Books by advertising professionals, annecdoting their experiences are usually
interspersed with humor, sometimes ironic and sometimes witty. Nawabs, Nudes, Noodles: India Through 50 Years of Advertising is no different. Do not get me wrong: this is not to say that there is nothing new in the book. Ambi Parmeswaran, the author, is an advertising veteran who spent a large part of his career with FCB Ulka. He takes us through a nostalgic trip down memory lane to recreate some of the adverts which caught the country’s attention and tugged at its heart. The book, however, is not just a trip down memory lane. The book also chronicles the sociocultural cause and effect between society and advertising. How advertising has evolved through the last five decades reflecting changes in society, and conversely affecting social change. The media—films, television and books—is always a reflection of the sociological and cultural perspective and vice versa. Parmeswaran looks at how advertising and consumers have evolved over the last 50 years, through iconic brands and memorable ads that captured the imagination of the country. Advertising has also kept pace with the sociocultural trends, changing demographics and aspirational needs of the society.

The book is divided into four sections: People, Products, Services and Ad Narratives. The first section on ‘People’ deals with examples of characters created through advertising, how their identities were impacted by social norms and how they, in turn impacted the social culture. It also explores demographic factors such as age, gender and relationships.

Marketing Management, Nawabs, Nudes, Noodles, India Through
50 Years of Advertising.