The BEST ad jingles of yesteryear

If you are tuned into television, then you can't escape the world of advertisements. And, whether you know it or not, at any given point of time there are probably hundreds of commercial jingles playing in your head.

Jingles certainly makes the world of advertising go round. Well, it most certainly plays an important role in brand association whether the jingle is good, bad or annoying, if it has a catchy tune, you have a winner.

While these jingles are intrusive by their very nature, we also love them. And we recall them, sing them, and sometime even google them long after they have disappeared from our television screens.

Here, we revisit some of the most memorable/oldest ad tunes (not in any particular order).

Mind you, all these jingles are original and don't use any pre-existing tune. This is what makes then even more special.

We sure had fun recalling the good old days. Now it's your turn.

NOTE: This is only a small sample of some of the most popular commericals of yesteryear. We must certainly have missed many. If you do recall ones which we missed, ...

Jab main chhota bachha tha (Bajaj Bulbs)

We are sure 9 out of 10 are humming the next line, badi shararat karta tha!!

Of course who can forget the old man, who recalls his childhood through Bajaj bulbs and entertain us with his story

"Jab main chhota baccha tha
Bahut shararat karta tha

Meri chori pakdi jaati...

Kyun ki roshni deta Bajaj.

Ab main bilkul buddha hoon
Goli khake jeeta hoon
Phir bhi chori pakdi jaati...

Kyun ki roshni deta Bajaj."

...

Kuchh aas hai zindagi main (Cadbury Dairy Milk)

Remember the series of ads, where young, old and almost everyone were shown living and enjoying some lighter moments?

This jingle certainly guarantees to bring a smile on your face, and maybe even a desire to revisit your childhood.

"Kuchh khas hai hum sabhi mein
 kuchh baat hai zindagi mein

Baat hai khas hai
kuchh swad hai

Kya swad hai

Zindagi mein
Asli swad zindagi ka"

...

Yehi hai right choice baby (Pepsi)

This commercial was made in the early 90s by HTA (now JWT), when Pepsi was known as known as Lehar Pepsi!

Starring Remo and the kid signer, Penny Vaz, the commercial was later extended to a form a series, which also featured Juhi Chawala (the leading actress from the 90s).

Further, the background voice of Shankar Mahadevan, lends a nice classical Indian touch to the ad.

"Hmm magic!

Remo: Hey, Penny what's the magic, all about?

Penny: You, know!

You hold it, you taste it you know that it's right

A-ha!!

You drink it, you feel good you know it's the choice

Yehi hai right choice baby, uuuhhhaaa!

Lehar Pepsi, uuuhhhhaaa!!!"

...

Doodh doodh doodh doodh Piyo Glass Full Doodh (Amul)

This Kunal Ganjawala's song for Amul, was one of the most peppy and catchy jingles to be aired on DD.

It has been voted as the most favourite ads by people on most social networking sites, youtube.

Join in the mania, sing along!

"Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh hai wonderful
Pi sakte ho roz a glassful
Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh, wonderful doodh,

Piyo glassful
Garmi me dalo doodh me ice
Doodh ban gaya very nice

Piyo daily once or twice
Mil jayega tasty surprise

Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh, wonderful doodh,

Piyo glassful
Doodh hai must in every season
Piyo doodh for healthy reason
Rahoge phir fit and fine
Jiyoge past ninety-nine

Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh, wonderful doodh

Piyo glassful
Charon aur, mach gaya shor
Give me more, give me more!

Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme wonderful doodh

Piyo glassful doodh"

...

Hamara Bajaj (Bajaj Scooters)

Do we need to say anything more?

This iconic ad was one of the most remarkable ads to be made on Indian TV.

And, it certainly plays up whenever someone mentions old ads or even, Bajaj. Doesn't it?

The ad was filled with elements from various households, and it certainly felt like Bajaj scooters were treasured by families in India.

In a way, this touching ad typified that age.

"Ye jami ye asma hannn
Ye jami ye asma

Hamara kal hamara aaj, hamara kal hamara aaj
Hamara kal hamara aaj, hamara kal hamara aaj

Buland bhart ki buland tasveer
Hamara bajaj,hamara bajaj ,hamara bajaj"

...

