When I first saw the poster of Sai Ketan Rao’s upcoming music video, Haste Haste, I was happy to say that a TV lad is finally breaking through Bollywood because it was promoted as a film, not a music video.
See for yourself
Only later did I properly go through the trailer and media promotion did the penny drop that it was not a film but a music video.
I am certain that many Sai Ketan Rao fans, like myself, saw his potential and were hopeful for his success. He is a rare talent and certainly deserves a place in the Bollywood spotlight.
At a time when the industry is going through a deep image crisis, such PR stunts don’t help. Sadly, Sai will be left holding the sac as he is the main one staying in the promotion, which could potentially tarnish his image. Other artists, including singers, are not as widely known as Sai.
It would have been better had the makers Desi Tadka Music not used the word film which gives out the impression that it is a feature film. I know that technically, they are not wrong, as a music video is also a film still, it does not give out the exact format
The makers are trying to tell an entire story in video format. No wonder they have also released a teaser
It is crucial that the marketing of such projects is clear and transparent. In this case, a simple mention of ‘music video’ or ‘short film’ in the trailer would have avoided any confusion and kept the audience well-informed.