Google’s new television commercial in India which showcased how two childhood friends who had been separated during partition are reunited thanks to help with Google, has won many fans and gone viral on the net. The ad was first released exclusively on Firstpost and you can catch the details on how it was made here.
The ad has gone viral in just over two days when it was posted onto Google India’s YouTube channel and has crossed some 2.5 million views on YouTube. The ad showcases how Suman the grand-daughter of Baldev, who was forced to leave Lahore during the partition, helps her grand-father reunite with his childhood friend Yousuf with lots of help from Google. Suman and Yousuf’s grandson extensively use Google Search to make sure that the two grandparents and childhood friends are reunited. Google’s 3 and a half minute commercial was created by Ogilvy India.
It is a rather poignant ad with just the right hint of emotion to it. And as the comments on YouTube show the ad has been much appreciated by those who watched the video as well.
[caption id=“attachment_1233145” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Google’s ad is a big hit.[/caption]
One person wrote, This is something most of us can relate to.. Hats off to Google for coming up with such an awesome, touching ad around friendship between two lost friends in #India #Pakistan #peace #Hatsoff #google
Another comment says, “What a poignant narrative on the meaning of friendship post-partition. Beautiful–On repeat the entire day! #India #Pakistan #Storytelling #1947PartitionArchive Google Search.”
Google has also created a bunch of shorter ads and taken the storyline forward. One shows the two of them fighting over a cricket match decision, the other has them trying to find out what fennel is in Hindi. You can watch the entire series by clicking on Google Search India’s YouTube channel.