Condom ad featuring Sunny Leone stokes anger in India


Ahmedabad, Sep 20 (Agence France-Presse): Indian authorities tore down dozens of billboards Tuesday after a slew of complaints over an advertisement depicting a former porn star promoting condoms ahead of a major Hindu festival.

The image of Sunny Leone, a Canadian actress of Indian origin, advertising contraceptives ahead of the religious celebration of Navratri proved too much for some in the western state of Gujarat.

The advertisement features no image of a condom, but stoked outrage in conservative India for its slogan "Play with love this Navratri".

In a written complaint, the Confederation of All India Traders accused the condom manufacturer behind the risque ad of taking marketing "to an all-time low".

"This is an immature attempt to boost sales by putting all our cultural value at stake", the traders group said in a statement.

The group took particular umbrage at the link between sex and Navratri, a nine-day Hindu festival of fasting and prayer.

Local authorities in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, removed the advertisements as controversy mounted.

Leone is brand ambassador for Manforce, India's largest condom manufacturer, and one of its most searched celebrities online.

The actress featured in adult films including "Descent into Bondage" and "Costumed Damsels in Distress" before making the transition to Indian cinema, where she has remained a magnet of criticism.

Named "Penthouse Pet of the Year" in 2003, Leone has been accused in in India of promoting obscenity and eroding cultural values.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • AnoNymouS, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    It is known that the number of abortions following the Navaratri celebrations in Gujarat is sky high. And this is a first hand source from a friend of mine whose wife was a Gynaecologist in Gujarat. So who is saving who from what? or Whom?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Only advertising and what about reality ?

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sampath, India

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Ad should be published during all to festivals with change in tagline...many taglines are coming to my mind....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santosh R, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    sure, and should be relevant, like this one.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    I have never seen her with ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nithya, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    We are simply behaving like ostriches..

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    For a country that has the highest population in the world i fail to see why people are offended about condom ads. Sex is perhaps the most popular pastime and proper protection is good for health and unwanted pregnancies. We are becoming experts in Fekugiri.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    So funny.................I simply cannot understand how this slogan hurts any religious sentiments. Reflects our misconceptions like, One should not eat or kiss in public, but it is ok to urinate or defecate in public. Eve teasing or molesting a woman in public is also ok.. 7 years punishment for rape ( most rapists get away with nothing), lifetime imprisonment for eating beef.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'luru / Kwt

    Thu, Sep 21 2017

    Simply because a condom like product has been linked with a particular festival. Obviously it is bound to hurt sentiments of the community celebrating this festival. Ads on such sensitive products need to be universally directed to the general public irrespective of events and communities. Perhaps you remember what happened a few years ago when a name held sacred was depicted on footwear. Even this particular ad is nothing short of it.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Hereicome, Abudhabi

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Recently I was watching cricket live with my 12 & 8 yr old kids. Suddenly, sunny came with Condom add. My kids asked what is it and why it's used. I flabbergasted. What to answer for kids, I saw my wife face sitting next. I told my kids to ask mom , when they did she told them that's dad's section, better to ask him. Can you people imagine my condition!? Why the hell broadcasters has to put that add when families are watching such events?

    DisAgree [6] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Teach your children about these facts of life the proper way. It is good for them to know and this will also help them protect themselves against sexual predators.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinod, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    First we should ban the school staff molesting students.. .ban eve teasers stalking girls...
    Why ban ad promoting safe health.
    Is a hoarding a big problem?
    The explicit ads run on TV everytime even when kids are watching TV. Is that fine? No ban on that?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Condoms come and go.
    Fight for the lasting good.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Bhandarkar, Mangaluru

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Stokes Anger instead of Love Strokes yeah ?
    Some people never grow up ...are Just born.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh Shetty, Dubai

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    If the rumors are true, then there is a news that she is contesting for elections from feku party from Kerala. Her appearance in one of the showroom opening ceremony in Kerala triggered widespread applause for her ability to unite people.
    High command still checking out all the possibilities so that feku party can en-cash her popularity as vote in next election.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    ......the smart corporates & leaders know well, how to en-cash against simple marketing as long as these type of people exists.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    It gives a very clear message, promoting safe sex by saying that "If you love your partner, use a CONDOM!". It shows how much one can care about his/her partner.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Antonio DSilva, Kuwait

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Jeevan, Mangalore

    " I Didnt like it standing for her movie"

    Not your fault; you did not have control over it.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mulki

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Funny sunny Catch of the day

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard Noronha, Belman

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Its a bright sunny day in gujarath ..bhakth enjoy it

    DisAgree [8] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Our people also some time go crazy really!!! If school head master molests any girl students they don’t have any problem….but they feel ashamed for condom ad by Sunny Leone???

    DisAgree [9] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • JOY CASTELINO, MOODUBELLE/DUBAI

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai, nobody feel ashamed for condom ad by Sunny Leone. Only problem is it is linked with "Navrathri", if it was linked with some other festivals, may be there was no much problem. I hope you know the best reason for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    In fact.,...during Navrathri...sale was very good if you remember the article in TOI last year especially for Gujjus in Mumbai and Ahmedabad!!! So...it's nothing about any festival...but something to do with people who lost an opportunity in particular....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jeevan, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    I even stood for national anthem, before her movie began in the cinema. I Didnt like it standing for her movie. She might be laughing at back. I request supreme court to stop standing for national anthem in cinemas. Cinemas are meant for entertainment

    DisAgree [13] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • M.A.Kamal, Mangalore/Saudi Arabia

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    "Play with love this Navratri "
    What's wrong in that slogan, it gives public awareness regarding the major disease

    DisAgree [17] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • S.M. Nawaz Kukkikatte, Dubai

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    "Play with love this Navratri" What kind of Awareness of this? how this Tag line linked with Religious beliefs?
    If they really need public awareness then there are many options to promote
    Condom + porn star linked with religious festival totally senseless matter.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • vivek, hirebyle / Abu dhabi

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    Don't hurt religious sentiments .......which ever religion it is......

    DisAgree [7] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 20 2017

    These people are idiots. Our country is overpopulated. Last thing we need is to remove condom ad.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Condom ad featuring Sunny Leone stokes anger in India



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.