WhatsApp ad on chef moving to Bengaluru and overcoming language barrier wins hearts
Social media is all praise for a new WhatsApp ad which showcases a young chef’s journey to integrate into Bengaluru’s local culture through food and language.
In the wake of a controversial Karnataka bill proposing reservations for locals in the private sector and ensuing debates, a new WhatsApp advertisement has captured the attention of Bengaluru's public with its heart-warming narrative.
The ad’s emotional narrative, which showed locals to be tolerant, was praised online.
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The advertisement is created by BBDO India and directed by Shimit Amin. It tells the touching story of Ikbir, a young Sardar chef navigating his move to Bengaluru.
The advertisement begins with Ikbir arriving in Bengaluru, initially feeling out of place due to his struggles with the local language and culture. Inspired by his mother’s advice, he decides to use his culinary skills as a bridge to connect with his new colleagues. His preparation of Bisi Bele Bath, a traditional Kannada dish, serves as his first step towards integration.
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Karthik Srinivasan, a communications professional known on social media by his blog - Beast of Traal - shared the advertisement on X, calling it “heart-warming”.
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Karthik Srinivasan, a communications professional known on social media by his blog - Beast of Traal - shared the advertisement on X, calling it “heart-warming”.
Ikbir is shown to be making a sincere effort to learn Kannada and embrace local customs, including Ugadi celebrations. Netizens were impressed with the fact that he makes a serious commitment in understanding and appreciating the local culture rather than expecting locals to adapt to his language and customs.
“The locals are not shown to be intolerant. They bond among themselves, but they also make an attempt to get Ikbir to feel welcome (asking the chat group to keep the conversation in English) once they understand that he is making an honest effort to adapt,” Srinivasan's post read.
He also went on to critique the advertisement, saying that the connection between Ikbir's story and WhatsApp’s features “fell short”. Watch the ad here:
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“Except 'Verified Business' (the 'Spoken Kannada' business handle), the other features don't seem to be explored adequately,” he wrote. Nonetheless, the emotional appeal and cultural sensitivity of the ad have resonated strongly with audiences.
“Heartwarming.. advertising shows aspirations.. well done..,” an X user posted.
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
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