Some ads make you laugh. Some make you cry. And a few legendary ones stay with you for a lifetime. In India, advertising isn’t just about selling it’s about storytelling, culture, and emotions that resonate across generations.
In this blog, we explore the most iconic Indian advertisements of all time that not only shaped the advertising industry but also etched themselves into pop culture. If you're a brand or marketer looking for inspiration, this is the ultimate list of best commercials in India to learn from.
1. Amul – “Utterly Butterly Delicious”
🧈 Brand: Amul
📅 Debut: 1967
🎨 Created by: daCunha Communications
Why It’s Iconic
This is the longest-running Indian ad and it features the beloved Amul Girl. Known for its weekly topical ads, Amul's campaign humorously comments on current events, politics, and pop culture using hand-drawn visuals and puns.
💡 Did You Know? Over 4,000 unique Amul topical ads have been published since 1967.
2. Fevicol – “Fevicol Ka Jod, Tootega Nahi”
🧷 Brand: Fevicol
🧠 Agency: Ogilvy India
📺 Started: Late 1990s
Why It’s Iconic
Fevicol ads are known for their over-the-top creativity like buses overloaded with people that never break or wedding chairs stuck together forever. The tagline "Fevicol Ka Jod Hai, Tootega Nahi" became a household metaphor for unbreakable bonds.
3. Surf Excel – “Daag Acche Hain”
🧼 Brand: Surf Excel
🎯 Agency: Lowe Lintas
Why It’s Iconic
This campaign flipped detergent advertising. Instead of promising spotless clothes, it said getting dirty for a good cause is valuable, like a kid jumping into a puddle to help a friend. It redefined product positioning with emotional storytelling.
4. Airtel – “Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai”
📱 Brand: Airtel
📆 Year: 2011
Why It’s Iconic
This ad showed the diverse roles of friends in our lives. The catchy tune and slice-of-life visuals resonated deeply with India's youth. The jingle became an anthem for college-goers and millennials
5. Cadbury Dairy Milk – “Kuch Khaas Hai”
🍫 Brand: Cadbury Dairy Milk
📺 First Aired: 1993
🏢 Agency: Ogilvy India
Why It’s Iconic
The 1993 commercial featuring a girl dancing on a cricket field after her boyfriend hits a winning shot was a watershed moment in Indian advertising. It wasn’t just about selling chocolate, it was about celebrating unfiltered joy. The tagline “Kuch Khaas Hai” (There’s something special) positioned Dairy Milk as a symbol of happiness and celebration.
But Cadbury didn’t stop there.
🍬 “Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye” Campaign
Launched in the early 2000s, this campaign transformed Dairy Milk from a kid’s treat to a go-to sweet for all ages. The tagline “Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye” (Let’s have something sweet) tapped into India’s tradition of marking good news with sweets. Cadbury cleverly aligned itself with this emotional trigger, making it a part of everyday celebrations like promotions, weddings, and festive moments.
6. Nirma – “Washing Powder Nirma”
🧽 Brand: Nirma
📅 Launched: Early 1980s
Why It’s Iconic
Catchy jingle? Check. Dancing housewives in white? Check. Affordable pricing? Double check. This commercial challenged global detergent giants and made Nirma a household name.
7. Mountain Dew – “Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai”
🥤 Brand: Mountain Dew
📆 Launched: Early 2000s (revamped over the years)
🏢 Agency: BBDO India
Why It’s Iconic
This high-octane campaign didn’t just promote a drink it delivered an adrenaline rush. With extreme sports visuals like skydiving, mountain biking, or base-jumping, Mountain Dew portrayed the message that fear is just a stepping stone to success.
The powerful line “Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai” became more than a tagline it became a motivational mantra for Indian youth. It tapped into the mindset of facing challenges head-on and embracing risk, making it resonate deeply with thrill-seekers and young aspirants.
8. 5 Star – Jo Khaaye, Kho Jaaye/ Do Nothing
🍫 Brand: Cadbury 5 Star
🎬 Agency: Ogilvy India
🎭 Characters: Ramesh & Suresh
Why It’s Iconic
The Cadbury 5 Star “Do Nothing” campaign took laid-back branding to hilarious extremes. Featuring the goofy duo Ramesh and Suresh, these ads focused on people getting so lost in the deliciousness of 5 Star that they become completely unaware of their surroundings.
This ad series redefined how humor, simplicity, and a strong brand persona can create massive recall value. Over time, “Jo Khaaye, Kho Jaaye” became a catchphrase for zoning out, and more recently, the “Do Nothing” concept took the absurdist humor even further, encouraging people to literally do nothing and just enjoy life (and the chocolate bar).
9. Vodafone – “ZooZoo” Campaign
📞 Brand: Vodafone (formerly Hutch)
📺 First Aired: IPL 2009
🏢 Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
Why It’s Iconic
These animated white creatures with balloon-like heads stole hearts during IPL ad breaks. They became an iconic representation of various Vodafone services with zero dialogue yet maximum impact.
10. Mentos – “Dimag Ki Batti Jala De”
🍬 Brand: Mentos
🏢 Agency: Ogilvy India
Why It’s Iconic
These clever, humorous ads showed characters solving everyday problems using wit after popping a Mentos. The tagline "Dimag Ki Batti Jala De" became so iconic, it's now part of everyday slang.
What Makes These Ads Timeless?
Great Indian ads do more than push products they:
✅ Tell relatable stories
✅ Reflect deep-rooted cultural values
✅ Use music, humor, and emotion brilliantly
✅ Start conversations and trends
🧠 Quick Recap: The Ad Magic Breakdown
| Brand | Core Message | Cultural Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Amul | Satirical commentary on current events | India's longest-running topical series |
| Fevicol | Unbreakable bonds and humor-driven loyalty | Memorable, humorous ads with viral recall |
| Cadbury | Celebrate moments with chocolate and emotion | Iconic campaigns like "Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye" |
| Airtel | Friendship, connectivity, and personal touch | Memorable jingles and emotional storytelling |
| Vodafone | Simplicity in communication and trust | ZooZoos became IPL advertising icons |
| Mentos | Cleverness and wit always win | Catchphrases that entered everyday language |
| Mountain Dew | Courage conquers fear. Take the leap. | "Darr ke aage jeet hai" became a youth anthem |
| 5 Star | Indulge and disconnect from the world | "Do Nothing" became a humorous cultural vibe |
| Nirma | Powerful cleaning at a great price | Jingle and empowered women redefined detergent ads |
Want to Create Iconic Ads Like These?
At FameKeeda, we help brands go beyond ads, we help you tell stories. Whether you're aiming to launch a national campaign or go viral with a relatable reel, we offer:
📌 Content Marketing Services
📌 Brand Integration Campaigns
FAQs
Q1: What is the most iconic Indian ad?
The Amul Girl campaign is widely regarded as the most iconic for its longevity, wit, and real-time topical nature.
Q2: Which ad changed societal thinking?
Tanishq’s remarriage ad reshaped the conversation around second marriages and inclusivity.
Q3: Why are Indian ads so emotional?
Indian advertisements often reflect family values, social dynamics, and everyday experiences, making them more emotionally resonant than purely product-focused international ads.
