Anchor, Havells in hair-raising controversy

Anchor Electricals, a leading electrical appliances and accessories manufacturer, has accused rival electrical goods manufacturer Havells India of copying a concept for its hair-raising TV commercial and it has demanded that Havells take the campaign off the air.

Havells' television advertisement for shock-proof switches depicts a boy whose everyday life is disrupted when his hair stands on end, the result of shock suffered from faulty switches at home.

Anchor says that this concept has been borrowed from a previous television advertisement created for Anchor switches.

The Anchor ad, made by Art Advertising and Marketing (India) back in 2000, showed a man with his hair standing on end due to shock from the door bell he rang, on a visit to his girlfriend's house, company executives said. Anchor has explained this in a letter to Havells and asked it to stop airing the commercial. Havell says it has not received any such letter.

Lowe India, which made the ad for Havells, says that the electric shock concept is generic. Anchor thinks it cannot be a mere coincidence that Havells is conveying a similar message in so similar a fashion.