India’s Top Ten Viral Ads of 2024: Laugh, Share and Repeat

This year, advertisements didn’t just compete for attention; they came for the spotlight like they were auditioning for the Oscars. Whether they turned cricketing legends into meme-worthy icons or threw Bollywood stars into the mix for no apparent reason, 2024’s ad campaigns had one goal: to leave you shocked, amused, and scrolling back for a second look.

If you thought ads were about subtlety, this year said, “Nah, let’s turn up the chaos.” And guess what? It worked. Let’s dive into the year’s top ten most viral ads of  2024, where humour, creativity, and a pinch of controversy ruled the roost!

CRED: Rahul Dravid Goes Full Gunda Mode

In a move nobody saw coming, CRED transformed cricket’s calmest man into Indiranagar’s angriest road rager. Rahul Dravid’s outburst was so unexpected that it broke the internet faster than your mom forwarding WhatsApp messages.

With lines like “Indiranagar ka gunda hun main,” Dravid didn’t just sell a financial product; he sold chaos, and we bought it—bonus points for turning your dad’s favourite cricketer into a meme lord.

Dream11: Khaby Lame Shows Cricket the Bird

Cricket is serious business in India, but Dream11 roped in TikTok sensation Khaby Lame to prove that even your lousy cricket strategies deserve a reality check. Khaby, with his iconic deadpan “let me simplify this” expressions, ideally called out every overzealous gully cricket captain ever.

If you’ve seen your friend try a reverse sweep and fail spectacularly, this ad hits harder than a Rishabh Pant sixer.

Ranveer Singh and Johnny Sins: Plot Twist of the Year

Okay, raise your hand if you saw THIS coming. Ranveer Singh, Bollywood’s king of quirk, teams up with Johnny Sins (yes, that Johnny Sins) for a Bold Care ad about men’s health. This campaign didn’t just push the envelope; it took the whole damn post office with it.

In an exaggerated soap opera setup, Ranveer drops his usual chaotic energy, only for Johnny to step in and steal the show. It’s wild, funny, outrageous, and borderline genius.

Slice: Kiara Advani’s Mango Addiction – The Only Ramp She’ll Ever Walk is to the Fridge

In Slice’s 2024 summer campaign, Kiara Advani isn’t just sipping mango juice; she’s having a full-blown affair with it. Backstage, before a ramp walk, she grabs a bottle of Slice, takes a sip, and boom, an actual mango magically appears. Forget the runway; Kiara’s having a mango moment. With the tagline “Ras Aisa Ki Bas Na Chalega”, it’s clear that one sip is all it takes to fall in love. And let’s be honest, the internet’s obsessed. Next up: Kiara Advani, the mango whisperer.

Manforce Condoms: Dolly Singh Gets Real

Manforce turned to Dolly Singh to inject humour into a topic that usually gets the “hush-hush” treatment. Her unapologetic quirks and the ad made it more like your bestie giving you advice than a public service announcement. By replacing the word ‘condom’ with Manforce, Manforce aimed to capture the space of online searches around the word.

The result? It was a campaign that didn’t just break taboos; it laughed in their faces with the tagline #CondomNahiManforceBolo.

Nykaa x Ganji Chudail: Beauty Meets Sass

Nykaa got all Gen Z with Ganji Chudail, the internet’s favourite animated queen of sarcasm. The ad showed dramatic transformations that could have been an episode of India’s Next Top Model.

In the ad, Ganji Chudail, frustrated with being a mere “meme,” abducts India’s top beauty YouTubers—Ishita Mangal, Sakshi Sindwani, and Shivshakti Sachdev. She humorously threatens: give her a glam makeover or risk losing their channels. The ad wraps up with Ganji Chudail’s stunning transformation into a ‘Gen-Z Chudail’, featuring comedic moments and subtle critiques of the beauty industry’s inclusivity issues.

Ganji’s brutally honest commentary, paired with Nykaa’s sleek visuals, was a match made in meme heaven. Somewhere in the background, beauty influencers were taking notes.

Swiggy Instamart: Juhi Chawla’s Surprise Delivery

Imagine ordering Chawal (rice); instead, Bollywood royalty Juhi Chawla arrives at your doorstep. That’s the hilarious premise Swiggy Instamart serves up. When autocorrect sabotages a customer’s grocery order, hilarity ensues, and Juhi’s cameo steals the show.

Swiggy reminded us they’d deliver anything except common sense when texting your grocery list.

Wakefit: Poonam Pandey’s Sleep Drama

Sleep and stunts don’t mix, as Wakefit hilariously proved with Poonam Pandey in their latest campaign. Playing on her infamous “fake death” PR stunt, the ad hilariously spun it into a bedtime PSA: “Trouble starts when you don’t sleep well.”

It’s cheeky, over-the-top, and weirdly relatable. Who hasn’t made poor decisions after a terrible night’s sleep?

Snickers India: Rohit Shetty’s Flying Cars (Obviously)

Snickers went full Bollywood, featuring Rohit Shetty as a hangry driving instructor flipping cars faster than you can say, “Cut!” Only after munching on a Snickers bar does Shetty calm down and stop treating the road like a demolition derby.

This ad has everything: action, comedy, and enough VFX to make Fast & Furious jealous.

Cricbuzz: Cricket Obsession, Muh Dikhai Edition

Indians love cricket when even a post-wedding Muh Dikhai ceremony can’t stop the groom from checking scores. Cricbuzz captured this moment perfectly, blending cricket fandom with comedy gold.

The bride’s confusion, the groom’s one-track mind, and the hilariously awkward guests make this ad as unforgettable as Virat Kohli’s match-winning sixes.

These ads show that magic happens when creativity, humour, and relatability converge. They didn’t just promote brands; they created moments, sparked debates, and entertained us thoroughly. 2024’s ad game isn’t over yet. Here’s hoping the next wave of campaigns keeps us as entertained as these gems did. Here’s to more such brilliance in 2024!