Mcdonald’s Pakistan’s latest ad, featuring Mansha Pasha, is all about gratitude and not losing hope in difficult times. The #LetHopesRise hashtag reveals the significance of gratefulness and how one can go out of their way to bring a smile on someone’s face and make their day!
In uncertain times when COVID has brought everyone’s lives to a halt, disrupted routines, dismantled the ‘way of life’ that we knew existed and forced us to live a ‘new normal’- a refreshing and cheerful advertisement like this one is bound to bring a smile on your face.
Children are the ones who have been most affected and overwhelmed by the current pandemic. Kids, who love to play and mingle outdoors have been shut inside homes for about five months now; unable to comprehend what exactly happened that led to a ‘lockdown’ and the world being shut down, these kids have been confused and disappointed all this time. And parents have been helpless because their safety comes first- this is exactly what this ad sheds light on.
The ad showcases a doctor mother (played by Mansha Pasha), driving into a Mcdonald’s Drive Thru, worried about her daughter Zara’s upcoming birthday and how they won’t be able to celebrate the special occasion this year due to COVID restrictions.
While sanitizing her hands, she requests a Mcdonald’s staff member to wish her daughter on her birthday when she brings her along tomorrow.
The next day, the mother returns with Zara but fails to get a warm wish or a welcome – disappointed she takes her car further and waits with her daughter for her order to arrive.
Moments later, the entire Mcdonald’s Drive Thru staff gathers around their car with a cake, candles and balloons, cheerfully singing a sweet happy birthday song for Zara. Soon, there are a lot of people who drive by, smiling, singing, waving and wishing Zara on her special day. The ambience is filled with color, hope, love and joy.
The tagline reads; “When hope starts to fade away, only your loved ones come forward to revive it. McDonald’s #LetHopesRise” and that is what this ad is all about.
The commercial then ends with a voiceover that says:
“Jab kabhi khushion aur umeedon k rastay band honay lagtay hain, tab hi hamaray apne hamaray liye khushion ki nayi raahain aur naye rastay khol detay hain’ – “Mcdonald’s Umeedain Barhne Do”
This suggests that when you feel your hope and happiness is fading away, it is only your loved ones who open new doors to happiness and come forward to revive hope.
It is a lesson for all of us to go out of our ways and try to put a smile on someone’s face. Times are tough and each one of us is fighting our own battle. A little act of kindness, goes a long way.
Even though the ad delivers a great message, it has received mixed reviews. Some people find the ad a bit too impractical and unrealistic. Maybe if they had chosen better actors or music, the could have touched more hearts.
What do you think of this commercial? Let us know in the comments below.
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