‘Pihu’ Sent for Guinness Book; Gets Flak for Cruel Marketing Ploy

How far is too far when it comes to movie marketing?

What do you do when you get a call from an unknown number, and pick up to hear the voice of wailing child asking for help?

Call back? Dial emergency helplines?

Several people were left with similar helplessness and confusion when they got call from a girl named Pihu, which turned out be just a movie marketing ploy.

Got a call from an anonymous number. A baby wailed about her mother and dad, and hung up. Disturbed, I tried calling back in vain. Got a message with a link to help the child. A link, as it turns out, of #Pihu's trailer. A horrible idea, a disgusting invasion of privacy.

— Sudhir Srinivasan (@sudhirsrinivasn) October 26, 2018

I just got a call from a child named Pihu who wanted desperate help. No. was 7024720657. THIS KIND OF MOVIE PROMOTION IS DISGUSTING TO SAY THE LEAST.

— Karan Bhardwaj (@journokaran) October 26, 2018

Got a call from an anonymous number. A baby was asking about her mother and dad, and hung up. Disturbed, I called back, heard recorded message to watch Pihu on 16th November. A horrible idea

— Ajay Lodha (@ispastwadi) October 27, 2018

Naturally, the knowledge that this was just a ‘promotional gimmick’ left several enraged and shortchanged.

What sort of marketing strategy involves traumatizing phone calls from a wailing 2 year old? My parents woke up to it and lost their mind.
Idiots. #Pihu

— Manisha Raghavan (@pareshansoul) October 27, 2018

I loved the trailer of Pihu, but like calling people up from an unknown number as a part of a movie promotional strategy is fucking annoying. Especially when the phone call is of a baby crying for her parents. Movie marketing has reached absurd levels.

— HARSHIT KUMAR (@Harshit_PBJ) October 28, 2018

Did I just get a call from a hysterical child called Pihu asking for help ???? And this is a film promotion? The no is 7024820657 totally disgusting. I am so traumatised

— Chuman Das (@chumandas) October 26, 2018

Jeez, the #Pihu trailer is nerve-wracking. Such a simple yet emotionally-investable storyline. Making prank phone calls about a child in danger to promote the #movie, however, is a dumb & insensitive marketing campaign. It's like punching people in the face to sell painkillers.

— christy bharath (@verseherder) October 27, 2018

Pihu trailer. Rather manipulative. Could not bear to watch it. Followed up with a marketing gimmick about a child making a distress call. Hugely irresponsible given the times we live in.

— Chandrima Pal (@captainblubear) October 27, 2018

I loved the trailer of Pihu, but like calling people up from an unknown number as a part of a movie promotional strategy is fucking annoying. Especially when the phone call is of a baby crying for her parents. Movie marketing has reached absurd levels.

— Shreemi Verma (@shreemiverma) October 26, 2018

Piss-poor marketing strategy though. Not sure who they think is going to be attracted to see a movie with this theme, more so after the trailers and the tasteless phone calls/SMS #Pihu

— pythagorean_nematode (@average_joeshi) October 27, 2018

When the trailer released last week, it gripped the nation’s heart with its gut wrenching jump scares, and the two-year old child actor who plays the titular character ‘Pihu’.

In fact, this Vinod Kapri directed flick is being sent to the Guinness Book of World Record for featuring a two-year-old child actor in the film.

While casting a two year old in a thriller is no small fete, is it really okay to toy with the audiences’ emotions by playing a practical joke on them in the name of movie promotion?

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, Pihu is been slated for a November 16 release.