Recently one of my friends suggested that I should look for an advertising job. That discussion led to sharing my ad film making experience with him. Before he adds masala and spreads fake story, as precaution, let me publish my version here :)
Rewind to college days.
As part of an Advertising assignment, we had to produce few video ads based on certain themes. Instead of choosing a familiar, uncomplicated and jovial subject, I
decided to make an ad on condoms. Let the blame be on the age…the phase when kids
go to any extent to prove their nonexistent intelligence without realizing how
idiotic their actions are!
Coming back to my ad – the aim was to convey the
importance of using condoms. Familiarizing the product being the first step in the process of film making, I decided to buy one. There were no super
markets or upscale stores close to college, so the only place where I could get
it was a medical shop near our hostel. I leaned against the counter, scanning
the shop to find out where it was kept. When I saw a strip of Moods sachets hanging,
I felt relieved and happy. The shopkeeper asked me, “Hmm? What do you need?” I
said, “Vicks menthol”. Like a loser, I walked to my hostel room with useless
menthol drops not knowing why I bought them.
To arrive at a quick solution, I shared my problem with
my junior roommates. One of them, a micro biology student asked, “Akka…
do you want one for male or female?” Before I could even say anything, the B.Com girl affirmed, “Yes yes…condoms are definitely not
unisex”.
Since the cyber café search histories were monitored diligently,
I didn’t want to do any research on this misleading topic from the hostel. If you are wondering if there were no better ways, let
me remind you...this happened during a time when mobile phones were not smart enough.
To help myself, I recalled all the sleazy portions from Mills
and Boon and novels of Nora Roberts. I
realized that in fantasy, there are lots of necessary detailing that deserve attention and a condom
holds least significance. The reader will definitely be annoyed if the author reminds the hero about taking precaution while he tries to slip his hands inside the heroine's blouse. Then I thought I would ask my pregnant sister to
shower more gyan on the topic. But I did not want to take a chance with her unpredictable
hormones. Pregnancy mood swings could cause lot of emotional damages, I have heard.
I didn’t even want to ask my ‘always jump the gun’ cousin because I feared even
before I finish explaining the project to her, I might get a call from my mother
asking why I need a condom.
Later when I remembered the “garb nirodhak goliya
sirf mahilaoke liye" Doordarshan
ad, I was convinced that I was right. I asked
my roommates to consider learning zoology instead of biology and accounts, for future benefits.
I went to the same shop again. With all the courage gathered and a straight face, I placed the order, “I need 3 condoms. Pink.”.
After a brief five seconds pause, he said, “I don’t have
pink ones.”
Me, “Any other color? Like…dark green, sky blue, lemon yellow?”
He, “I only have white. Beta, color doesn't make any difference to how it works.”
Me, “Okay…give me one white. And do you have colored
balloons?”
He, “I don’t sell it. But I warn you…don’t ever use
balloons. Very dangerous!”
I burst out laughing, couldn’t stop even after
reaching my room.
Anyways, long story short…I made a very shitty ad with
the things purchased.
PS - Dedicated to the guy who initiated this post. Who's he? The one who closes loan deals worth million Dirhams almost everyday. Oru puli :D
PS - Dedicated to the guy who initiated this post. Who's he? The one who closes loan deals worth million Dirhams almost everyday. Oru puli :D