Zoomply Zoobardast

I wrote a few bits about IPL, Tiger Woods but it remained WIP so let’s assume it all will be in “coming very soon” category.

I was discussing some random topics with my friend and I stumbled upon very interesting character “Zoo Zoo”. I have always been a keen follower of ads and they have always entertained me. It’s just that lack of genuine creativity has kept me only as a spectator in this field! I had planned writing about “advertisement” long back but it always remained on the wish list. So finally I have found something interesting enough on micro level. IPL2 among other attractions had a foreign location…and it should be only a genuine coincidence that Zoo-Zoo were also created on same very soil. I still distinctly remember the first Zoo-Zoo ad and as it happens with every new concept “it takes a while to digest” but this was a smash hit!

No one could understand the language of these aliens… but unveiling of one ad per match was one of the main attractions of IPL2.Though no one understood there language which seems as if a cassette is fast forwarded. Unique nature of presentation meant they have always been conveying the message more than effectively.

By now we all are aware that although they look, act, sound like a cartoon they are infact humans, mostly tall & slim women. The typical Zoo-Zoo ad has not a single essential element of what is considered “routine” ad, but sheer genius with which they are presented is simply or rather “Zoomply” unbelievable. I am not going to waste space here by giving “behind the scene” for that I will refer following links-

http://cutezoozoo.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zoo+zoo&aq=f

But the Zoo-Zoo is among various innovative concepts undertaken by Vodafone advertisers. The famous “Vodafone dog” was replaced by “Zoo Zoo” and PETA for this change of markting strategy honoured Vodafone with an award ! Now that’s an advertising master stroke and not to mention sweeping of all the major ad awards by Zoo-Zoo. I am not really sure, but rarely has an ad campaign would have given a merchandising tool in the hands of a company. Zoo-Zoo T-shirts, Mugs are runaway success, I wonder why there are no official soft toys yet, and they will sale like garama garam vada-pavs!! May be I should start mentioning more ad campaign here…. Zoo Zoo remain one of the most searched queries on google and youtube. Yet another example of indirect benefits of Zoo Zoo!! People wearing Zoo Zoo merchandise still receive rave plaudits. It seems as if this campaign is here to stay or rather its ONLY campaign here to stay!!

So Kudos to the ZooZoo makers! Campaigns like this make a match even more exciting and Idiot box even more Idiotic!!

With this blog post I have introduced outsourcing of the typing of the draft!!! So those who are willing to join should jump on board quickly! My hand writing is as bad as you can find anywhere so it will be some challenge but then so was Gandhiji’s handwriting!!!

In the series on ads I hope to publish my all time favourite campaign – Fevicol ads!!

-N.D.K. Nikhil

Gowah Gowah Gowahhhhh!!!

I have always epitomized laziness. So, as much as I love to write, it becomes an excruciating pain to write down something and type it all over again. So naturally it takes something special to make me drag my pen across the papers and drag my fingers on keyboard all over again!!

So what’s special now?? What would you choose? - Unrestrained revelry with friends or enjoying beautiful locations?? Can’t decide?? Here is dilemma buster for you….What if you can combine both of them……??? Sounds exciting, right?? It feels far more amazing…..so topic on hand is unparalleled, unrestrained and hassle free enjoyment of Goa!!

Well the journey was efforts of years of planning!! (No kidding, seriously) and so finally after “arranging” off days from office, we geared ourselves for the journey to one of the most enjoyable locations on the Earth!!! And me and Rishi had special reasons to smile- only because of our exams the trip was postponed. So out go books and came in the weapons of mass celebration……

Cutting across the beautiful Konkan we traveled to Thivim….Some 25-30 Km from Panaji. When you reach Thivim you hardly feel what await you! So quiet, calm and serene, it doesn’t feel heaven is hardly 40 minutes away…

But on very arrival one is struck with the realization that roads are as smooth as butter, albeit not slippery!! And so we arrived at our temporary home for next few days. Although a treacherous one but we still had a private beach!

Goa has largely retained its quaint look. The Portuguese legacy is still stamped all over the place. So though you will see tourist flocking and flaunting every where, you never feel out of your comfort zone. It’s surprising that it still retains its good old charm and as you travel in the interiors the feeling reinforces.

But what really makes Goa special that all the ingredients you might wish for enjoyment are laden on your plate, you simply have to pick them up. And so deserves the special mention-the food…famous for its seafood, Goa offers you variety of tasty fishes. So all you can do is devour pomfrets, King fishes (surmai) and tiger prawns. We probably had our entire year’s seafood in matter of days. But among all the hustling and bustling its very soothing also, because after partying all night long and dusting your feet in sands, you can find shelter in temples and churches. So to counterbalance your enjoyment and keep you away from continuous hangover, Goa offers not only the beauty of nature but also beautiful temples and churches. No wonder everyone asks you first about temples, churches and only then about other excitement, once you are back at home.

And as for hangover-when you get to drink at prices which are at best elder cousins of cold drinks, sobriety does not really attract applause. What to say about beaches?? It’s always better to enjoy it personally rather than reading descriptions of nature. But do visit Anjuna Beach, just to remind us about the unlimited potential of tidal energy ,we have been wasting. But my award for best location goes to Chapora Fort- the DCH fame. So as good as director Farhan Akhtar is, he completely lacks sense of photography!! Remember the famous DCH scene? Stupid people showed us completely insipid view. The real fun was enjoyed by all the 3 actors!! So when we reprised the roles of actors, we realized why all of them had come up with stellar performances in the film…the view from there is more than any motivation. Just take a look from Chapora Fort at Vagator Beach…As good as wallpaper you can have on your desktop!! But believe me, watching with your own eyes is a lot more fun!!

The area around the Baga Beach comes alive only after 9….and first indication to it is-surprise surprise….Police patrolling!!! So the moment police start putting up the barricades, the gates to party would unlock!!

We happened to watch England Vs USA football match. And befittingly it has to be Goa to realise the passion of football. And to cheer USA against all odds and after they went down 1-0 takes some bravado. And don’t they say “fortune favours…..” The football god was smiling upon me, to the disappointment of majority crowd USA held on to 1-1 draw….And the football pundit within me grew a full foot taller!!

It was four days of madness, craziness and complete lack of chores. And if you enjoy anything from heart, rest just falls in place, how do you explain four days of cloudy weather and just couple of hours of rains?? Even the Varun Dev- the Rain God- put his plans on hold just to allow us an unhindered enjoyment….

So as much I can write for my own pleasure, it is enjoyable only if you visit it, so do visit it at least once, the madness in our daily lives will come to stand still for a while. Agreed hangover of Goa will last for few days but that just a cordial invitation to drag you back as soon as you can “arrange” some free time. On personal note- I don’t enjoy crowds much. I prefer company of my beloved ones around. So if you are like me, I will recommend you Konkan!! No where close to boisterousness of Goa but surely as good as it in beauty (no pun intended) and even better for relaxation and unwinding!!

Special mention of all my seven friends who made it even special down there and my family who had to stay back home, only hearing descriptions of what it could have been!!

Ø Wait until next time; I am definitely heading to Konkan!!!

-N.D.K.Nikhil