Home salon service brand Yes Madam has taken a bold stance against Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial statement advocating a 90-hour workweek. The brand launched a satirical campaign featuring veteran actor Dalip Tahil and popular Korean influencers, JinJung Brothers, to highlight the absurdity of the statement in a humorous yet impactful way.
Dalip Tahil as Subrahmanyan-Inspired Corporate Boss
In the ad, Dalip Tahil portrays a corporate leader inspired by SN Subrahmanyan. He confidently boasts to his Korean clients about his employees’ extreme dedication, only to find that the conference room is empty—because it’s Sunday and no one is responding to work calls.
Taking Subrahmanyan’s statement further, Tahil’s character exaggerates, claiming his employees work 190 hours a week. This clever satire underscores the unrealistic expectations placed on employees in today’s corporate world.
Korean Influencers JinJung Brothers Add to the Humor
The campaign also features Korean influencers Jin Hyun Lim and Jung Inwook (JinJung Brothers), known for their Indo-Korean content. In a lighthearted moment, Tahil’s character compliments one of the Korean executives for his youthful skin, to which the executive humorously responds in Korean, “With my skin, no one can identify my age.”
The Ultimate Clapback: Free ‘Korean Glow-Up Cleanup’ Offer
The ad takes a final jab by offering 500 free ‘Korean Glow-Up Cleanups’, suggesting that since it’s Sunday, employees must be at home staring at their wives—a direct reference to Subrahmanyan’s much-criticized remark: “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?”
Social Media Backlash Against L&T Chairman’s Statement
SN Subrahmanyan’s comments from an internal meeting quickly went viral, sparking widespread criticism on social media. His statements such as:
- “Come on, get to the office on Sunday and start working.”
- “How long will you stare at your wife?”
- “If you want to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week.”
were deemed outdated and tone-deaf, drawing backlash from corporate professionals and netizens alike.
Not the First Time: Wakefit’s Viral Response
Yes Madam isn’t the first brand to satirize Subrahmanyan’s remarks. Wakefit, a sleep solutions company, previously released an ad featuring the viral song ‘Sunday Morning Love You’ by Bhim Niroula. In the ad, a workaholic husband, obsessed with his job, ignores his wife until she demands to know “Who will love me on Sundays?”, leading to a humorous slapstick moment where he responds, “How long can I stare at you?”
Also Read: Britannia Launches Limited-Edition Harry Potter-Themed Pure Magic Choco Frames
Yes Madam’s Controversial Marketing Stunt
Interestingly, this campaign follows another recent controversy surrounding Yes Madam. The brand faced backlash over a marketing stunt, where it initially appeared to offer free services for employees struggling with workplace stress, only for it to later be revealed as a promotional effort aimed at spreading mental health awareness.
Conclusion
Yes Madam’s latest campaign proves that brands are increasingly willing to use satire and humor to take a stand on corporate work culture issues. By cleverly addressing a controversial statement and engaging popular cultural influencers, the campaign has sparked engagement, conversation, and laughter—all while promoting its Korean Glow-Up Cleanup offer.
