Overview
Bigg Boss Malayalam is an Indian Malayalam-language reality television show that airs on the Asianet channel. It is the Malayalam version of the international Big Brother franchise and a regional adaptation of the Hindi Bigg Boss. In the show, a group of contestants (referred to as "housemates") live together in a purpose-built house, isolated from the outside world, and are continuously monitored by cameras. Housemates are progressively eliminated through a combination of nominations and audience voting, with the last remaining contestant declared the winner.
Key facts
| Name | Bigg Boss Malayalam |
|---|---|
| Format | Reality television, game show |
| Based on | Big Brother (Endemol Shine) |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Network | Asianet |
| Streaming | Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar |
| Host | Mohanlal |
| Country | India |
| Original release | 2018 – present |
Background
The Bigg Boss franchise originated in India with the Hindi version in 2006, itself derived from the Dutch reality format Big Brother created by John de Mol. Following the success of versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali, Asianet launched the Malayalam version in 2018 to serve the Kerala television market and the wider Malayali diaspora.
The show has been hosted since its debut by film actor Mohanlal, one of the most prominent figures in Malayalam cinema. He typically appears during weekend episodes to interact with housemates, conduct evictions and discuss events of the week.
Format
Contestants—usually a mix of actors, television personalities, social media influencers, models, and people from non-entertainment backgrounds—are confined to the Bigg Boss house for the duration of the season, which generally runs for around 100 days. Common elements of the format include:
- Tasks: Weekly and daily tasks set by the unseen "Bigg Boss" voice, which determine captaincy, luxury budgets, and immunity.
- Nominations: Housemates nominate fellow contestants for eviction each week.
- Public voting: Viewers vote to save nominated contestants through SMS and the streaming app.
- Captaincy: A weekly captain is chosen, often holding immunity from nominations.
- Wild card entries: Additional contestants enter mid-season to alter house dynamics.
- Weekend episodes: Hosted by Mohanlal, featuring eliminations and reviews.
Production and broadcast
The Bigg Boss Malayalam house has been constructed at locations including EVP Film City in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where several South Indian versions of the franchise have been filmed. Episodes air daily on Asianet, with simultaneous and on-demand streaming on the Disney+ Hotstar platform (rebranded as JioHotstar following the Reliance–Disney media merger).
Seasons
The show has aired multiple seasons since its launch in 2018. The first season was disrupted in 2018 due to controversies and later by the Kerala floods. Subsequent seasons have followed an annual or near-annual schedule, with Mohanlal continuing as host. Each season typically features around 17–20 initial contestants drawn from film, television, music, and social media.
Reception and significance
Bigg Boss Malayalam has consistently ranked among the highest-rated Malayalam television programmes during its broadcast windows, drawing large audiences in Kerala and among Malayali viewers in the Gulf region. The show has served as a launchpad for several contestants who have moved into film and television careers after their stints in the house.
Like other versions of the franchise, the Malayalam edition has attracted public debate over its content, on-screen conduct of contestants, and concerns about depictions of conflict and confinement. It has occasionally faced petitions and complaints before regulatory and judicial bodies regarding broadcast standards.
Controversies
The show has, on multiple occasions, been the subject of complaints to the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting concerning content suitability. Individual seasons have also seen housemates ejected by the production for rule violations such as physical aggression.
Related topics
- Bigg Boss
- Asianet
- Mohanlal
- Malayalam television
- Big Brother franchise
- Bigg Boss Tamil
- Bigg Boss Telugu
- Bigg Boss Kannada
- Disney+ Hotstar
- Reality television in India
References
- Asianet — official broadcaster information.
- Disney+ Hotstar / JioHotstar — official streaming pages for Bigg Boss Malayalam.
- Endemol Shine Group — Big Brother format documentation.