I know what I’m going to be for Halloween!

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Thoughtful readers NKN and Daniel sent in this delightful wideo and we are all smilier for it. It’s catchy! Err…wait, I think it’s supposed to prevent that…

Achtung, babies: it is NSFW, especially if you work with Telugu people. 😉 Otherwise, it seems so innocent, the stars of the clip reminded me of Boobah or the Teletubbies…well, until they get to the graphically illustrated part about gay sex. But we won’t go there! I mean, hasn’t Tinky Winky endured enough?

Now sing it with me one time, “I am sealed with lubricant!” Ah, this song is going to be in my head, all day. Happy Monday to all and to all, check the manufacturing date.

P.S. The next time you’re blue (heh), make like our dancing friend Nirodh and tell yourself, “Turn a deaf ear to others, I am very good.” I know I will!

68 thoughts on “I know what I’m going to be for Halloween!”

  1. 10:22 Monday morning, three cups of coffee in, is it wrong to be turned on by that?? 🙂

  3. hey this could be a good promotional feature about the use of condoms and prevention of AIDS instead of the whacky, stereotype ADs (portraying a MOM , a DAD ,their children who are again a SON and a DAUGHTER) which show up nowadays on Doordarshan and STAR channels. The english subtitles are just great. And heres the link to the video that has been embedded above.

  4. i’ve already seen this, but watching it again made my day 😀

    i love the nuances in this video… from the brown ‘wood,’ to how these teletubbies are made up like and use the gestures and expressions of folk/classical dancers (possibly kuchipudi like it used to be performed in the old days?). (but i must say, that one condom that kept popping up against the red background looked like a klansman condom)

  5. This is hilarious! Great catchy way to get your message across. Made my entire week and drove away the Monday Blues!!!

  6. wow, i love this. my favorite parts are Pink’s solos in front of the Dubious Crowd.

    also i enjoy that blue looks vaguely like a water bottle, considering the ribbing.

  8. Poor sods who danced in that video are probably not going to want to put that on their resumés. I can see that one going well: “Could you tell us more about this social awareness project you did?”. “Yes, I was a giant singing, dancing anthropomorphic condom.”

    From memory, Brazil once had a problem like that a few years back with their Rio carnival. There was one float with topless samba dancers, then one with tasseled samba dancers, then one with body-painted samba dancers, then one with dancers modestly covered by giant condoms, and then one with stark naked dancers with the Brazilian flag colors painted around their crotch area. Everything was considered acceptable except for the giant condoms, which caused a minor controversy. WTF? Yeah, Brazil is quite Catholic. That was one of those educational cultural things for me – people in different countries get offended by different things. (There was some angle involving the Catholic church spreading misinformation about condoms in Brazil and fighting with AIDS-control organizations but I forget what it was).

  9. 10:22 Monday morning, three cups of coffee in, is it wrong to be turned on by that?? 🙂

    Yes 🙂

    5:45 caught me off guard, as well (although I’m glad it’s in there, even if only a frame), but I think this wins for best contraceptive ad EVER. I thought it was cute that one was ribbed, studded, etc.

  11. Nice public service. Catchy beats. And Telugu sounds like a badass language! Very liberal and blunt song and video…is rural Telugu society that open about discussing these things?

  12. What do you mean by: ‘innocent until…’? It’s all about promiscuity and free sex from the start, but when it’s about ‘gay sex’ you suddenly think it’s no longer innocent. I think the clip is hilarious, but I’m not so sure about you.

  13. No, Jean, when it mentions “gay sex” it has the only (as far as I could see) graphic image of sexual penetration. I have a feeling that that’s what the reaction was to, not to “gay sex” in and of itself.

  15. Yeah, it isn’t that it’s gay, it’s that suddenly there’s a graphic diagram of the act. I think it’s pretty great that they addressed the gays too.

  16. 10:22 Monday morning, three cups of coffee in, is it wrong to be turned on by that?? 🙂 Yes 🙂

    oh good, just checking. 🙂

  17. As catchy as the tune is and as cute as the condom-tubbies are, I couldn’t help but worry for the dark pink condom during his solo – those dudes standing around him with crossed arms and not-happy expressions did NOT look like they were about to join in the singing and dancing.

  18. those dudes standing around him with crossed arms and not-happy expressions did NOT look like they were about to join in the singing and dancing.

    Indian audiences often stare blankly while performances are going on…it’s a tough crowd.

