scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Friday, April 10, 2026
TopicFairness creams

Topic: fairness creams

Dabur Fem’s ad plays on fairness obsession. But it got Indians talking about LGBTQ at least

Dabur Fem's Karva Chauth ad might be rainbow-packaged conservatism. But chatter on LGBTQ+ community is key.

Before Fair & Lovely, there was Afghan Snow ⁠— all about the fairness creams market in India

The fairness cream industry has a long and prosperous history in India, and was estimated to touch Rs 5,000 crore by 2023, until the Black Lives Matter movement hit this year.

Dropping ‘Fair’ from Fair & Lovely won’t erase Indian racism

Johnsons & Johnsons, Hindustan Unilever, and even Shaadi.com, are introspecting their contribution to racism. But re-branding products is not enough.

Army against ‘soldiers’ endorsing pan masala or fairness cream, will vet ads before release

Worried about negative portrayal, Indian Army will now scan all advertisements showing actors in the uniform, and take strong note if any violation is spotted.

Billie razor’s ‘real body hair’ ad is insidious, harmful and exploitative

The ad manages to package and sell the fickle and ephemeral idea of choice to women.

Indian men are swapping ‘tall, dark and handsome’ for ‘tall, fair and debonair’

Men in India have been buying more fairness products, because of which the bleaching cream market in India alone has an annual growth rate of 18%. 

On Camera

Tamil Nadu’s elections are fought on delivery—ideology appears only when needed

Electoral competition now appears dominated by welfare delivery and governance metrics, but ideology has not disappeared in Tamil Nadu. Instead, it has become strategic.

Data centre gold rush risks blackouts, central electricity body warns states against tripping grids

India’s fast-growing data centre sector may strain state electricity networks; Central Electricity Authority has urged Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu to boost capacity.

Theaterisation proposal to be shared with defence ministry in a week or so—CDS Gen Anil Chauhan

Theaterisation, which aims to divide the forces into three theatres with specific areas of responsibility, will become the single most far-reaching reform that the Indian military has witnessed since independence.

China insulated itself against energy shocks. India is ‘all talk, no walk’

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.