Happy...err...Father's Day

Yes, I'm a little behind time when it comes to wishing my own naina (father in Telegu, my mother tongue) and all daddies out there a very, very Happy Father's day via my blog.

Well actually, there are two things here - first is the fact that my naina is still unable to understand why people blog but for that matter, don't assume he is computer-illiterate).

For someone aged 71, he is pretty computer-savvy, surfs the net, sends email and is also completely at ease with using MS Word and Excel for work purposes, but, for some heavenly reason(s), he cannot understand why people blog.

So, even if I did wish naina Happy Father's day on time via my blog, it's not like he's gonna read it.

Secondly, the most important reason for my delay in conveying the Father's day wish via my blog is the fact that my naina is strongly of the view - and he also raised my siblings and mua this way - that all these supposedly designated days such as Valentine's day, Mother's day, Father's day and even birthdays, are a little too commercialised.

We have argued about this all through my growing up years and even now, but at the end of the day, dear old naina, will always say this in mitigation, "I'm not against the concept and noble idea behind these memorable days - I'm only against the active commercialisation of these events so much so, simple, loving wishes are deemed unimportant as opposed to material gifts."

Each time this happens, we will consider the case closed for naina has had his last say and he will not budge from what he believes to be morally right.

As such, my siblings and I have grown up celebrating occasions such as birthdays, Mother's and Father's day without having to cut cakes and make a big deal about the said day - we buy gifts for them, yes, but apart from that, there is no cake cutting or extravagant dinners.

I grew up that way and as a mark of respect, I chose to celebrate both my parents' birthdays and other occasions minus the cake cutting and exclusive hotel dinners.

So there, the above should justify my delay and while I'm at it, I thought I should share something that I would term as an ingenious advertising approach.

Just look at the Durex Father's day ad copy below - I think it is self explanatory. The copy writer and art director of this project along with the client, Durex the company itself, should be given a pat on the back for such a refreshing idea (depends on how you look at it) and out of the box advertising approach.

Now, now, won't you agree this is an insanely creative way of handling growing competition?

And anyway, since I'm already blogging about it at length, Happy (belated) Father's Day, my dearest Naina. I love you.