  19. Damn, thats awesome.

    During 2002 national games, they had condoms given away for free at almost all the traffic lights, mile check points etc – I think govt has realized that the only way to control HIV is to be blunt about it.

    AP supposedly has maximum number (percapita wise too) of HIV patients, apart from Mumbai redlight area.

  20. What do you mean by: ‘innocent until…’? It’s all about promiscuity and free sex from the start, but when it’s about ‘gay sex’ you suddenly think it’s no longer innocent. I think the clip is hilarious, but I’m not so sure about you.

    First of all, Camille is exactly right.

    Second, WHOA. Please be fair enough to quote my entire statement instead of taking part of it out of context to make me sound like a homophobe. I was talking about teletubbies, childrens show stars who are colored dancing blobs similar to what we see here. TELETUBBBIES!

    Otherwise, it seems so innocent, the stars of the clip reminded me of Boobah or the Teletubbies…well, until they get to the graphically illustrated part about gay sex. But we won’t go there! I mean, hasn’t Tinky Winky endured enough?

    Is it homophobic to say that “this reminded me of sesame street until the illustration about anal sex!”, especially when from as far as I could tell, there were no similar illustrations for other acts? I may have missed one, I fully admit to that, since it was 4am.

    By the way, Tinky Winky is a teletubbie who was unfairly attacked by some crackpot right-winger as being gay because he was purple and carried a purse. The whole bit goes together, those three sentences. I wish you’d given me the benefit of your doubt vs given in to the temptation to assume the worst and condemn.

  22. I have a tendency to start singing songs in languages I don’t actually know…guess I’ll have to be careful about this one. 😉

    Great post Anna, definitely made my day!

  23. “By the way, Tinky Winky is a teletubbie who was unfairly attacked by some crackpot right-winger as being gay because he was purple and carried a purse”.

    “As far as we are concerned Tinky Winky is simply a sweet, technological baby with a magic bag.” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/276677.stm

    anyone else thinking of tubby custard! 🙂

  24. I got through like half the video before it hurt too much to laugh, so I sent the link to all my friends.

    When I was a kid they used to have these commercials (or public awareness messages) with similar folk tunes and dancers to explain the importance of birth control, girl child education, etc. The tunes are so catchy that my maid used to sing, though I am not sure if she got the message.

  25. Knowing that this is India, the males will probably put the condom on a stick, keep the shameful thing in the corner of a room and then have sex as usual 🙂 [This has happened before, although I can’t find a link]

  26. At least they showed the thing being applied to a specially designed piece of wood, rather than a banana or other piece of fruit. I wonder how many kids are freaked away from eating their fruits and vegetables after having the image burned on their brain of a lubricated condom covering something you’d typically eat.

  27. is rural Telugu society that open about discussing these things?

    Yes, at least among lower class/castes. Women from rural Andra Pradesh (mostly lower caste) are more emancipated than their middle class or upper middle class counterparts in urban areas. Widows and divorcees tend to remarry and its very much accepted by the society.

    Musically, is that based on Telugu folk music? It actually sounds pretty cool.

    Again yes, Telugu folk music is mostly about left wing politics or used by left wing acivists. Its called Jana Natya Mandali (similar to Jana Natya Manch in the North). Those people are amazingly talented and popular in rural areas.

  29. is rural Telugu society that open about discussing these things? Yes, at least among lower class/castes. Women from rural Andra Pradesh (mostly lower caste) are more emancipated than their middle class or upper middle class counterparts in urban areas. Widows and divorcees tend to remarry and its very much accepted by the society.

    I second that. Rural society is lot more open and ribald. check out other songs from the same user. The tunes are from telugu folk songs. Songs set to similar tunes are staple of electioneering materials,PSA and rural ad campaigns.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwUjEjrQdM8

  31. Yes, at least among lower class/castes. Women from rural Andra Pradesh (mostly lower caste) are more emancipated than their middle class or upper middle class counterparts in urban areas. Widows and divorcees tend to remarry and its very much accepted by the society.

    not just rural telugu society; similar things are true for maharashtra as well; additionally promiscuity is rampant in many villages. a friend of mine who did his two years of village medical service (required if you go to a govt. med school in maharashtra) reports that the high rate of hiv infections in many villages can be traced to this (apparently a lot of people were sleeping with their neighbors’ wives/husbands, in addition to distant relatives).

