Bigg Boss (Malayalam TV series)
Bigg Boss, a Malayalam-language television reality show in India, is part of the Bigg Boss franchise produced by Endemol Shine India. It airs on Asianet and streams on JioHotstar. It is based on the Dutch reality show Big Brother. Launched as part of Asianet's 25th-anniversary celebrations, the show has been hosted by Mohanlal since its inception. From Season 5 onwards, commoners selected from the public are also been featured as contestants.
Overview
The 'Bigg Boss' house
A bespoke Bigg Boss house is constructed for each season. For the initial season, the house was situated in Lonavala, Maharashtra, where the Hindi version of Bigg Boss typically takes place. Anticipating scheduling conflicts with other regional language editions, the house for seasons 2, 3, and 6 was established at EVP Film City in Chennai. For the 4th and 5th seasons, the house was located at Goregaon Film City. Following the conclusion of a season, the house is either retained for the next season and opened to the public as an attraction or completely dismantled. The seventh season introduced a new house built exclusively for the Malayalam version, thereby establishing a permanent location in Chennai.The house is meticulously furnished and decorated, featuring modern amenities and a spacious, communal bedroom accommodating all contestants. Commencing in the sixth season, a sumptuous private suite was added for the house captain and the newly implemented power team. The house also includes shared toiletries, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, and expansive gardens. Additionally, show-specific activity areas and a soundproof room with controlled access, known as the "confession room," are constructed within the house. In this room, housemates are summoned by Bigg Boss for nomination procedures and other interactive activities. Starting with season 4, a secret room equipped with a bed and other facilities was incorporated into the house. Selected evicted contestants might be retained in this room for a week or two before being reintroduced to the game.
The house is intentionally isolated from external influences, lacking television access, telephones, internet connectivity, clocks, and writing materials, adhering to the global Big Brother franchise guidelines.
Rules
While the complete ruleset has not been publicly disclosed, certain key regulations are evident. All housemates are required to communicate exclusively in Malayalam, with minimal English usage permitted. The house property, including electronic equipment and furnishings, must be treated with care and preserved in its original condition. Housemates are not allowed to leave the house premises without explicit permission. Daytime sleep is prohibited, and contestants are only permitted to rest when the house lights are extinguished at night. Alcohol is strictly forbidden, and housemates with smoking habits may only indulge in this activity within designated smoking areas. Physical aggression towards fellow housemates is strictly prohibited, and any violations of this rule will result in immediate elimination from the competition.Nomination
Nominations are a mandatory procedure typically conducted on the first day of the week. All housemates are required to participate unless otherwise instructed by Bigg Boss. Each housemate must nominate two other housemates for eviction. Housemates receiving the highest number of nomination votes will be placed on the nomination list for that week and face public voting via Disney+ Hotstar. On the weekend episode, the contestant with the lowest public votes will be evicted from the house. Additionally, the week's captain may directly nominate a housemate for eviction, or Bigg Boss may nominate a housemate for other reasons. Sometimes, the housemates may be nominated for other reasons, such as nomination by a person who has achieved special privileges, for breaking rules, or something else. If something very serious happens, a contestant may be evicted immediately. Housemates who have been granted immunity cannot be nominated by other contestants. Immunity is automatically bestowed upon the week's captain and can be earned by contestants through successful completion of specific tasks or secret missions assigned by Bigg Boss. In certain circumstances, the captain may make a contestant immune from nomination at Bigg Boss's discretion. Housemates are strictly prohibited from discussing nominations or the nomination process with one another.House captaincy
A captain is appointed each week by Bigg Boss through designated tasks or elected by the housemates. The captain enjoys enhanced privileges, including immunity from nomination for the week, exemption from task participation. During their captaincy week, the captain is exempt from the nomination process and possesses the authority to either nominate a housemate directly, grant immunity to a housemate, or rescue a nominated housemate, contingent upon Bigg Boss's directives. The captain's primary responsibility is to oversee the weekly task, ensuring that the conditions and stipulations are adhered to and the task is executed effectively to secure the 'luxury budget' for the following week. Additionally, captains are expected to monitor adherence to house rules and may impose penalties on housemates who violate these regulations.Broadcast
