ARDHENDU BOSE- THE BOMBAY DYEING “MARKSMAN”

Today saw Arnab’s cacophony on Times Now about destruction of files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, in my opinion, the tallest mass leader of India’s freedom struggle, in 1972. Came across a handsome elderly man in the panel. A brainwave from the past made me realise  that he was Ardehndu Bose, son of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s younger brother. His father Sailesh Chandra Bose was Netaji’s younger brother.

I was suddenly transported to the exciting, youthful and golden days of my childhood. Ardehndu Bose, was one of the most dashing and handsome models of my childhood days. He was the face of Bombay Dyeing group for almost a decade. Whenever I used to see him in magazines or on my rickety old Black & White TV set, in the 1980s, I used to get thrilled and wonder, who this guy must be. What he be doing? I still remember those haunting light eyes and almost far-east-oriental features. Very athletic, Smart and handsome with hair that were light brown, slightly curly and very neatly cut.

Whenever I used to see him, I used to secretly complain to God that why he couldn't make me like him. The other person, looking at whom the same feelings were evoked, was Bollywood icon Vinod Khanna. For me, at that time, these two gentlemen were my heroes, I wanted to live their lives!!

Some data mining has revealed that Mr. Bose is a highly educated person and a leather technologist by profession. Apparently, modelling and acting were his hobbies.

One of the most enduring memories is the of Bombay Dyeing commercial, in which, Mr. Bose is seen in a character akin to James Bond, saving a beautiful damsel in distress. 

Mr. Bose has aged very gracefully and still comes across as a very articulate, intelligent, eloquent and erudite person. But for the fanboy in me, and countless who grew up in the 1980s, he’ll always be the quintessential, dashing, debonair style icon - The Marksman!!!

Gold Spot

Gold Spot ads from 80's

Gold Spot ad from 1970s

The guy on right, the one rooting for Orange Pride, looks like Peter Sellers of Dr.Strangelove

Gold Spot was a popular orange-flavored soft drink in India until 1993. The brand was owned by Parle, but was sold to Coca-Cola when it re-entered the Indian market in 1993. Gold Spot had a catchy punch line - The Zing Thing. Gold Spot was withdrawn from the market in order to make space for Coca-Cola's Fanta brand. However the brand has a good following in the rural areas especially in Maharshatra, to keep the brand alive, Gold Spot is sold as a soda in these markets.

The TV ads of the 80's wee a hit with the likes of kitu gidwani featuring in them. The target audience were the youth who seemed to hitch on to 'the zing thing' bandwagon. Old-timers still swear by its taste and according to them 'fanta' , to make way for which 'Gold Spot' was eased out tastes like horse p*** in comparison. I sometimes wonder, where in the world did he taste horse p***.

I have been able to get hold of two ads one of which featuring Kitu Gidwani. The ads go like this:

Ad 1

He is crazy about roller skates,

She goes crazy over double takes,

He is crazy about dizzy spin, and I go crazy just watching him

You bet, he’s crazy about me.

As crazy as crazy as we are about …

Gold spot, the zing thing, Gold spot, the zing thing,

Gold spot

Ad 2

He is crazy about speeding,

I go crazy over his driving,

He is crazy about mobike race, and I go crazy just keeping pace

You bet, he’s crazy about me.

As crazy as crazy as we’re about …

Gold spot, the zing thing, Gold spot, the zing thing ,

Gold spot

Enfield Bullet

The name Bullet dates from 1932, but it became famous in the late 1940's with the introduction of the alloy head, spring arm frame 350 cc Bullet. The modern Bullet Classic is unique in that it is still made in a traditional way, based as it is on the Bullet of 1954, but benefitting from modern techniques. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Standard has proven itself over 45 years in the toughest of conditions. Finished in Black colour this motorcycle retains the classic bike appeal with tank emblems and deep valance mudguards.






Despite more than 100 improvements which have been made to the basic design in the past ten years, with the exception of the indicators, the Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 350 looks much the same as it did 50 years ago.

The old ad, that used to come before before every chitrahar, and Sunday movie is still embedded in our psyche. Here it goes

Yeh Bullet meri jaan
Manzilon ka nishaan
Zindagi ek safar
Chalna shaam-o-sahar
Iski raftar ki
Baat hain aur hi
Lambi raahon pe
Ye kya gazab ki chale
Raaste taye kare
Faasle taye kare
Ye Bullet...
Enfield Bullet
Ghazab ki sawari.

Complan

Ye hai badhta bachcha,

dekho kaise kood lagaye,

ye hai badhta bachcha,

kapda chota hota jaaye...

(little Shahid Kapoor): I'm a complan boy,

(little Ayesha Takia): I'm a complan girl

khoob badhaye complan...

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream

a very early, famous version featuring a very young and cute Sangeeta Bijlani.

Scene 1

A wedding, the bride's house, the females who are dressing up and decorating the bride (Sangeeta Bijlani) are supposed to be singing, while the parents - Sudhir Dalvi, as the dad, and the mom looking at each other sad yet happy... the chorus sings:

Bade naazon se paali hamaari banno,

tujhe dulhan banaaye ree pyaari banno

(shehnai music)

(lead female voice) tujhko haldi ka ubhtan lagaayein sakhiyaan

(at this point there is cackling laughter from all the girls, as they apply turmeric paste to her legs and her cheeks)

teri kaaya ko kanchan banaayein sakhiyaan

(chorus) roop kundan sa chamke hamaari banno, tujhe dulhan banaaye ree pyaari banno...

(at this point, she is going around the holy fire seven times with her hubby, and the wedding is done.

Scene 2

The music changes, and they show the couple on their honeymoon, in what is probably Observation Post, but is supposed to be Kashmir, then her hubby jumps into a swimming pool, comes out, and drips all the water in his hair onto Sangeeta,

( at that point even at the age of six years, I used to tell sangeeta bijlani, "what are you doing with that useless idiot, How Could You Want Him When You Know You Could Have Me?")

(voiceover says something about Vicco Vajradanti Ayurvedic Cream, which you probably don't notice because they are showing a young Sangeeta on the screen, smiling)

(chorus) Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream!

(female) Tvacha ki raksha karey, antiseptic cream

Roop ko sanvarey, nikharey har dam!

Haldi aur chandan ka anokha sangam!

(chorus) Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream,

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream!