Endorsement Infringement

Endorsement Infringement…

Our life is filled with media and endorsements. Day in and Day out we have endorsements related to all the things of our lives. From morning tooth paste to night’s sleeping mattresses, we have media suggesting us how, when and what to use and what not to use. As a customer we are bombarded with so many choices that it becomes difficult to lead an otherwise simple life.

The things doesn’t get simpler with our favorite media personalities endorsing the products which we otherwise are not satisfied with. This throws the customer in a major dilemma. Our evergreen stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai ask us to invest in Gold, the next minute we have Akshay Kumar asking us not to keep the Gold at home instead to take a Gold loan. Confusion!

A daily customer has to go through a difficult decision making for purchasing a commodity. Toothpaste to be taken as per the suggestion of Madhuri Dixit or Sonam Kapoor. Morning breakfast go by Bipasha Basu or Deepika Padukone. Wear myntra or yepme or flipkart. Travel by Shahrukh’s Hyundai, Ranveer Kapoor’s Maruti or Akshay’s Honda series which provide 60kmpl mileage. It’s not only the commodities that the celebrities have a say about. They also effect the personality of the customer by providing them solutions for personality development. Shahrukh Khan’s fair and handsome ad showing how he has become the King of Bollywood with the help of the cream, how Horlicks helps in increasing the height and development of the brain of the children, how wearing Raymonds will give you a rich attractive look and driving Maruti Ciaz will induce the crowd  to make way for you. The list is endless and every day you see a new ad and a new product in market just adding on. Some ads also show how the human emotions can be maneuvered like Airtel which shows how you can impress your father to get you a free coverage, how a wife can compel her husband for an anniversary gift, how the daughter in law can win the mother in law’s heart by a dish washer etc.

The ads will be in full swing when there are any so called special occasions. Valentine’s Day is the best example to see how much advertisements have created an impact in our lives. Before, hardly anybody used to know the importance of February 14^th in the calendar. But today, we have 7 days before February 14^th jotted on the calendars. Rose day, Teddy Bear day, Chocolate day, Ring Day and finally the big gift varying from diamond, gold, electronic gadgets and recently even homes. These are just some examples of marketing gimmicks which have influenced the crowd’s mind that this is how Valentine’s Day is to be celebrated. This lands the lovers in trouble to shop because by doing otherwise they should be ready to face the wrath and also be questioned of the intensity of their love for their beloved.

We also have some informative advertisements which contains message for public such as Polio drops day, Cancerous effects of Smoking, Aamir Khan’s mehmaan bhagwaan samaan campaign and others. Some really do stress on the current issues like saving water, electricity for future generation, Vidya Balan endorsing the importance of having a lavatory at home for cleanliness and hygiene, right to education for all children etc. These type of advertisements do make us wonder for a minute that whether we are being a responsible citizen.

Advertisement is a method of marketing which creates a perceived need or desire in the consumers mind. It is mainly targeted to create awareness to the general public. However it has gone a step ahead in influencing the daily life of public. The product companies have to ensure hiring a good marketing or advertising agency to sustain in the market. Many good products have perished from the market as they could not advertise the way that impinges the customer mind. The marketing agencies also started charging the companies a bomb to do the advertising. Public however is ignorant that indirectly they are being charged for the advertisement of the product. Pepsi and Coke which hardly costs Re 1.50 we are paying Rs 20 minimum for it. The majority of the extra amount we are paying towards the advertisements and marketing that the company had to do for us to buy the product. And it all depends on the mind behind the ad that how good they can influence the general public to buy, no matter how bad the product is.

The advertisements have not been restricted to products and services alone. But it has gone a step beyond to advertise personalities. Best prototype being our recent Prime Minister who climbed up the ladder straight from being a Chai Wala to India’s renowned politician by having the best of PR. The transformation from Narendra Modi to Brand Modi should be taken as one of the management lessons for the future budding marketing students. It’s the perfect example of how to successfully implement a marketing and branding campaign. Advertising legends such as Ogilvy & Mather's Piyush Pandey, McCann Worldgroup's Prasoon Joshi and Sam Balsara of Madison World lent their skills at various levels. Good Advertisement agencies, some Catchy lines like NaMo and Ab ki baar Modi Sarkar and a personality to carry it, a clear cut combination of marketing strategy for BJP’s full sweep win in Indian elections. The personal websites of PM like twitter, facebook spanked the public into getting mesmerized by the constant updates of his activities. Irrespective of the developments, the step taken by Modi indeed did strike the right chord leading to the birth of a leader.

We cannot deny the pervasive influence of advertisements in our life. Willingly or unwillingly we are going to get effected by the media and endorsements. One way advertisements do provide us with the knowledge of different products and services at the same time we may be subjected to many falsified information. Maybe we should just have a mentos and dimag ki bathi jalao to thoroughly introspect what we want or take a mountain dew and go ahead trying different products till we are successful kyunki dar ki aage jeet hai..

