Breakthrough’s applauded Bell Bajao! Campaign against Domestic Violence has bagged the prestigious Silver Lion in the Film Category at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival 2010. The Silver Lion is India’s only win in the Film category out of the five shortlisted entries. The films have been created pro bono by Ogilvy & Mather, Mumbai [...]

In connection with my previous blog post, education is quite possibly the strongest force against any form of domestic violence. Recently reported in The Washington Times, Rekha Kalindi a little girl at the age of 13 years had the guts to go against her parents orders of her getting married at a young age. “My [...]

Among the five entries shortlisted from India for the Film Lions are two of the Bell Bajao ads! Creativeland Asia and Ogilvy India are the only two Indian agencies to have made it to the shortlist. Ogilvy has three nominations – one for Fevicol’s Golden Jubilee Celebration film; and the other two for Breakthrough Trust’s [...]

Men have always been taught to perceive themselves as the superior sex. It is this conditioning that makes them believe they have to control their wives, especially if they are considered disobedient. Domestic violence experts say the problem in India stems from a cultural bias against women who challenge their husband’s right to control their [...]

I was reading this interesting article in BBC news by Amarnath Tewary. Nikah Kumari, 19, is all set to get married in early June. The would-be groom is a state school teacher chosen by her father, Subhas Singh. Mr.Singh is a small-scale farmer with a meagre income, but he is not worried about the high [...]

Hindi cinema may be portraying women in more risqué clothing, but that doesn’t signify progress.  If anything, in their visual and story portrayal of women, most movies seem to be taking India backwards. First, is the actual casting. The British may have left India long ago, but the obsession with fairness and the idolization of [...]

India’s premier fashion portal is celebrating its 4th Anniversary, on 16th June at Sahara Star, helps Breakthrough, ring the bell with the fashion fraternity. The popular campaign “Bell Bajao” will be integrated into the event as India’s leading designers express their solidarity for the cause. Leading participating designers include: Narendra Kumar, Rocky S, Archana Kochhar, Neeta [...]

I didn’t ring the bell as per the social media nonprofit, Breakthrough’s great new domestic violence campaign, Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell), a film series by Bauddhayan Mukherji inspired by true stories of men who let other men know that they knew what was going on in their homes. But last night, I had to pick [...]

The Bell bajao ads made in August 2008 was an instant success with the public service advertisement (PSAs). Unlike most, these PSAs were addressed not to the abusers but to the common men. Domestic violence is no more a private affair. It urged men and boys to come forward and take a stand against domestic [...]