As I sat down to write my last column of this year, my mind swept across the 11 months that have passed by. In like a montage of flashbacks, various events, happenings, people, news, awards etc. swam through my head. It's the time of the year when you inadvertently look back and wonder about how it was.
If this year would be known for a great many things one of them would surely be small cars. The burst of small cars including Nissan Micra, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo, Chevrolet Beat et al., exhorted the Indian consumer to ‘think small’. Curves were conspicuously back with the entry of the Volkswagen Beetle. It was also a year where the Zaras and Diesels of the world launched themselves in the tremendously growing market of India. Nokia was adjudged the most trusted brand by Brand Equity for yet another year. And when Delhi’s bid won by a margin of 46 votes to 22 of Hamilton, Canada then history got created. It was the first time that the Commonwealth Games were to be held in India. The games turned out to be a success for India not only in terms of hosting it but also on the sporting front where it garnered a total of 101 medals and a second position behind champions Australia in the medals tally.
This year could well be known as the ‘Year of Rejuvenation’. Kaun Banega Crorepati came out rejuvenated with its 4th edition and Amitabh Bachchan, while Salman Khan riding on the success of Dabaang did the honors for Bigg Boss. As Airtel changed hands from Rediffusion to JWT, it also transformed its logo and campaign. Arnab Goswami of Times Now revitalized to figure in the list of ‘GQ Men of the Year’ while Rajnikanth after his film Robot attained a popularity status unseen or unheard of before. Cadbury continued to delight Indians with its Shubh Aarambh campaign that sweetly melted into the hearts and lives of the people.
While all of this gave us a reason to smile and celebrate, a lot of forgettable things also took place in this very year. Scams such as Adarsh Housing Society or corruption in Commonwealth Games left us with ever more cynicism towards our ministers than before. The scam cloud did not even spare the journalists as the hunters became the hunted and the paparazzi became followed by the paparazzis. Bollywood too did not have a memorable year with big films as Kites, Paathshaala and Raavan biting the dust along with many others. Like every other year, this year too had its ups and downs, successes and failures, and triumphs and defeats.
So what if Kargil heroes' properties are being sold? So what if Zara has come to India? So what if Kasab is still waiting for his death? And so what if Bhajji made a record? One more year has passed by…just another year.
(The author is National Creative Director, Leo Burnett)
