Letters: Advertise with care

This refers to “What’s on tonight?” (December 27) by Kunal Gill. Mr Gill rightly says commercials now seem better than TV programmes but ad makers should not take too much liberty with their subjects.

A bank that wants to show that its ATMs offer a choice of currency denominations uses a wedding procession as a backdrop, with the bridegroom wearing a garland of currency notes. It is irresponsible of a bank commercial to feature a situation that clearly violates the Reserve Bank of India’s Clean Note Policy.

An insurance company suggests that monks and muggers buy its policies, or have a change of heart on hearing about the policies. Can the company clarify which of its products are suitable for monks and muggers, existing or recently converted? Has it given directions to its underwriters to be completely open to the antecedents of the proposers as the ad seems to suggest? Insurance is a contract of “utmost faith”, not only for the insured but also for the insurer. It’s time companies and their advertising agencies started taking these things seriously.

K R Vaikuntam, Thrissur