Despite all of the amazing things Bigg Boss Kannada is doing right now, though nothing comes close to the meteoric growth of the Bigg Boss Kannada player now synonymous as ‘Gilli.’ Known for his perfect comic timing and “property comedy” on comical television, Gilli entered the Bigg Boss house as a dark horse. But a few weeks later — he became a household name, with a massive following, no matter your age or station in life. Gilli’s following — from the masses to celebrity influencers — has reached fever pitch. His is a classic “grassroots to glory” story, and his supporters are hellbent on making sure he’s at the top and leaves with the prize as a token of his greatness.
Kotahalli: Do You Know Divine Prasada? A Victory?
In a moment that shows Gilli has developed a relationship with his supporters that is spiritual in nature, he visited the Shani Kshetra in Kotahalli this April and addressed their prayers for divine intervention. In some parts of Karnataka, the requesting of “Prasada,” a sign from the divinity, is an ancient practice: when devotees see a flower drop from a deity’s idol, they hold out hope of their desire to see them.
The temple priest prayed: “Mother, it is the earnest wish of millions that Gilli wins this season. Please give us a sign,” and a flower was supposedly dropped from the right side of the deity. To the people of this world, a flower falling from the right hand side signifies a "Yes" or a "Green Signal" from the sky. The divine symbol launched a chain reaction of messages across social media, encouraging fans to celebrate during the festival and declare Gilli’s victory on the way out.
The Numbers Game:
150,000 to 1 Million Gilli's popularity is so much more than just some faith; the numbers tell the story. His Instagram profile had only 150,000 followers before he came to the Bigg Boss house. Today, however, the figure is rapidly rising towards the 1 million mark. The increase is faster than any in history for a Bigg Boss Kannada contestant, demonstrating his great allure to a wider audience.
The Turning Point:
Unifying Against the Trio Gilli’s humour initially engaged the public but his determination to persevere and win them over upset the balance. Then things became worse when fellow contestants Ashwini and Janhvi allegedly picked on Rakshita without any good reason. Gilli had always been a very nice guy, and made another stand. His biting, snappy (or, for short, “stop-bullshit”-style) comments not only struck a chord with viewers but also entertained them with the humor employed to fight Ashwini and Janhvi.
He proved to his audience that, with his prowess on the comedy-front—property and otherwise—he’s also a guy of integrity, someone not afraid to get himself into an awkward situation if he feels an impending opportunity, and someone that isn’t too scared to speak up on behalf of his fellow contestants when they’re not getting away with it. It’s what distinguishes him as a leader: his ability to resolve conflict with humor and determination.
Final Thought: Will the People’s Choice Win?
With the hours till the last minute looming the "Gilli Wave" has not taken a beat. From his in-house “best sketches” to his confidence to be brave on the tasks, he has fulfilled everything a Bigg Boss champion must. And with a nudge from the “right-side flower” at Kotahalli to the top, and with a team of 1 million digital supporters in tow, Gilli’s path to the trophy is on course. His fans know — surely it will not be something they can shake hands with this year — that the crown will be thrown back at the one who was able to bring some laughter unto Karnataka when they needed it most.