Bigg Boss Malayalam is aired on Asianet channel since its first season. Each weekday episode provides a recap of the previous day's events within the house. On weekends, the show features a comprehensive discussion between the host, Mohanlal, and the housemates, reviewing the week's highlights and culminating in a discussion about the upcoming elimination. Since Season 4, Bigg Boss has been available for live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar through a subscription. Additionally, viewers can stream episodes and participate in contestant elimination voting via the Disney+ Hotstar app.Controversies
Season 2
Second season contestant Rajith Kumar ejected from the show after attacking co-contestant Reshma by applying Chilli paste in her eyes during a task. This led to fans of Kumar posting on social media, defending him.Season 3
On Day 58, Wildcard entrants Sajina and Firoz Khan were expelled from the show for making inappropriate statements about women to engaging in ugly fights.Season 4
Fourth season contestant Dr Robin Radhakrishnan got expelled from the show after assaulting inmate Riyas.Season 5
- During a weekend episode, contestant Akhil Marar was reprimanded by Mohanlal for a humiliating comment he made about Madhu, who was lynched in Attapadi over accusations of stealing food. Marar apologized, and the issue was resolved.
- This season of the show was marked by another controversy involving contestant Aniyan Midhun. He shared a personal story about being in love with a lady soldier named Sana in the Indian Army. This narrative drew significant criticism from the audience, leading to him later apologizing for fabricating the story.
Season 6
- On Day 16, there was a physical altercation between contestants Asi Rocky and Sijo John, resulting in Rocky being ejected from the show.
- The Kerala High Court has stepped into the debate regarding the broadcast of violent scenes on the show. A panel of judges has instructed the central government to take immediate action on this matter.
- Season 5 winner Akhil Marar raised concerns when wildcard contestant Sibin left the Bigg Boss house citing health problems. Marar accused the medical team of potentially administering antidepressant drugs to a mentally stable contestant, with the alleged intention of rendering him unfit to compete. Additionally, Marar made broader allegations suggesting that the Bigg Boss team might have engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards female contestants in previous seasons. However, no evidence has surfaced to substantiate these claims, and the Bigg Boss team has not provided any clarification regarding these incidents.
Season 7
Shanavas’s Remarks About Contestants’ Dressing
The contestant Shanavas Shanu drew significant backlash for his comments about the clothing choices of fellow housemate Gizele Thakral.Shanavas publicly advised Gizele to “dress modestly,” claiming that presenting herself in a more conservative manner would help her win love and votes from the Malayali audience.
He also faced criticism for making covertly judgmental remarks, which many interpreted as slut-shaming. Netizens called him out for patriarchal attitudes, with some labeling him a “kulapurushan”.The remarks triggered a significant debate about gender norms, body autonomy, and conservative values being imposed on women within the premises of a reality show.
Homophobic Remarks Against Adhila and Noora
The wildcard entrants Lakshmi and Mastani faced strong public backlash for making discriminatory remarks about contestants Adhila and Noora, who are a same-sex couple.Lakshmi, during a weekly task, made comments perceived as derogatory towards the couple’s sexuality. The situation escalated further when her mother, during an interaction featured on the show, made additional remarks that viewers considered homophobic.
Shortly afterward, fellow wildcard entrant Mastani made similar statements, accusing the couple of "normalizing LGBTQ culture" and expressing openly hostile views toward their relationship.
Host Mohanlal addressed the issue on air and strongly condemned the remarks, stating that discriminatory or demeaning comments towards any community were unacceptable.
Allegations of Paid PR Campaigns and Vote Manipulation
Several media reports claimed that several contestants relied on paid public relations teams to influence public perception and online voting. It is reported that PR agencies allegedly offered services such as automated fake voting using old Android devices, trend manipulation, and large-scale online campaigning for significant fees.Former PR workers cited in the report claimed that vote-boosting packages costing several lakhs were openly sold, raising questions about the fairness of the competition and the authenticity of viewer voting.