Continuing with the comeback wishlist, where we ask industry professionals about the brands they would like to see relaunched.
Come back, Walkman!
While the world is evolving and technology is easily accessible to the masses, nothing beats the classic ways to listen to music. Music is something that gives me energy and keeps me motivated in life. I wish I could get back the old Walkman days, where we would flip the cassette to tune into the other part of any music album and wait for our favourite songs. There was something magical about having to wait for your favourite parts; you couldn’t just fast forward to those.
The one thing that I would want to see making a comeback is the Walkman!
- Nisha Narayanan, COO & Director, RED FM & Magic FM
The brand I would like to see enter the market is the Walkman. It was such an in-thing then. I remember the struggles of recording on the cassettes, the frequent breaking of the tape, carefully fixing them, without losing the music experience, the victory thereafter, and showing off the cassette collection et al was real fun. The feeling was of a physical companion when it was clipped on the trouser/belt. Even with music available the way it currently is, I feel a limited edition Walkman will still not only attract those of us who grew up in that era, but the millennials too.
– Yesudas S, Co-founder, Y&A Transformation
Timeless hits on Murphy!
Sheer nostalgia – my Murphy Radio on my mantlepiece belting out timeless music hit after hit!
Transporting me back to the future – the time when one has to stop overthinking about the things they could, or not, have done in the past so that what happened wouldn’t have happened.
– Abraham Thomas, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network
Ambassador, the bonafide design classic!
Personally, I would love it if the Ambassador was revived. It’s a bonafide design classic to start with and seemed tailor-made for Indian roads. It was more spacious than the cramped crates we have nowadays and just felt solid when you sat in one. Recently I went to a Karjat and saw a vintage car collection that had the Ambassador, which I was seeing after a very long time, and my childhood memories just came flooding back. The Government of India had allotted my father a green Ambassador with the red light on the top and all. It was so unique and I remember now that I could spot my father’s car really quickly on the road.
– Nandini Dias, Ex-CEO, Lodestar UM
The pioneer in the sky…
I would choose something that’s not very old, but feels relevant – Air Deccan, a brand which lived its life only for half a decade.
I believe the brand really did a wonderful job and Air Deccan was launched with the purpose that everybody should get to fly. The founder Captain Gopinath was a retired army Captain and he had a vision which he pursued from his heart. Unfortunately, the brand got shut down. But, now with the amount of people flying, I think the brand should be brought back with the same proposition – flying should be affordable to every Indian. They were the one of the first brands to do long commercials on TV.
– Santhosh Padhi, Chief Creative Officer- India, Wieden + Kennedy
‘The Great Indian Taste’
Of the lot I would say Campa Cola. It used to be a youth badge for the current 50-plus. Dialling up nostalgia may not work for today’s youth. It will need a new connection. Will be exciting to see how this brand reinvents itself.
– Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Madison Media & OOH
A new age Madan Mohan…
How I wish a new look Madan Mohan comes back with the old Bollywood kind of music! With all its first principles of rooted poetry, appropriate raga-based dhuns and the passionate teamwork of the poet, musicians, singers, led by a learned sage of a musician! Of course, rendered for the 30-year-old millennials.
– Shripad Kulkarni, Principal, Shripad Kulkarni and Associates.
Also read: Comeback Wishlist Part 1: DD ‘Classic’, HMT, TikTok, Gold Spot, Favre-Leuba
