This ad about celebrating Eid abroad will make you teary-eyed

Published June 24, 2015
Shan Foods new ad shows a touching concept  —Screen grab
Shan Foods new ad shows a touching concept —Screen grab

Shan Foods has managed to do it yet again — in their latest television commercial, which is being dubbed the best Pakistani ad ever, the brand has managed to encapsulate the brand values they hold so dear and tug at heartstrings globally.

Don't say we didn't warn you to grab a tissue!

The three minute long commercial that has gone viral on social media tells the story of two brothers, living away from home and missing it terribly during Eid. It starts off with the younger brother, who looks an awful lot like a young Shahrukh Khan, tearing up and telling his elder brother how he misses home and his Ami's food.

The elder brother then sets out to give him a little taste of home, miles away from home in what appears to be San Francisco. He heads to the local grocery store there, picks up fresh produce, coupled with Shan masalas and attempts to cook a scrumptious meal fit for Eid.

When the younger one comes one, he's surprised to find a home cooked dinner and his parents on Skype chat on the dinner table.

Who wouldn't want to come home to this?
Who wouldn't want to come home to this?

One of the few Pakistani brands that are available almost everywhere in the world, anyone who moved away at any point in time and had to live without Mom's cooking knows how these masalas are lifesavers.

As opposed to a typical storyline revolving around a husband and wife, shot around the standard dinner table, the ad touches on the very real but often overlooked struggle of Pakistanis living abroad.

No celebrities, no grand dance sequences - the touching concept will resonate well with those living away from home, as well as Pakistanis who have friends and family abroad.

A marketing rep from the food spice mix company says: "The idea was to create emotional appeal and I think that has been successfully achieved. People not living in the country anymore are particularly moved by the ad because the bulk of our online views are coming from various different counties, not just Pakistan."

Paired with impeccably timed music and visually enticing production value, this one by Shan Foods is a real winner.

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