On the border

I am sure most of you in India would have watched this Bharati Airtel advert. Personally I do not know anything about Airtel other than the fact that it is a mobile telephone company in India, but this ad is far out…

Set in the Middle East (Morocco as I understand), it has music, I believe, scored by AR Rahman. Watch it, turn up the volume and you will realize the beauty and warmth of the ad.




Which takes you back to the famous award winning 16 minute short movie ‘
The Little Terrorist” that came out some time back..If you have not seen it, watch it, better still check out the full quality DVD that is available in stores ...



Broken projector provides a detailed review and a synopsis.

Little Terrorist tells the moving story of a Pakistani Muslim boy who accidentally crosses the Pakistani-Indian border which is riddled with landmines. He ends up in a strange country that regards him as a terrorist. The old orthodox Hindu Bhola takes him in and hides him from the Indian soldiers. However, traditions and prejudices about Muslims remain an obstacle in the relationship between Bhola and the boy. Ultimately, humanity triumphs over prejudice when Bhola risks his own life to help Jamal cross the border again. This symbolic story of hope is a tale of human solidarity conquering all artificial boundaries.
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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi- thanks for the link, I'm glad you enjoyed my piece on 'Little Terrorist'. I've also done an interview with the director of the film if you're interested.

Pradeep Nair said...

No doubt, one of the best ads i have seen. Quite topical, powerful. Airtel is known for its good ads.

Lubna said...

Hi Maddy,
I was searching for another Maddy's blog. Found yours. Well, am hooked and will visit again. Yes lovely Airtel ad, I was wondering where it was shot.
Best wishes for the year.
Lubna

Anonymous said...

Hi Maddy,

This was/is one ad which had captureed by attention recently. But I never knew that the music was scored by A.R.Thanks for the info. The ad is full of soul and the music adds more life to it. Will look up for Little Terrorist.

Hari

Happy Kitten said...

Yes the music is great, so is the ad.. not a Rahman fan though..

They have the same music in another ad too...

harimohan said...

one more good post

Maddy said...

Gautam - Thanks, that was a good write up...Lubna - Nice of you to drop by, keep visiting..Thanks pradeep
Ah! Hari - see that movie you will like it!!
HK - Many more great ad's that have been aired recently...like the howell ad where the kid makes a 'pakkad' for his mom...

Anonymous said...

Hi Maddy,

Yeah the Havell add is laos great though the canvass has shrunk to the personal emotive level. The mother nad her plight and her look is haunting me. Such an expressive face and her eyes conveys the full angst, despair and hope (let my son grow). Did you see the Abhishek ad, where humans are reduced to numbers. It actaually pints to the actau scenariod where we all will be numbers (without any other identity). Reminds you of Kafaka, right? or Anand with his novel "Maranananthara certificate".

Hari

Maddy said...

hari..
the howell ad is great but for the punch line that their cables do not burn. it is a building standard that everybody hv to adhere to and not a feature, so why tout it?? yes, the woman's face is evocative and the boy actions are equally good..

no i will check around for the abishek ad...