The dust hasn’t settled yet onto Bigg Boss Kannada Season 12’s epic finale, but the drama outside the house isn’t being so low-key either. The hero’s welcome of the season’s champion, Gilli Nata (Malavalli Nataraj) who came home to his childhood home, Mandya, is soon followed with acerbic attacks from his fellow contestant and second runner-up, Ashwini Gowda.
A Grand Homecoming in Mandya
Upon winning, for which he reportedly secured a record-breaking 37 crore votes, Gilli Nata sailed back to his birthplace and took to the streets at the sight of the same people who had backed him. So spectacular was it, all those thousands of supporters lining the streets waving flags and chanting his name, in support of the victory rally.
There was no escaping the people of Mandya, whether the local boy is the one who had the misfortune of coming from a background to fetch the game-winning trophy, a ₹50 lakh cash prize and a comfortable SUV? To Mandya’s people, Gilli’s win was one of individual achievement; proof that talent from tiny towns can crush the weighty stage.
Ashwini Gowda’s Allegations & U-Turn
But the celebratory mood was moderated by comments from Ashwini Gowda. Early on, right after the last minutes of the game, Ashwini had been generous enough to claim that “the right person has won.” But her attitude shifted sharply within 24 hours. After some comments in recent months she stirred a little controversy by calling into question the credibility of Gilli’s “common man” character.
“I truly believe that poor kids have to learn and succeed, as Dolly Dhananjay puts it,” Ashwini said. “But it doesn’t feel right when people are posing as poor to win. If someone wins through a ‘drama’ of poverty, I can not accept that as a fair victory.”
From a gameplay standpoint, not only Gilli Nata used his humble starting point as pawn to collect sympathy votes, but just as a gameplay factor.
Gilli Nata’s Calm Response
Gilli Nata's cool head, as he was accused of committing such crimes at his rally, kept him the fan favorite in the house. Instead of his angry response, he said that it only left him more puzzled in regards to the statement that Ashwini was willing to make. “‘I have never said anything at all near the level of being ‘extremely poor’ or destitute,” Gilli said. He was surprised to hear that, though. “No! That Ashwini would say is just such a surprise. She usually does not say this most of the time. 'I really don't find it hard for me to believe she feels this way: We had a good relationship within the house. '
Right now he also said. 'He now cares more about the public's love. 'I'm surprised to see the popularity that I perceive today. I am feeling happy and surprised. I’d rather believe that with my own eyes,” he said, echoing his lifelong philosophy of ‘verify before you believe.’
The Legacy of Season 12
Even though Ashwini’s supporters say it was her “class and activism” that landed her on TV with the show, Gilli’s own Big “Gilli Army,” insists that it was his “awesome wit, humor and relatability” that truly propelled him to achieve success through his humor and style. The fallout this week as Gilli Nata prepares for a bigger film role (he’s already had parts in works like The Devil) stands as yet another haunting reminder that Bigg Boss never truly ends when the cameras stop rolling.
