Hold on a minute! Has an ad ever screamed “Do Not Apply!” at you, then somehow made you want to apply even more?
Sony LIV’s latest commercial for Shark Tank India Season 5 just pulled off this brilliant, cheeky move.
It’s not your usual “come join the fun!” pitch.
Oh no, this ad paints a hilariously grim, yet painfully familiar, picture of corporate life, then dares you not to escape it.
It’s a clever, satirical way to make you think: “Am I building someone else’s dream, or should I finally build my own?”
Let’s dive into the deliciously witty, yet painfully accurate, world this ad paints.
The Ad’s Hilarious “Don’t Even Think About It!” Hook
If you want to learn what reverse psychology is, then just watch this ad.
The ad tells you not to apply, while making you feel that-
“I gotta apply”
The YouTube title even says;
Shark Tank India Season 5 | Registrations Now Open | Do Not Apply
But at the end of the video, you will be almost convinced to apply.
That’s reverse psychology for you!
The Ad
The ad opens by serving up a slice of corporate “reality” that’s so absurd, it’s brilliant.
It talks about folks in India who are “forced to see poverty from their 150 crore penthouse”.
“Wait, what?” you might think.
But yes, you heard that right.
Because, apparently, even these “poor” CEOs “still can’t afford a flat in Burj Khalifa” while we(the employees) are busy trying to make the “millionaire bosses” into “billionaire” status.
This immediate, over-the-top irony is designed to make you nod your head, smirk, and maybe even shed a tear of laughter.
The Great Corporate “Adventure”: Are You Just a Part in Someone Else’s Million-Dollar Machine?
The ad then takes you on a comical, yet shockingly real, tour of today’s workplace problems.
It highlights that in the “past 5 years, quite a few employees have left their jobs to start their own startups”.
Good for them! But for those “bosses” of the companies? They are facing problems.
The ad shows these problems:
- “Profits are really down” for the company, naturally.
- Workload? Oh, it’s “increased so much” because, well, the “lead engineer” decided to go build their own dream (becoming CEO), leaving them to “come to the office daily, even sharing space” (in that helicopter)
- And personal life? Hobbies? Forget about it! One poor CEO in the ad even complains that their “golfing has become difficult since the project manager quit, as he used to hold the kit”.
It feels like “the roof has been snatched from their head”. Ouch.
And what’s the takeaway from all this?
The ad’s cynical voice-over cheerfully suggests: “Please work overtime”.
Yes, dear worker, “sacrifice your personal life, hobbies, and startup dreams”.
Why? To put in a glorious “70 hours” for your bosses.
Because, as the ad so helpfully explains, this intense dedication is precisely how your “millionaire bosses can become billionaires”.
And the cherry on top of this delightful corporate experience?
Keep it up “at least until AI replaces you”.
It’s a brutal, yet hilarious, smack-in-the-face commentary on the current corporate treadmill.
The Actual Message:
Stop Building Their Dream, Start Building Yours!
But here’s the stroke of genius in this ad.
Despite all the sarcasm and the “do not apply” warnings, the real, undeniable message is screaming loud and clear.
The ad practically winks at you when it says: “Do not go to Shark Tank India at all, because there you build your own business, not your boss’s”.
This isn’t a warning; it’s a brilliant wake-up call that uses reverse psychology.
It’s a cheeky invitation to finally light that entrepreneurial fire that’s been flickering under the corporate weight.
If you’re tired of being told to work “70 hours” so someone else can get richer,
if your “startup dreams” are collecting dust, then maybe, just maybe, it’s time to consider a different, bolder path.
Shark Tank India Season 5
The ad indirectly tries to tell you that Shark Tank isn’t just a show; it’s a chance to:
- Build Your Own Empire: It’s the place to create “your own business”.
- Escape the Rat Race: Say goodbye to helping someone else hit their next “billionaire” milestone.
- Fulfil Your Startup Dreams: Stop sacrificing them and start making them real.
So, yes, the ad sarcastically warns you to “not register by mistake for Shark India Season 5” and declares, “registrations are open but don’t register”.
But we know better, don’t we?
This is your giant, satirical nudge to take control of your own future.
Don’t wait for AI to take your job while your bosses are counting their billions.
Instead, channel that corporate grind energy into something that actually benefits you.
Your business, your rules, your success.
It’s time to “don’t apply” and register for Shark Tank India Season 5 to turn those entrepreneurial dreams into a dazzling reality!
It’s airing on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
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