Hit or Miss: The week in ads

Ads – love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re everywhere. Some stick in your brain like your favorite song on repeat, while others vanish faster than your willpower near a dessert tray. But what makes an ad a “hit” or a “miss”? Is it clever humour, star power, or just pure luck? 

Let’s dive into the wild world of advertising wins and fails, where creativity meets chaos and sometimes the results surprise us all.

Flipkart Minutes Recreates ‘3 Idiots’

Flipkart’s new ad for its quick-commerce service, Flipkart Minutes, cleverly recreates a 3 Idiots scene to promote fresh vegetables at just Rs 9, delivered in 10 minutes. With humour, nostalgia, and a relatable family setting, it highlights convenience and affordability. Its smart storytelling and cultural reference make it a hit.

AJIO Big Bold Sale

AJIO’s Big Bold Sale ad campaign features Avneet Kaur, Rannvijay Singha, Faisal Shaikh, and Vedhika Kumar dressed in bold outfits in everyday settings, from trains to street food stalls. The campaign celebrates spontaneous, statement-making fashion with heavy discounts. Its relatability, star power, and quirky styling make it a hit.

Godrej Ninja 'Dr. Dogg'

Godrej Ninja’s ad features a talking dog-doctor promoting gut health in pets through scientifically formulated dog food. While it aims to educate with humour, the concept feels gimmicky and lacks emotional depth. The execution may confuse rather than connect, making it a miss in delivering trust and relatability.

Sunfeast Mom's Magic ad

Sunfeast Mom’s Magic ad features actress Nadhiya Moidu as a supportive mother encouraging her daughter’s chess dreams. The flaky, buttery cookie symbolises nurturing care and shining success. Its heartfelt storytelling and relatable theme connect deeply with audiences, making the ad a hit for celebrating motherhood and ambition.

Centerfruit × Paytm ad

Centerfruit teamed with Paytm to replace payment alert sounds with a fun “laplaplap” noise at 10,000+ stores, creating a memorable and playful payment experience. This quirky twist engages customers, boosts brand recall, and brings joy to everyday transactions, making the campaign a creative hit.

Dettol Icy Cool with Caption Cool

The Dettol Icy Cool ad stars MS Dhoni, reassuring a nervous teen before a cricket match with intense cooling soap that protects from germs. Linking physical coolness to mental calm, the campaign leverages Dhoni’s "Captain Cool" image, making it relatable and memorable, especially for summer skin care. It's a hit.

Sikander on Netflix 

The ad features Salman Khan promoting the Netflix release of his film Sikandar with a high-energy elevator scene showcasing his signature style and charisma. It builds excitement for the film’s OTT debut, leveraging Salman’s star power to attract viewers and boost Netflix’s visibility for the release. It is a hit.