Ram's Cafe

I don't know if it's just me who gets terribly annoyed every time I  see the 'in-your-face' ads on many India-related sites such as newspapers...At times it's so irritating that I actually skip the page hoping that the new page would have a different ad...One wonders how much money ICICI is really paying this chap ShahRukh Khan - for doing nothing more than showing up with his pretty face....

Have they really done a cost-benefit analysis - and do they still need a brand ambassador...? Why don't they spend their money in upgrading their online services, making their in-branch transaction fees more competitive and stuff like that...I'm pretty sure such a decision to throw this pretty-face at millions of desis worldwide was taken by just one or two at the senior management level...I think it's time to rethink and do a serious survey to find out if they still need a brand ambassador... Just look at Citibank - though I'm not particularly a fan of them, their online advertising is so easy on the eyes...and they just use regular-folks (models, for sure, but those who look like regular folks anyway) ...

Why am I ranting so much? I, for one, have never liked celebrity endorsements that much - it's a kind of vulgar mass exploitation. OK, granted, sports men and other achievers do serve as role models...but what about this pretty face who has made his crores just goofing around in movies and now rewarded with further riches (I would really like to know what kind of money was paid to him to show up for ICICI) - and, all for what?