Monkey-man of Delhi
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox mythical creature
The Monkey-man of Delhi, also known as the Face Scratcher or the Black Monkey, is an unknown anomaly which was reported to be roaming Delhi in mid-2001. The entire incident has been described as an example of mass hysteria in India.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
History
In May 2001, reports circulated in New Delhi, India concerning a monkey-like creature that attacked people at night.<ref>It's a man! It's a monkey! It's a...; by Onkar Singh in New Delhi; 18 May 2001; Rediff India. 'Monkey man' keeps Delhi awake again; 18 May 2001; Rediff India. . Also see [1], [2], [3]</ref> Eyewitness accounts were often inconsistent, but usually described the creature as about four feet (120 cm) tall,<ref name="TOI_26Jun2010_DesiTales_MonkeymanofDelhi">Template:Cite news</ref> covered in thick black hair, with a metal helmet, metal claws, glowing red eyes and three buttons on its chest. Some reports also claim that it wore roller-skates.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Others, however, described the Monkey-man as having a more vulpine snout, and being up to eight feet tall, and muscular; it would leap from building to building.Template:Citation needed
Over 350 sightings of the Monkey-man were reported, as well as around 60 resulting in injuries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Police released artist's sketches of eyewitness accounts in an attempt to catch the creature. Two (by some reports, three) people reportedly died when they fell from the tops of buildings or down stairwells in a panic caused when they thought they were under attack.<ref name="TOI_26Jun2010_DesiTales_MonkeymanofDelhi" />
In popular culture
Film
In the Tamil film Dhill (2001), a comic character named Ezhumalai (Mayilsamy) boards an all-women’s bus and flirts with a passenger, who turns out to be a plainclothes cop. As Ezhumalai is tackled by the cop, one of his associates, 'Megaserial' Mahadevan (Vivek), jokingly comments from outside: "He is that Delhi Monkey Man! Take him to the [police] station!".<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
The appearance of Monkey-man in Old Delhi is the centre-point of the Hindi film Delhi-6 (2009) directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. In the film, the creature is used as an allegory to represent the evil that resides inside every man alongside God (virtue).
Television
In 2012, the Hindi TV series Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein featured a story track around the mystery of "Kala Bandar" (Black Monkey).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Music
The Monkey-man is referenced in "Mysterious Man-Monkey", the 12th track in American cello rock band Rasputina's 2011 album Great American Gingerbread: Rasputina Rarities & Neglected Items.
Print media
In the 2011 graphic novel Munkeeman by Tere Bin Laden director Abhishek Sharma, the creature is interpreted as a misunderstood superhero, who was the result of a science experiment gone wrong. The first edition, Munkeeman Vol 1 chronicled the creatures brief appearance in Delhi, and the second edition will feature the creature in Kanpur, based on the incidents reported in February 2002.Template:Citationneeded