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Journalism of Courage
An old advertisement shown by MTV in 2020 resurfaced on the 76th Republic Day on Sunday. The thought-provoking ad asks young India to stop getting distracted from the “important questions”. The ad shows how an inquisitive young boy’s questions about India’s “greatness” are being ignored by his mother.
The ad opens with a young boy and his mother sitting together on a couch. As they converse, the boy starts asking a series of tough questions about India’s challenges. He wonders why his family is sending his sister to the United States if India is the “best” country. His mother does not answer. Next, he questions why so many people go abroad despite the country’s natural beauty. Again, he is met with silence.
Turning his attention to the newspaper, he wonders aloud why India, with some of the world’s best engineers, still has such bad roads. His mother responds by tearing the newspaper into pieces, turning them into paper planes, and flying them playfully around the room.
The boy’s curiosity continues as he asks about stacks of cash hidden in the cupboard, wondering if his father gave money to the police as a “thank you”. He asks why their house help has a separate glass to drink from and then follows up with: “Why are onions so expensive?”
Only when he asks about Bollywood, particularly Saif Ali Khan‘s son Taimur, does his mother finally acknowledge him. The ad concludes with the message: “Keep asking the important questions.”
Sharing the video on X, Prashant Bhushan, author and Supreme Court lawyer, wrote, “What an advertisement by MTV for our Republic Day!”
Watch here:
Several social media users hailed MTV for creating awareness on Republic Day. “When you ask question to those responsible for running your nation you do a bit of your duty,” a user wrote. “Absolutely fantastic and very informative,” another user commented.
“Each of the question raised in the ad (except the last one) can be used by politicians to make drastic changes in the country. Keep on asking questions,” a third user reacted.
