Thursday, May 1, 2008

Baul selling Cellphone


Check it out. The iconic status of a baul in Bengal has not escaped the marketing divisions of corporate houses. Lakhsman Das Baul, an accomplished baul singer serves as one of the symbols of Bangaliness (Bengaliness) in this series of advertisements launched by the mobile company Airtel. It was part of a Durgapuja campaign of the network. Durgapuja is the biggest annual festival of the Hindu Bangalis, its societal significance often eclipsing the religious rituals. And as you can guess, it is also the time for an annual shopping spree. That's why all the companies run their special puja campaigns with 'puja offers' and all. Why Lakshman in particular was chosen for this, I don't know. Maybe because of his good looks. By the way, his father is pretty famous, Debdas Baul of Santiniketan. There was also this video ad feturing Lakshman. Couldn't get hold of that!

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