I find all these clever, talented  people who run the ‘mad, bad world of advertising’ (sounds quite thrilling...doesn’t it?) a rather confused lot. Did you see them  frothing with anger recently, when the Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, declared that  all celebrities should stop promoting colas and junk food? People, especially children, view them as Supermen and Superwomen, and follow them blindly, said the minister. So could they please stop selling stuff that are ‘unhealthy

The livid ad gurus told him to stop ‘interfering’. How could he pass gag orders on their ‘creative freedom’?, they demanded to know. Not one of them spoke up in defense of the products they were selling! Nor did the companies, which pay them to come up with those witty commercials, sue the minister for bad-mouthing their foodstuffs!!! Hmm…that made me wonder. Surely, the ads, which urged you to consume the drinks with your ‘head held high’ with pride; or to pop in chips whenever you felt your energy level ebbing, sent out their messages loud and clear. So why were the makers and promoters being so diffident about declaring their goodness?

So I set out investigating. And now, ladies and gentlemen. here is what I found!