5 Sweetest TV Commercials of My Wonder Years

When we were kids, back in the 80s, Television ads were growing huge in India. The small screen had reached the middle classes and advertisements with strong brand recall were all the rage. In those days, everyone watched everything that came on the Idiot Box with fascination…even programmes meant for farmers (Krishi Darshan) were seen with eyes glued to the screen. TV ads too were watched repeatedly and mimicked at homes. We kids took pride in learning the ad jingles and taglines by heart. Who can forget the jingles of  Washing Powder Nirma, Parle G, Gagan and Humara Bajaj!

As we grew, so did the ads in the 90s. In no time, the commercials turned more stylish, polished and classy. Guy models began to wear leather jackets, jazzy belts and denims while girl models embraced designer clothes and chic hairstyles. Bikes, accessories, cars, music and a westernised lifestyle got promoted in the ads to engage the youngsters.

The 90s boasted some of the best commercials of all times. Can you ever forget ads made for Onida, Maggi, Rasna, Fevicol, Vicco, Breeze, Lux, Dove, Dhara oil, Mango Bite or Amul chocolate?

Often, I watch those ads on YouTube to relive the past. Here are 5 of my favourite and sweetest advertisement of those bygone wonder years. Hope you enjoy reading about them too.

The Pepsi ad – Ahaa! Who can forget the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai mouthing – “Hi! I am Sanjana. Got a Lehar Pepsi” and the stumped expression of a smitten Aamir Khan. I used to stare at Aishwarya and think – Can such beauty exist?

The Cadbury ad – Awww.. The innocent beauty breaks into a loveable jig when her boyfriend hits a six. The shy cricketer is embarrassed as well as on top of the Earth. Her dance with abandon is the high point of this great advertisement. We never missed watching it!

The Dreamflower ad – He looks like a thorough professional until he catches a whiff of her. He leaves his conversation mid-way and bolts to catch one glimpse of the fragrant beauty. He tries lifts and doors but she seems to have disappeared. But one knock at his cabin brightens things for him as she happens to have come looking for him. So very romantic!

Palmolive winter care ad – The close shots of a beautiful girl in an aeroplane is shown and we hear a man’s thoughts –  “The lovely girl is in the plane… the seat next to me is empty. Am I fortunate enough to get the pleasure of her company. She looked at me for a while and then moved on. She is so beautiful but has no make up on.” In the next shot, the girl comes closer and tells him – “I think you are in my seat” . The guy is not shown in this commercial but his voice makes the girl mysterious and alluring. We loved it!

Dhara Cooking oil ad – The word ‘Jalebi’ always reminds me of this ad. A cute little boy runs away from home after being scolded. He sits at a railway station waiting for the train when an old uncle comes near him and says, “I just came to tell you that your mother has made jalebis at home.”.. And the kid says ”JALEBI?” with a twinkle in his eyes and happily returns home. The little boy had done a wonderful job in the ad and it remains one of the most popular ads of all times.

Commercials like these were an intrinsic part of our lives. I wonder where those days have gone. Time flies… but thankfully, today we have technology to capture those wonderful glimpses of the past.

Images courtesy Google