Tanduroosti ki raksha karta hai Lifebuoy (Lifebuoy)

Lifebuoy has been in India for over 112 years. In the early years it positioned itself as a powerful germicidal and disinfectant, and rode on the health advantage.

However, this waned over time as competitors came out with soaps that promised both health and beauty.

Even with a makeover, we still remember the quintessential Lifebuoy jingle

"Tanduroosti ki raksha karta hai Lifebuoy
Lifebuoy hai jahaaan, tanduroorsti hai wahan. ..
Lifebuoy!"

...

Washing powder Nirma (Nirma)

The kind of impact that Nirma's "dancing girl, sporting a simple polka-dots frock" advertisement managed to have on its prospective buyers was phenomenal.

It is perhaps the most effective audio-visual of its times. Even, today it manages to create the same magic.

"Washing powder Nirma

Doodh si safedi
Nirma se aaye

Rangeen kapde bhi khil khil jaaye
Sabki pasand Nirma...

Washing powder Nirma

NIRMA!!!"

...

Do minute rukh sakte hain... maggi maggi magi (Maggi Noodles)

Remember the Maggi ad where, two kids - a brother and a sister - get down from their school bus and open the house gates and enter the kitchen immediately.

And they scream in unison, "Mummy bhookh lagi hai!"

The mom smiles and says, "Do minute!"

"School se aate dhoom machaate

Ek hi baat pe mangate, Maggi Maggi Maggi!"

Mom: Pal bhar mein tayyar .

Kids in chorus: Khaane mein mazedaar!

...

Hawkins ke seeti bajji (Hawkins Pressure Cooker)

Hawkins ad aired in mid-to-early 80s was simple and minimal. The focus was on price and durability.

For the uninitiated, the ad starts with a loud pressure cooker whistle, and then, the lead character starts to sing:

"Hawkins ki seeti baji, khushboo hi khushboo udi
Mazedaar, lazzedaar khaana hai tayyar, aji khaana hai tayyar!

Murg Musallam, Tomayyto Soup, Matar Pulao, Maaki Daal,
Kheer aur Dum Aloooooo

Har vyanjan swadisht banaaye, minton mein jhatpat pakaaye
Hawkins! Hawkins! Hawkins Pressure Cooker!

Voice over guy: Vishwasneeya, HAWKINS! Avval quality ka praasure cooker! Bachat kare, barson chale!

...

Kharram Khurram, Khurram Kharram - Mazedar Lazedar Swaad Swaaad Mein (Lijjat Papad)

Our list would have been incomplete without Ramdas Padhye's (the well-known ventriloquist) bunny.

"Ah-hey Chai, Coffee ki sang bahaye Kharram Khurram, Khurram Kharram
Kharram Khurram, Khurram Kharram

Mahmano ko kush kar jaye,
Khurram Khurram

Mazedar lazedar swaad swaaad mein lijjat papad

Jabhi chaiye shwak se khaye
Kharram Khurram, Khurram Kharram

Sekh ke khaaye, tal ke khaaye
Khurram Khurram

Mazedar lazedar swaad swaaad mein lijjat papad

Lijjat papad, ah-hey, ah-hey"

...

Swad bhare, shakti bhare (Parle G )

This 1989 TV advertisement is so simple, catchy and cute, combined with well-synchronised head-nods.

The ad features a grandfather and two kids, who are sneaking up from behind to whisk their grandfathers' pack of biscuits. The ever-alert grandfather catches them, and says

"Hum ko patta hai ji

To which the kids reply Aap ko patta hai ji

And, the commercial breaks into the song

Sabko patta hai ji
Barso se chahat apni, yehi hain ji
Apni bhi

Swad bhare, shakti bhare
Barso se

Parle-G"

...

Amul taste of India (Amul)

Amul, The Taste of India campaign was aimed at connecting Amul with "food" and "taste". Thus, the jingle was created in a manner that viewers would relate to it immediately.

All we can say is, even today the jingle plays out loud and clear in our minds.

"Jara si hansi, dulllaaaar jara saa
Amul

Jara si anban, pyar jara sa
The taste of india

Banade har pal, banade har pal masti ka
Amul the taste of India

Yahi to Amul bhaiya, swad India ka

Amul - the taste of India
Amul - the taste of India
Amul - the taste of India

...

