Most Controversial Indian Ads

Bangalore: Ethics, principles and values of brand promotion are often forgotten in advertisement. Media is used at its fullest in brand promotions and it has proven over and again that ‘sex always sells’ – a known fact quite explicit in advertisements today. However, many of such attempts that violate the norms of advertisements have come under serious criticisms. Not just sex, anything that hurts the sentiments of India’s highly sensitive population can create a controversy and we have a good lot of ads that are labeled unethical and unhealthy.

Fairness Cream for Private Parts

The advertisement for a new skin whitening product for private parts was the latest controversial ad that created a public outrage among netizens. The ad campaign earned the wrath of women who called this ‘an ultimate insult to women.” The commercial promises that the intimate product with its special pH-balanced formula cleans and protects the affected area, and even makes the skin fairer. Feminists have always been against all kind of fairness cream endorsements as they strongly believe that this creates insecurity and discrimination amongst women.

The issue has even reached the Rajya Sabha where a CPI-M member raised the issue and said the advertisement pointed to the manufacturer’s “perversion”.  “This advertisement shows graphic details of a female body in a demeaning manner. It shows the perversion of the company,” she said. She demanded that the house condemn the advertisement. PJ Kurien, who was in the chair, supported her contention and said: “I think the government should take note of it.”