'You may not see him, but he’s watching over you...'
Apoorva Vijaykumar (@apoorva_vijaykumar on Instagram) always knew how much her grandmother, her dear "Ammu," missed her late husband. So, on Ammu's birthday, she surprised her grieving grandma with an astonishing video featuring both her grandparents walking hand-in-hand — a testament to how love survives even beyond death, woven through lifelong memories and shared experiences. Vijaykumar posted the video on July 1, 2025, wishing her grandma a happy birthday, and since then, it has garnered over a million views online.
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Vijaykumar can never bring her deceased grandfather back to life, but she knew if she could make his presence felt, her grandmother would be the happiest. So, to execute her birthday present, she turned to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and created a video using her grandparents' pictures. Vijaykumar used PixVerse AI, an AI-powered video generator, to transform the still collage into a heartwarming video. When Vijaykumar and her parents played the clip in front of Ammu, she was thrilled as a wide smile covered her face. But moments later, she broke into uncontrollable tears as overwhelming emotions took over. Vijaykumar immediately took her in a warm hug, and in that very moment, you could feel the eternal love Ammu, her grandma, had for her husband, and vice versa.
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"Happy Birthday, Ammu! I know living without Appupan has been hard," Vijaykumar began, before explaining why she decided to make that video for her grandma. She wrote in the caption, "I made this to remind you… He’s still here — in every quiet moment, in every little joy." Moreover, she assured Ammu that her husband is still watching over her from heaven. Despite his physical absence, Vijaykumar said that her grandpa is still walking right beside Ammu and is protecting her like always. Vijaykumar's grandma had accepted that she would never be able to meet her husband, but in those seconds while watching the video, she felt the closest she could ever be to him after his demise. There isn't anything easy about losing a partner, especially for elderly couples who have shared so many years, building a life together.
In fact, the American Psychological Association claims that the first year of widowhood leads to physical and mental issues in women, like depression. Likewise, research from the University of Gothenburg discovered that a widower who is still single after losing his wife is more likely to develop mental disorders. “All of this can cause a physiologic response with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and also can cause changes that make blood a little bit more sticky. This can increase the risk of having a heart attack. For at least a month, the risk remains elevated and likely stays up even longer," Dr. Murray Mittleman shared with Amada Senior Care. When Vijaykumar shared the oh-so-beautiful moment on Instagram, she received an outpouring of love from people. For instance, @ijassdontcare commented, "The void remains forever; love never comes back. The person is gone, but the weight of the feeling lingers. Is there anything in this world more beautiful & terrifying than attachment?"
Echoing the sentiments, @kitchennclosets said, "Aww! This made me so, so emotional. I am missing my dada and dadi (grandma and grandpa) so much after watching the video. A big, big hug to your dadi; grandparents are precious!" On the other hand, @binitbarmanv wrote, "When Aaita (Vijaykumar's grandmother) cried, my eyes got teary automatically. Aaita is beautiful, and her innocence is sparkling hard." @faizal___faizi confessed, "This is the most beautiful AI video I have ever seen."
You can follow Apoorva Vijaykumar (@apoorva_vijaykumar) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.