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Gorilla Mascots Turn Protest Spectacles Into India’s New Gig Economy
Some people in India are earning money by wearing large inflatable gorilla costumes.
They dance at weddings, parties and sometimes protests.
In Calcutta, Aryan and Jacky run a cyber cafe and perform as gorillas on the side.
They bought their costume for ₹25,000 and practice dancing regularly.
The suit is hot and difficult to move in, but audiences often enjoy the performance.
Children may be frightened at first, then become curious and playful.
Several companies now provide gorilla performers in different parts of India.
The performers can earn about ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 for one event.
Gorilla-costumed performers have appeared at protests, university events and weddings across India.
Aryan Kumar Singh and Jacky Prasad Sah perform as gorillas at weddings around Calcutta.
They bought a costume from China for ₹25,000 and practiced dancing in it.
Gori Boy Events says it has completed more than 400 weddings since February.
Performers generally earn between ₹5,000 and ₹8,000 per event, depending on the city.
- Who
- Students, gig workers and event companies that provide gorilla-costumed performers.
- What
- A growing business involving gorilla costumes for dances, weddings, protests and other events.
- Where
- At events and protests in Calcutta, Delhi and several other Indian cities and states.
- When
- The trend has expanded during the past year, with some performers working regularly over the last six months.
- Why
- Event organizers and performers are responding to demand for unusual entertainment and flexible income opportunities.
Key facts
- Costume price
- Jacky Prasad Sah ordered a gorilla costume from China for ₹25,000.
- Per-event earnings
- Performers make approximately ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 per event, depending on the city.
- Gori Boy Events
- The Delhi-based company says it began in February and has completed more than 400 weddings.
- Naach Gorilla Naach
- Arjun Maan’s company has a team of 11 men and has performed at about 15 to 20 events.
- Calcutta performers
- Aryan Kumar Singh and Jacky Prasad Sah have performed at weddings across Calcutta and its suburbs for six months.
- Costume operation
- A battery-powered fan attached to the suit helps inflate it.
Quotes
Aryan Kumar Singh
A BCom student and gorilla performer from Jawpur, Calcutta
“I get bored out of my mind, filling forms and doing paperwork at the cyber cafe. When we get an invite for a gorilla dance, we have so much fun. In the next few months, I will order another mascot.”
telegraphindia.com
“Duniya content mangti hai. And we have the content they like. When I used to watch Hollywood films, I always thought a real-life gorilla would be great fun. And so here we are…”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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