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Friday, April 19, 2024

Brandma

BBM — instant messaging app that ruled business & wooed young users before it became not so cool

BBM, or BlackBerry Messenger, represented a transitional period in the world of instant communication and left a significant mark on popular urban culture of the mid-2000s to 2010.

Bournvita Quiz Contest — from radio to tv & digital space, a show that evolved with the times

What began in 1972 as a competition hosted in schools, the show went through several stages of evolution, including one that was hosted by Derek O’Brien.

Thums Up — Legendary Indian cola that beverage giant Coca-Cola tried to ‘kill’

Thums Up was bought by The Coca-Cola Company from Parle in 1993. It was widely believed that this acquisition was a way to diminish any competition Coke faced.

From Lakshmi to Lakmé — story of India’s first cosmetic brand, envisioned by PM Nehru

The brand was named after the popular French opera Lakmé, which in turn is the French word for goddess Lakshmi.

‘Shararat’ — the sitcom Indian kids tuned to for daily dose of magic before Harry Potter

‘Shararat – Thoda Jaadu, Thodi Nazaakat’ aired on Star Plus from 24 January, 2003 to 17 November, 2006, and centered around the lives of three generations of friendly witches.

Radio Ceylon — the Sri Lankan channel India turned to when AIR banned film music in 1952

In its heydays, Radio Ceylon had managed to capture all of India’s major vernacular markets, by dividing the day’s programming schedule into Hindi, Tamil and Telugu segments.

‘Lux girl’ — Bollywood’s own soap brand that brought affordable luxury to all

Targeting the upper and middle-class population, Lux branded itself as the 'secret behind beautiful faces' in the Hindi film industry.

Farewell, Apple iPod — the music player & trendsetter that revolutionised listening

iPod was launched by Apple in 2001. It wasn't the first MP3 player in the market at the time but bigger storage and a longer battery life made the device an instant hit.

Chacha Chaudhary — Indian comic book hero who broke masculine archetypes like Superman, Batman

The character of Chacha Chaudhary filled a huge void in society in the 1970s — that of an Indian superhero — whom impressionable adolescents could admire and look up to.

Hari Sadu – Naukri.com’s bad boss from 2006 ad still present during ‘The Great Resignation’

Whether it is 2006 or 2022, navigating toxic workplaces and dealing with grumpy bosses continue to be a task for workers, making Haru Sadu a timeless presence.

On Camera

Stop asking fans to explain why they like Taylor Swift. Belittling Swifties reeks of sexism

She’s perhaps the only artist that one still has to offer a ‘reason’ for liking. No one bats an eye if you like Harry Styles or Beyonce. But god forbid you express your love for Swift publicly.

CBDT signs record 125 Advance Pricing Agreements, 31% more than last year

The 125 APAs include 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs). The total number of APAs since the start of the APA programme has risen to 641, with 506 UAPAs and 135 BAPAs.

Agniveer applicants in Army up nearly 10% compared to last year

This year, the Army has scheduled an online combined examination that will span 174 locations across the country. The examination window is from April 22 to May 7.

44 years on, two things that have changed in Modi’s BJP, and one that hasn’t

As the BJP heads for a likely third successive term in power, it's fascinating to debate how true it looks to the original proposition: a party with a difference.