Holi, the festival of colors is just around the corner. Just like every occasion of such importance, a company sought to incorporate the Holi theme into their advertisements. Hindustan Unilever Ltd. came up with an advertisement for their detergent product, Surf Excel. But in its bid to spread joy and harmony, the ad seems to have done the complete opposite of that. The ad has left many on social media in complete outrage. Wondering what it is all about?
Well, the advertisement in question shows a few kids playing Holi with colorful balloons and water in their colony. Suddenly a little girl appears and challenges all her peers to throw balloons at her. She waits it out till they all run out of the balloons and colors. Then what happens?
As soon as the kids are out of Holi ammunition, the little girl calls out her little Muslim friend. She then escorts him off to the mosque for prayer. The ad on paper sounds quite simple, but the emotions people experiencing after watching it are hardly simple. Before proceeding any further, let’s have a look at the ad in question.
This advertisement led to a flurry of mixed reactions from the Twitterati. While some were defending the message, many others were not buying even the tiniest bit of it. This is what some of the reactions went like:
Such a beautiful ad. Watched it 10 times, left me smiling EVERY SINGLE TIME. Depicts India through the eyes of innocent/naughty/lovely kids 😍 Touched. Why attack #SurfExcel ? Why look for conspiracies everywhere? 🤔 https://t.co/6Iz5Ml92QT
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) March 10, 2019
“Tolerance” for bigotry is bigotry
That ad uses the word “daag” to equate the colours of Holi with filth.
Clearly, you have no love or compassion for the Hindu community.
“Tolerance” for bigotry is bigotry.
We Hindus won’t be shamed into tolerating your brazen bigotry.https://t.co/TbBMZc1AGR— NeonKashmir (@NeonKashmir) March 10, 2019
This advertisement is contradictory to Surf Excel’s tag line
Actually the ad is contradictory to their daag acche hai… I am sure all sickular might is behind this idea.. i dont buy surf excel anyway now i feel happy i never wastes money on them
— ரேவா। रेवा 🇮🇳 (@jinxed_reva) March 11, 2019
This Surf Excel commercial is brave
Proud to have been a part of the #SurfExcel Holi commercial. An amazing and a brave team behind this!
Unfortunately to convey compassion, tolerance and love one needs to be brave these days.
— Vasan 🅱🅰L🅰 (@Vasan_Bala) March 10, 2019
It isn’t brave by any stretch of the imagination
Utter BS! Showing Hindu kids as hooligans playing Holi and a doodh se bhi dula Muslim kid as peaceful is by no stretch of imagination is “brave”. If you are not a fattu, show a Muslim kid saving a Hindu kid from morning azaan noise or show a muslim kid saving a goat.
— Keel (@keel1616) March 11, 2019
Apparently being brave means showing half the truth
Unfortunately, being brave these days means to show half truth as the complete picture is painful to digest.
— Anshul Choudhary (@anshulheaven) March 10, 2019
Lamest way to promote communal harmony
All told (and feel free to call me a Bhakt or a sanghi, for what else can you do?), it’s one if the silliest ads I’ve seen, a lame as hell attempt to promote communal harmony..!! Wake up, guys!!
— Harish Puri 🇮🇳 (@harishbpuri) March 11, 2019
One-sided preaching is not brave
One side preaching.
One side interference.
Only take on One religionIS NOT BRAVE.
BRAVE IS TAKE ON OTHER religions and you know the result, no head on shoulder.Get Real.
— ABoni (@ABoni8) March 10, 2019
All communities should partake in secularism
Nope, That’s what I am trying to say that why all the time secularism is only for #Hindus . Let other community come forward to show their humanity. Let’s break the chain and stop hatered.
— राजा साहब (@haramihum) March 11, 2019
Brilliant ad! Don’t understand what the hate is all about
Well done 👏 it’s a brilliant ad.. why so much hatered for their ad cos I remb growing up this was normal ..perhaps things have changed now !
— Ash Shaikh Tailor (@shaikh_tailor) March 10, 2019
Well, the Twitterati sure seems divided in their opinions on the matter and is torn by the subject of the content. Which side do you agree with? Or do you have a whole new take on it? Leave a comment below to let us know.
