Among the many skills and qualities that make us ready for life, generosity and compassion are the two virtues that make our lives worthwhile, says Hindustan Unilever’s detergent brand Surf Excel in a new tear-jerking digital ad. Conceptualised by Lowe Lintas Mumbai, the ad is an extension of the ‘Daag Acche Hain’ or ‘Dirt is Good’ global theme.
The film is a narrative of how a mother urges on her son to pursue his passion for football; how despite initial disappointments, the son (Atharva) perseveres and finally gets selected in the local team. As a reward, he requests his mother for a pair of football shoes. The gift gives wings to his dreams and there is no stopping him now.
Moved by her son’s determination, the mother decides to motivate him by paying a surprise visit during one of the matches. However, once there, she finds out that Atharva is not in the team. Instead, he sits cheering for his friend Suraj who is on the grounds playing football in the pair of shoes that she (the mother) had gifted him (Atharva). The confused lady questions her son, who replies that since Suraj cannot afford to buy football shoes, he had to help him. He reveals how he would go to the grounds every day, give his shoes to Suraj for the practice sessions, smear himself in dirt, and return home. The proud mother hugs her son, while the ad ends with a voiceover that says, “My son is #ReadyForLife”.