Vicco turmeric..nahin cosmetic (Vicco Ayurvedic Cream)

This 1980s popular advertisement features Sangeeta Bijali as the bride. It had all the elements of a typical Indian wedding, but they cleverly tried to replace the traditional haldi with Vicco turmeric ayurvedic cream.

Here's is what they had to say:

"Bade naazon se paali hamaari banno, tujhe dulhan banaaye ree pyaari banno

(lead female voice) tujhko haldi ka ubhtan lagaayein sakhiyaan (at this point, typically the girls break into a cackling laughter, 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...

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream!
Tvacha ki raksha karey, antiseptic cream

Roop ko sanvarey, nikharey har dam!
Haldi aur chandan ka anokha sangam!

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream,

Vicco Turmeric Ayurvedic Cream!

...

The Zing Thing (Gold Spot)

It was once the largest selling brand in India. What made Gold Spot special was that it was almost synonyms to cold drink, and continued to do so long after it was withdrawn from the market.

And, of course who can miss the English-version of the advertisement. That was another reason why it was such a hit with the audience.

"He is crazy about roller skates
She goes dizzy over double takes

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

You bet, he's crazy about me

As crazy, as crazy as, real gold
Gold Spot, the zing thing

Gold Spot, the zing thing
Gold Spot Gold Spot!"

...

Peeda harri balm (Zandu Balm)

This was a hit before, Dabaang and Munni happened to Zandu Balm. For years, they have tried to entertain us with its

"Ting ting ting Hmmm, hmm, hmm
Zandu Balm, Peeda hari balm

Sardi, sar dard peeda ko pal mein door kare...
Thodasa pyaar, aur Zandu Balm peeda se jhatpat aaram

Zandu Balm, Zandu Balm"

...

Bhool na jaana (ECE Bulbs and Tubes)

Remember Paintal, the actor. Well, he is the star in this classic ECE blubs and tubes ad. It reminds us of the days when everyone in your society knew each other, starting from the next door neighbour to your friendly vegetable vendor.

The ad also gives a glimpse of the middle-class Indian households. So, refereshing your memory with

"Saanya chale na koi bahaana
Aaj ECE hi blub lana

Bhool na jaana, ECE bulb laaan

And, then are whole lot of people reminding the "Saanya" in different languages asking him not to forget

Maharashtrian: Visroo naka, ECE hi blub aana
Haan, Bhool na jaana, ECE hi blub lana

Parsi: Dikra, bhool to nai, ECE bulb lavjo!
Bihari: Saahib, bhool na jayoo, ECE hi bulb layo

Bhool na jaana, ECE hi blub lana

Bangaali: Bhoolbe naa nee sho bulb ECE bulb

Bulbbulbbulbbulbbulb....
Jyaada de ujaala

Din-o-din chalne waala ECE bulb aur ECE tube!"

...

Gale mein khich, khich (Vicks cough drops)

It's been years, but it's hard to forget. We can safely say, that whenever you hear khisch or Vicks, you start humming....

"Gale mein khich, khick kay karoon

Vicks ki goli lo, aur kisch, kisch door karo"

...

Sirf ek Saridon (Saridon)

Saridon has always occupied the position of the 'headache specialist' in consumers' minds. It has maintained its perceptual values of  just one tablet is enough.

Hence the catchy jingle, which was also a favorutire with radio stations.

'Sirf ek Saridon

Sirf ek Saridon aur sardard se aaram.

Na rahe pida na rahe dard.

Chusti furti mil jaye wapas,

Ek, sirf ek, sirf ek, Saridon'.

...

Jab Ghar ki ronak (Nerolac Paints)

The "Nerolac, Nerolac" jingle has been their theme since it was first introduced on television. Catchy as it is, it lends a good support to the brand. This is probably why it still remains the background score for Nerolac ads.

"Jab Ghar ki ronak badhani ho
Deewaro ko jab sajana ho

Nerolac, Nerolac

Rangoon ki duniya mein aao
Rangeen sapne sajaao

Nerolac, Nerolac

Har roop, har rang mein behatar"

With this, we complete our list of most memorable/loved retro ads. Now, watch out for some new jingles that have managed to create the same magic.