discussing the future of brands. “Brands will be dead by 2040.” I started the conversation. Vermajee, the marketing consultant and a dear friend, looked at me over his favourite drink, with the expression of a marketing consultant who has just heard a client announce a completely… Read More: BRANDS WILL BE DEAD BY 2040 »
GIVA’s Kriti Sanon Raksha Bandhan ad sparks debate over fashion, pets and Indian culture. A humorous take on tradition, advertising and social-media outrage.
Sundowner at Six -A Book Best Enjoyed Without Looking for Enlightenment There is an old saying in Uttarakhand: “Surya Asth, Garhwal Mast.” Roughly translated, once the sun sets, the people of Garhwal become considerably more interesting. So, I must confess that I, a Pahaadi, was partially misled by the title of Ashish Joshi’s (another Pahaadi)… Read More: Sundowner at Six: Don’t Look for Philosophy, Just Pour a… »
When products, features, prices and reviews begin to look the same, what is left for brands to fight the battle for brand preference?
