Surf Excel’s latest advert talks of Hindu-Muslim unity during the colourful festival of Holi has run into trouble waters for being too nice allegedly ‘hurting the sentiments’ of some. The one-minute commercial titled Rang Laaye Sang (colours bring people together) shows a young Hindu girl who helps her Muslim friend reach the mosque without being drenched in Holi colours. The advertisement ends with the tagline, ‘agar kuch achha karne mein daag lag jaaye toh daag achhe hai’ (it’s okay if you get muddy while doing something good).
Conceived by Lowe Lintas Mumbai, the ad, which was posted on February 27, has more than 7 million views on YouTube. However, its message of peaceful co-existence has caused massive outrage from some fringe right-wing groups, who are calling for a boycott of Surf Excel as well as Hindustan Unilever products.
Some say it ‘targets’ Hindu festivals:
Hey @HUL_News , Your Surf excel Ad. is very disgusting.
I am boycotting your product.
Go to Hell . Why are you targeting Hindu Festival? Stop such type propoganda Have you courage to make such type Advertisement during “BakarEid”?? #SurfExcel pic.twitter.com/5PJz6DNyGl— तरसपालमान /Taras Pal Maan
Awakening INDIA
Awakening HINDU #BoycottSurfExcel #bycottSurfExcel #BoycottHindustanUnilever @ippatel#SurfExcel pic.twitter.com/0Jh56Vityt— Sʜᴇᴋʜᴀʀ Cʜᴀʜᴀʟ (#NamoAgain)™ (@shekharchahal) March 9, 2019
Some pledge to boycott Surf Excel
I am boycotting #SurfExcel from now and make sure none of my family members, relatives and friends use it. I would request every one to do so for hurting Hindu sentiments#BoycottSurfExcel pic.twitter.com/OzIRyhSo56
— Saagar Anand (@saagar_anand) March 9, 2019
Some felt it was promoting ‘Love Jihad’
@HUL_News Very bad taste .. i dare to show you in reverse position. Stop promoting Love jihad . #BoycottSurfExcel pic.twitter.com/bZkTlQ04KG
— Dhanesh Kanetkar (@drkanetkar) March 9, 2019
To @HUL_News, #Masjid is not required to offer Namaz as per Quran so this Holi read Namaz at home. No need to step out. Regarding #lovejihad propoganda start making reverse advertisement now. Lets see their tolerance when a burqa clad girl is playing holi #BoycottSurfExcel pic.twitter.com/sMjOOFl8jI
— PAYAL ROHATGI & Team (@Payal_Rohatgi) March 9, 2019
Some didn’t want to be told on how to play Holi
#HUL, You have no right to influence Hindus how to celebrate Holi and certainly donot need to taught us secularism. @PaulPolman ur #SurfExcel ad has hearts our sentiments just like the Kumbh ad.
Hence we support #BoycottHULproductsधर्म के बंधनों को तोडे
आओ सब मिलकर होली खेले! pic.twitter.com/0FgHbHpwrO— khemchand sharma (@SharmaKhemchand) March 10, 2019
But there were many who felt that the advertisement had nothing objectionable as it only talked about communal harmony. They also slammed the right-wing for spreading hate and intolerance among people.
I am buying 2 extra 2 kilo pack of #SurfExcel for reminding us that we are nice people. And live naturally in relative harmony. And, kids know no barriers, until they are taught.
It will last me 6 months. but it is worth it to defeat haters.— Harini Calamur (@calamur) March 10, 2019
This #SurfExcel ad celebrating friendship between a Muslim boy & presumably Hindu girl is being attacked by Sanghi haters who view it through the lens of their communal patriarchal sexualised anxieties of ‘love jihad’. Teach them a lesson in love, India! https://t.co/w4UajX6qBG
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) March 10, 2019
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
Such a beautiful ad which shows the beauty of Hinduism where a Hindu girl helps a muslim boy has been twisted into something to show that it is against hinduism.
They are kids ffs. Where is Love or Jihad here?? #SurfExcel pic.twitter.com/RliXD4Yjbn
— Raja Jinnah (@rajajinnah) March 10, 2019
Very well Said.. The ad was very cute.. I loved it..
Unfortunately #SurfExcel can only clean off dirt from the clothes.. But they can’t clean the filthy thots n mind of such pathetic fanatic ppl. As I always say our secularism is at threat. https://t.co/md73cbdC5P— Ria (@RiaRevealed) March 10, 2019
What an Advertisement …. With an Amazing message on #Holi by Surf Excel… My Salute to you .
Must watch n Do share … #HappyHoli #India
pic.twitter.com/VgymbEM6Se— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) March 5, 2019
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