What happens when a soap, the Tata Group, and Indian trucks’ favourite phase ‘Horn OK Please’ allegedly walk into a bar? Wild internet theories crop up.

Have you ever wondered why several Indian trucks have this phrase on the back? Well, the Tata Group might be behind it. 

The theory suggests that since the Tatas had a near monopoly on early trucks, they used it to advertise their soap brand “OK”. While the soap brand may have never met its desired destination, if the theory is right, the Tatas succeeded in embedding the "OK" on India’s highways and cultural lore.

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The history of the soap is also no less impressive. Produced by the Tata Oil Mills Company, it was the first Swadeshi soap brand. It was launched in the 1930s and at the time, Lifebuoy dominated the market.

Initially, OK soap is said to have managed to make some dent in Lifebuoy's market share, but could not sustain this as Lifebuoy quickly repositioned itself, shifting its focus from affordability to hygiene and launching new variants. Despite this, OK soap's advertising was popular. Its jingle promised that one would bloom like a lotus after showering with OK soap and emphasised its large size.

However, none of it worked.

Eventually, the Tatas also sold the Tata Oil Mills Company to Hindustan Lever, now Hindustan Unilever in the 1990s.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.