  33. Damn, I thought my Telugu comprehension was pretty good, but my mom must be from a different region or something because I can only understand bits and pieces of the song! Anyway, this is a good link to email to my mom… ha!

  34. Best. You Tube Video. Ever. And looks like such an easy to make halloween costume. I picture Mutineers all across the country inspired by this post dressing as condoms this halloween….

  35. so if i send this to my telugu-speaking friends, will i get a virtual conk on the head?

    Err No, Though YMMV ! We are all not such nice people 🙂

  36. off the halloween remark, it reminds me of an episode where moby (the singer, eponymous to is granduncle’s creation) strapped a large dildo to his head and went jabbign people with it. i think he got punchedou.t.

    ymmv

  38. “those dudes standing around him with crossed arms and not-happy expressions did NOT look like they were about to join in the singing and dancing. Indian audiences often stare blankly while performances are going on…it’s a tough crowd. “

    I thought the guy staring with the disgruntled look on his face was just trying to figure out how to wear such a gigantic condom. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm

    Below the belt?

    When I lived in Hyderabad, there was a huge billboard with a smilinng condom outside my house, and I never even dreamed that AP would outdo itself on that account. But it has.

    And with good reason, too. Here’s a picture I took of a general store next to the GPO on Abids, Hyderabad, a few years ago: https://webspace.utexas.edu/dmaj/DSC02581.JPG?uniq=-npz4gw

  39. I can speak Telegu and I am very amused by this public service announcement. #8 -Pingpong is right, how do the dancing condoms tell their family/friends/potential employers about their contribution to community service?

    I can’t speak for all Telegu people, but I think this humorous message is one that should be taken seriously. Hopefully this comical ad will raise some awareness and motivate people to practice safe sex.

    By the way, not to be rude or too personal, how did you find out about this hilarious ad? But I am glad you shared it with all of us!!

  40. This is freaking awesome.

    My three favorite things are 1.) the hot dance moves 2.) that each of the condom characters represented different kinds of condom (one studded, one ribbed, etc.) and 3.) each of the condoms have moustaches.

    But seriously, the video rules.

  41. By the way, not to be rude or too personal, how did you find out about this hilarious ad? But I am glad you shared it with all of us!!

    Not rude or personal at all, but thank you for the adorable prefacing. How did I find this? One of you put it on the News Tab, while another personally emailed me! See why I love you mutineers? I got the hook up (holla if you hear me…ughhhh). 😉

  42. I laughed so hard when I saw that. Now imagine this type of PSA shown in the North. Or even in other countries. This holds no punches, which in the age of HIV and AIDS is needed.

  44. …about time those hornball Telegus got some sage advice about their promiscuity…. 😉

    PS…Anna, did you quote “Master P”??…say it ain’t so…

  45. PS…Anna, did you quote “Master P”??…say it ain’t so…

    So. 🙂 No one notices my music refs (no one who cares to comment, at least) so they’ve gotten progressively wackier.

  46. That still does not make it right… next thing you know you’ll be robbing a jool’ree store and telling them to make you a grill…either that or hanging out with Shar Jackson and teaching her the “Souljah Boy” dance…

    …y’know, now that I think about it, show Shar (and all of K. Fed’s conquests) that video and show that there is actual defense against Kevin Federline’s uber-potent….’swim-boys’….

    hooray for subtitles…

    -The Prime Minister Sinister Pete Nice

  47. damn, that song goes on forever. it’s like 10 coituses long.

    as for the doggy gay cross sectional illustrations, why is the inserted tickle-tackle all pink?

  49. damn, that song goes on forever. it’s like 10 coituses long.

    The song is like, 7 minutes long. Would that challenge Missy Elliott to downgrade her song to needing no “45 second man”?

  50. Quite a ‘folk music’ feel to it, not too sure how open to discussion rural audiences are, but no effigies or APSRTC buses have been burnt, so I guess people are more understanding with no involvement of politicians. Imagine this being a govt. sponsored ad – accusations will range from “insult-to-culture” to “promoting-gay-sex” and all crap one can think of, also not sure if the are showing this on television, but the primary audience is most probably rural Andhra Pradesh.

    Kudos to the makers, actors and the uploaders….

    —

    indianoguy,

    39 can speak Telugu, didn’t claim he/she can spell it 🙂

    Amitabh@11,

    badass language sure 🙂 , but phonetically, Niccolò Da Conti termed it the “Italian of the east”

    —