 

 

Unexplored Uttara Karnataka..

Recently we had been to a trip to Sirsi, North Karnataka. When I was first suggested with the place, I was pretty much skeptical of spending my much valued holiday there. Having never heard about Sirsi, my first question was "Where is this place"? I started googling about the place and found it very surprising that even in Google images or any websites I couldn't get much of information about this place. It increased my worries about going to this place. Thanks to a blog written by some traveler, I would have certainly not planned to this place and would have missed all the beauty that it beheld.
It gave me a strong reason to pen down my travel experience by which I can help somebody else in planning their travel and thus exploring places which are less known but have ample options to offer.

A place less explored, it is an ideal getaway into the serene flawless nature for those who are caged in the pollution filled cities. It’s also a place with blend of all tourist locations. It is any traveler’s dream destination. It has mighty waterfalls, beach, trekking, forts, adventure sports, historical building and much more.

                        

Our first stop was at Sirsi. Sirsi is a nerve center for huge waterfalls starting with Jog falls. Jog falls is one of the best waterfalls in India and lies at a distance of 65km from Sirsi. Apart from Jog falls there are many other mighty waterfalls concealed in the dense Western Ghats like Sathodi falls, Magod falls, Vibhoothi falls and Unchali falls. Sathodi falls near Yellapur requires a travel and trek through dense woods. On the way we can spot Malabar squirrel, snakes and hornbill which are famous in these areas. Unchalli falls is again a treat to any nature lover’s eye. It is one of the most scenic falls amidst dense forest. The area was covered in full mist formed by the water falling with might. On the way to Yellapur, one can visit Sahasralinga River which is famous for accommodating 1000 lingas etched on the stones. There is a cable bridge across the river and an abandoned fort with cannon.

 

 

 

After waterfalls, we visited Banavasi. It is an ancient temple built in the 9^th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has beautiful architecture engraved on monolithic stone. The Varadha River flows near to the temple. Unique attraction of the temple is the half idol of Lord Ganesha whose remaining half is believed to be Varanasi. Irrespective of the temperature outside, the temple was very cool inside. It really takes us back to the glory of our history with the architecture.

Our next place was Yana after Banavasi. It is one the famous tourist spots in the area. Yana is two huge unusual solid black rocky formations. Yana also has a hindu mythological importance hence also visited by many pilgrims. There is a temple at the foot of the rocks. Within the cave there is a bronze statue of Chandika, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. It is the place where it is believed that Bhasmasura was himself reduced into ashes by Lord Shiva incarnated as a beautiful woman known as Mohini. The cave enables a small trek through the mountain and cave covered in thick green scenic forest.

By evening, one can go to Jenukallu Gudda which is a view point for sun set. There is a small Tibetan colony similar to one in Coorg near Mundgod en route to Hubli. One can witness beautiful Tibetan monastery and Tibetan people which takes you to a total different culture and feel. If you are lucky do explore at their prayer time with soothing music and chants. But they usually don't entertain the visitors to be inside the temple during their prayer time.

 

Our second trip was to Gokarna through Kumta. On the way we stopped at the Devimane Ghat which gives beautiful scenery of sun rising through the Western Ghats. You will have small tea shops from where you can buy nice hot tea and sit and watch the sun rise on a cool breezy morning in midst of the forest. Beware of the monkeys so preferably don't carry any eatables which might turn them on.

Once we reached Kumta we were suggested by our cab driver to visit the Mirjan fort. Once we reached the fort we were not prepared of what we met. Beautifully maintained remains of a fort covered by green grass believed to be built in 1600’s. You can see both Islamic and Portuguese influences in construction. It is popularly attributed to Shareef Ul Mulk who ruled from Ponda near Goa. Its a fort worth visiting and can be at par with the forts of Goa.

Gokarna beach, also known as the famous Om beach is a prime destination for young crowd from Mangalore, Udupi and Manipal after Goa. Its one of my favorite destinations of which I am never tired visiting. An unblemished beach comprises of three beaches, Om, Half-moon and Paradise beach. The best part of Gokarna is the trek from Om to Paradise. The path involves some hard core trekking on the edge of the mountain hovering over the beach. Also there is no clear cut path to trek and there are chances that you may lose your way. Just focus on being at the beach side and keep moving. It is however worth the struggle as the trekkers are rewarded with some beautiful scenic and secluded points at many places on the way. You will have a beautiful view from the top of the hill and the trek is also through forest which gives you a real adventure. For those who do not want to risk, there is a boat facility taking you from Om to Paradise and moon. On the way you can spot many dolphins swimming through the pristine blue waters. After the tedious and tiresome trek you can have good continental and international cuisines on the beach side shacks cum restaurants. You will find many foreigners staying in these beaches hence he menu is to mainly cater to the needs of the international tourists. After a sumptuous food we started back, bidding goodbye over a beautiful sunset in the beach.

 

Those who love adventure and want to indulge in white water rafting and other sports can go to Dandeli which is again a 100km from Sirsi.