Ashok Kumar was a Brylcreem man

Look what I came across on Facebook! A 1954 ad of veteran actor Ashok Kumar modeling for Brylcreem. That year he had three films. Including ‘Baadbaan’ with Dev Anand and Meena Kumari. They are a couple. And Ashok Kumar is Meena’s silent lover and Dev’s friend. Those were the days when Bollywood actors didn’t go in for big biceps and chests. Their hairstyles were more important. That’s why Ashok Kumar in the ad says, “Brylcreem is best for your hair.”

My father was a Brylcreem man. And his father before him. I think my Dad used the British hair cream because his sporting hero, the stylish English cricket captain and batsman Dennis Compton, was the product’s first celebrity brand ambassador. Our Farrokh Engineer used to model for Brylcreem when I was a boy. The copywriters, lacking imagination, passed off his ads in ‘Sportsweek’ by saying Farrokh Engineer was the first Indian cricketer to endorse Brylcreem. Also the last, I think.

After Engineer went into modeling, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev went out to bat and bowl for Palmolive Shaving Cream. Kapil Dev’s “Palmolive da jawaab nahin” probably did more for the brand than any other sales pitch in its entire history. He also went on to endorse Glaxo’s chocolate health drink Boost as the “secret” of his energy. And that alone knocked Cadbury’s Bournvita off the shelves despite the popularity of its Sunday quiz competition on the radio for school kids.

Brylcreem used to come in a small transparent glass jar with a black cap. Looking like a squat cricketer. The snowy white cream had a distinctly clean and pleasant fragrance. Like a fresh and soapy floral musk. Close my eyes and breathe deeply, I can smell my Dad dabbing Brylcreem onto his hair. Brylcreem is now also a hair gel, wax, and 3-in-1 conditioning shampoo. Plus there’s a Brylcreem beard butter balm, oil, and gel wash. I wonder if these products have the smell of hair cream.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.

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