January 23, 2026
“NIRMA, WASHING POWDER NIRMA”
“MAGU ALTHA IDYA? WOODWARDS KODI”
“MAGGIE, MAGGIE, MAGGIE”
I am sure many from my generation immediately remembered the ads mentioned above and already sang them in your mind with the background music… ha ha ha.
Believe it or not, ads have been among the most influential things in our lives. I won’t be wrong if I say they are one of the most important factors that have shaped our decision-making when it comes to many important investments in our lives.
There were so many cute and beautiful ads in those days, and they were quite genuine too. With only Doordarshan available on TV, ads were true entertainment for us and also the only encyclopaedia into the world of marketing and business. Not everything was affordable back then, but we would still cherish those few seconds and feel satisfied.
But today, the world of advertising has changed. Technology has taken over, competition and rivalry are at their peak, with everyone trying to prove who is bigger and better.
All of this, however, comes at a cost—and the cost is paid by the consumer, not just in monetary terms but also by putting themselves and their loved ones at grievous risk.
Ads today are seldom genuine. It’s all about presentation and attraction, not an essence of honesty. In fact, it is dangerously dishonest. Many companies are selling false narratives and false assurances to people about their products, only to earn a few more pennies than their rivals.
Indians, for generations, cleaned their teeth with neem, salt, and charcoal. Colonisation told us this was uncivilised and wrong and made us use toothpaste. Today, the same companies have incorporated salt, neem, and charcoal into toothpaste. What a hypocrisy!
Health drinks that claim to increase a child’s height, boost the immune system, and make them stronger—what a joke. These health drinks contain a lot of preservatives and artificial sweeteners, which are very dangerous for growing minds.
Recently, I saw an ad for a tablet that claims to cure fever, headache, and cold. Are you kidding me? Why did doctors study for decades if you could solve your health issues with a tablet based solely on what an ad says? How dangerous is it to buy a drug just because of an advertisement and risk your life?
From medicines to health drinks, junk foods, mobile phones, skin care products, hair care products, hair growth serums, anti-acne and anti-dandruff products—the list goes on and on.
But
Who is regulating this content?
Who is monitoring the authenticity of these products?
Finally, who is accountable for any loss to anyone?
Not everybody can fight a case in a court of law.
The government has banned ads in three categories of products:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco products
- Infant milk products
This is much appreciated. However, the pending list is still very long. A lot of rethinking needs to be done, especially in developing countries like India, where developed countries sell their below-standard products and earn money at the cost of poor lives. They are dumping their garbage on us, and our bodies have become the research centres for these companies.
People need to understand that an attractive ad should not be the benchmark for deciding to buy or invest in a product. Knowledge about facts is very much needed, especially when it comes to food and healthcare products.
Don’t blindly try things. Your height, looks, colour, and personality is predetermined by your genes—and your immunity on how healthy your diet is and not on some drink, cream, or serum.
It’s time to rethink and introspect before we ourselves become an ad in the obituary column.
Just like the saying during elections, “Think before you ink,”
for ads: “Think before you pick.”