8 inspiring Indian sports advertisements

Indian sporting culture and advertising has been synonymous. With the advent of colour televisions in the 1980s, advertisements began to make their way onto the tv channels. One of the sure-shot ways to unite the audience through a single advertisement would be to make it sports-centric. Over the years, whether it is a sporting event or a sporting star, none of them are complete without advertisements. In the day and age of social media and marketing, more and more interesting advertisements are being made everyday. Here is a look at eight iconic and heartfelt Indian commercials.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar - Pepsi

This used to be one of the most popular advertisements around early 2000. It was widely appreciated because it was during the time when Tendulkar was at the peak of his career. This began the cult of hero worship. Millions of people around the world followed this little man from Mumbai who was redefining the game of cricket.

Every child who played gully cricket wanted to be like him. That is why, when the kids in the ad realised that their hero was hiding beneath the mask, they were spellbound with surprise and admiration.

#2 Bournvita

This advertisement starts with the son being injured in an accident that stops him from engaging in professional swimming and how his mother teaches him to have faith even when the situation is the most difficult.

The boy has fractured his leg and the mother also ties up one her legs to share the pain that her son is feeling and together, they progress towards the path of recovery.An inspiring tale of a fighter son and a supportive mother, the catchline goes, “Himmat tab nahin dikhaye jaate jab dikhana aasan ho,” meaning that there is no point being brave when the circumstancs are easy. It is Bournavita’s campaign on #Taiyaari Jeet Ki and touches all the right chords.

#3 Mauka Mauka - India v/s Pakistan WC 2015

This one possibly needs no introduction. This advertisement may have been more widely circulated that the details of the actual match. The success of this ad prompted Star Sports to make a whole series out of it during the World Cup. The poor Pakistani chap awaits his chance to burst crackers after his team wins against India but sadly, that never seems to happen. Years pass and he ages but India keeps defeating Pakistan in all World Cup matches and he keeps waiting for his mauka. The music went viral too with people making it their ringtones during the World Cup.

#4 Mary Kom - Tata Salt

An incredibly inspiring advertisement during recent times, this ad shows how Mary Kom fought against all odds to be the hero that she is. Hailing from a land where taking up sports professionally is not the most common, especially boxing, whichhas always been seen as a hardcore men-oriented sports, Mary Kom rose through the ranks to bring home an Olympic medal. Tata Salt follows her on the journey as she narrates it in the background and finally culminates with her long-time dream of opening a boxing academy.

#5 Yuvraj Singh - Birla Sunlife

After being named the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the Indian southpaw was diagnosed with cancer. As the entire country gasped in shock, Yuvraj singh waged his lone battle against cancer and recovered from it. In 2012, he made a comeback and in this ad he gave an inspiring speech where he doesnt anymore ask why me?

Since he didnt question when the good things happened to him, he refused to do the same when things turn for the worst. He ends with the message that all is rosy as long as the cricket bat speaks, possibly hinting that his cricket bat would again speak.

#6 Hero Indian Super League

More than the advertisement, the anthem ‘Let’s football’ caught the fancy of the entire nation. This ad was packed with star power but the most interesting fact was that it brought football to the scheme of things. This ISL anthem created a space for football and for the first time in decades, the focus from cricket was shifted.

The popularity of cricketers and film actors was cashed in to usher in a change in Indian sporting landscape, hoping to provide young Indian footballers with the best scope and exposure.

#7 Mountain Dew extreme sports advertisement

The Mountain Dew ads have always encouraged all kinds of extreme sports. This one too shows a boy who wants to be a biker and do extreme stunts. After several obstacles, failures, injuries, and swigs of Mountain Dew, the boy ends up competing in the contest and flies up into the air on his bike.He conquers his fears because ‘darr ke aage jeet hai.’

#8 Gillette - Rahul Dravid

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravidfeatured in an emotional cricket ad for Gillette, during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The ad showcases the journey of an Indian cricket fan Mangesh Ganpatrao Kadam, who, despite losing his eyesight during a cricket match, watches more than 1,200 matches. Through his son Suresh, the man watches the cricket matches, hearing the commentary as Suresh narrates the match development for him. He knows that Indias jersey is thecolour of the sky, he has lived through the 1983 World Cup victory, he has seen the phenomenon called the helicopter shot.

But Kadam is forced tostop watching the matches as Suresh gets married. Kadam rues and thinks about giving up cricket, but one day, Rahul Dravid enters to tell him that it is Kadam who is unbelievable, for being a loyal fan of cricket. He joins Kadam to watch the WC 2015 together as he begins to narrate the matches to him. Extremely heartfelt, this adhits the markbeautifully.