History of Advertisement in India in 4 minutes explain
advertisement in india

History of Advertisement in India in 4 minutes explain

Advertisement in India has changed dramatically over the years, reflecting the country’s social and technological progress. From ancient oral promotions to today’s digital ads, the journey highlights creativity and adaptability. This article explores the history, key milestones, and the impact of advertising agencies and iconic Indian ads.

 

Pre-1800 Advertisement in India (Before 18th Century)

In the olden days, advertisement in India was more of an oral form of advertising. Merchants and traders relied on:

  • Word-of-mouth: People trusted and encouraged advertising goods in local markets.

 

  • Town Criers and Hawkers: Some of them creatively used popular slogans in an effort to entice customers.

 

  • Visual Media: Trade and royal proclamations were proclaimed by stone and metal inscriptions.

 

  • Religious Centres: Temples gifted artisans, and PRO’s back the cause by effectively using events and fairs to popularise local crafts.

 

These methods relied much on interpersonal trusts and cultural complexity and therefore helped in laying down the script for the future advertisement process.

The Colonial Era: Born of Informality (The early to mid-eighteen hundreds till the early two thousands)

Coming to the colonial period, modern advertising techniques were new to India:

Introduction of the Printing Press:

Permitted newspapers as a new media place for advertising.

  • “The Bengal Gazette,” India’s first newspaper, was published in 1780 and included advertisements for imported commodities, books, and medications.

Rise of Advertising Agencies:

  • B. Dattaram & Co., established in 1905, became India’s first advertising agency.

Agencies contributed to the creation of eye-catching and successful print advertisements.

By combining creativity and technology, this age established the foundation of a successful culture of advertisement in India.

Post-Independence Era: Promoting Indian Products (1947 to 1960s)

India’s advertising sector concentrated on encouraging independence and patriotism after the country gained its freedom.

  • Patriotic Campaigns:

“Be Indian, Buy Indian” and similar slogans urged customers to purchase locally produced goods.

 

  • Rise of Print Media:

Bollywood celebrities’ endorsements of Lux soap and Dalda’s “Pure and Healthy” were popular promotions.

 

  • Target Audience:

Campaigns by advertising firms catered to the expanding middle class.

 

  • Cultural Influence:

Advertisements addressed contemporary requirements while highlighting historic virtues.

During this time, creative advertising was combined with cultural ethos.

 

Television advertisement in India: Changing the Game (1980s)

Television emerged as a powerful medium, transforming how brands communicated with audiences.

 

  • Introduction of Doordarshan:

The national broadcaster reached millions of households.

 

  • Memorable Campaigns:

Amul and “Washing Powder Nirma” became well-known because of their clever advertisements.

 

  • Celebrity Endorsements:

Bollywood and cricket stars added glamour to brands.

 

  • Creative Elements:

Phrases like “Vicco Turmeric, Nahi Cosmetic” and catchy jingles became well-known.

 

  • Engaging Visuals:

Commercials that were both aesthetically pleasing and emotionally impactful were the focus of agencies.

Customers and brands developed a close emotional bond thanks to television advertising.

 

The Liberalization Era: Global Brands Enter (1990s)

In the 1990s, economic liberalisation boosted competitiveness and provided opportunities for international brands.

 

  • Increased Media Options:

Targeted advertising was made possible by cable networks and satellite TV.

 

  • Changing Lifestyles:

Urbanisation and changing ambitions were represented in the campaigns.

 

  • Iconic Campaigns:

“Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai” by Asian Paints and “Yeh Dil Maange More” by Pepsi.

 

  • Rise of Global Agencies:

Ogilvy & Mather, JWT, and Lowe Lintas were on the rise, especially during this period.

 

  • Technological Integration:

Brands began to push themselves further in the visual cues and narratology sense.

It was this period in advertising when the strategies became more complex and the competition internationalised.

 

The Digital Revolution: Advertising Today: 21st Century

Advertising and all of media changed in India with the arrival of the digital twenty-first century.

 

  • Key Platforms:

Categorically, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter remained crucial for reaching out to the young audience.

 

  • Innovative Campaigns:

 

    • Brands used data analysis for the delivery of individualised and engaging content.
    • Often it began with social media personalities promoting certain products, taking the form popularly known as influencer marketing.

 

  • Rise of Video Content:

 

    • Digital sites like Youtube and OTT services became the places for video ads and video-based storytelling.

 

  • Viral Trends:

Shortform films, memes, and campaigns changed how brands communicated.

  • Technological Advancements:

 

    • AI and AR were used to enhance customer experiences.

 

  • E-Commerce Advertising:

Ads are now seamlessly integrated into purchasing experiences on sites like Amazon and Flipkart.

Today’s dynamic and consumer-driven advertising places a strong emphasis on technology innovation, creativity, and interaction.

Advertising Agencies in India

Advertising agencies have been central to the industry’s growth, offering diverse services:

 

  • Core Services:

 

    • They include market research, creative designs, media buying and placing, and finally implementing the advertising campaigns.

 

  • Notable Agencies:

  1. Ogilvy & Mather: Well-known for work done on Fevicol and Vodafone’s ‘ZooZoos’ commercials.
  2. JWT India: Politically dysfunctional but credited famous commercials such as Meri Maggi and KitKat’s Have a Break.
  3. Lowe Lintas: Awarded in “Surf Excel’s Daag Achhe Hain” campaign.
  4. Webchutney: The world’s foremost digital advertising company.

Some of these agencies still exist and have evolved over the years to cater for the dynamic market trend in India.

Indian advertisements are always memorable because they always depict social and cultural aspects of the country. Some notable examples include:

  • Amul’s Topical Ads:

 

    • Published humorous opinions on the occurrences in political, economical, social, as well as technological life.

 

  • Lifebuoy’s “Swastya Chetna”:

 

    • Raised awareness of hygiene improvement in needy regions in the project.

 

  • Airtel’s “Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai”:

 

    • A fun-filled jingle of friendship.

 

Over the years, these ads have gone past basic advertisement and have now become symbols of culture.

Challenges and Future Trends

Despite its success, the advertising industry in India faces several challenges:

  • Challenges:

 

    • Competition is cut throat and other ethical issues.
    • Ad recall and the infringement of consumer privacy.
    • Cultural impact in the diverse markets.

 

  • Future Trends:

 

    • First, there is the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and blockchain platform interoperability.
    • More focus added to matters such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and individualisation of delivering content.
    • Increased importance of environmentally responsible advertising.

 

The advertisement in India has come of age, revealing growth and expansion in the sector. In its essence, advertising goes back beyond the written word to be an oral

tradition, and like many aspects of society, has moved to the digital age. Taking into account the constant growth of creativity in Indian ads and the cooperation between agencies

and clients, the future of the Indian advertising market looks rather optimistic.