Since its inception in 2018, Bigg Boss Malayalam has captured the imagination of Malayali audiences with its mix of drama, strategy, emotional dynamics, and public voting. Modeled after the Big Brother franchise, the Malayalam version brings celebrities (and more recently commoners) under one roof, cut off from the world, to survive weekly evictions and emerge as the winner. Over its seasons, the show has evolved in format, tasks, themes, and audience engagement, but the essence remains the same—entertainment born out of relationships, conflicts, alliances, and unpredictability.
Show Theme / Format
The Bigg Boss Malayalam show essentially follows the “Big Brother” style format with modifications to suit regional sensibilities:
- A group of contestants (celebrities, and in later seasons some non-celebrities) are sequestered in a house especially constructed, isolated from outside communication (no phones, news, internet).
- They live together for several weeks (often ~90–100 days), carrying out daily tasks, challenges, and “house rules.”
- Weekly, a nomination process takes place, where contestants nominate others for eviction. The public (viewers) then vote to save or evict nominated contestants.
- One or more contestants are evicted each week until a finale, where the last remaining contestant (with maximum audience support) is declared the winner.
- There are also twists: wild card entries, voluntary exits (walkouts), immunity tasks, captaincies, secret tasks, and thematic weeks.
- The show is hosted by a prominent personality (in Malayalam version, Mohanlal has been the staple host so far). The host interacts with evictees in weekend episodes, mediates conflicts, gives tasks, and offers moral commentary.
- Judges per se (in the sense of scoring) are not typical in Bigg Boss; often the “judge” role is merged into the host or guest celebrities. (Thus in Malayalam version, external “judges” as such are not common; rather one sees guest panels occasionally.)
Bigg Boss Malayalam Winners, Runner-ups, Hosts
| Season | Year(s) | Winner | Runner-Up / Finalist | Host / Presenter | Notes / Judges / Remarks |
| Season 1 | 2018 | Sabumon Abdusamad | Pearle Maaney | Mohanlal | Prize ~ ₹1 crore |
| Season 2 | 2020 | — (cancelled mid-way due to COVID) | — | Mohanlal | Show was halted prematurely; no formal winner |
| Season 3 | 2021 | Manikuttan | Sai Vishnu | Mohanlal | Prize: house worth ~ ₹75 lakh |
| Season 4 | 2022 | Dilsha Prasannan | Mohammed Blesslee (Muhammed Blesslee) | Mohanlal | Prize ~ ₹50 lakh |
| Season 5 | 2023 | Akhil Marar | Reneesha Rahiman | Mohanlal | This season introduced a commoner participant for first time |
| Season 6 | 2024 | Jinto (Jinto PD) | Arjun Syam Gopan (Arjun) | Mohanlal | Prize ~ ₹50 lakh |
| Season 7 | 2025 | TBD (ongoing yet to conclude) | TBD | Mohanlal | New format blends celebrities + commoners |
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 1 (2018)
The inaugural season of Bigg Boss Malayalam began on 24 June 2018 and ran till September. Hosted by Mohanlal, it brought together 18 contestants including celebrities, wildcards, and TV personalities. Drama, alliances, and social dynamics captivated viewers. Sabumon Abdusamad emerged as the winner, taking home a prize of ₹1 crore, while Pearle Maaney became the first runner-up. The season also witnessed memorable moments such as live interactions, emotional confrontations, and even a surprise appearance by Kamal Haasan. The show set the tone for future seasons, proving that Malayalam audiences were ready for this high-stakes reality format.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 2 (2020)
Season 2 launched in January 2020, again with Mohanlal as host. However, due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the show had to be prematurely cancelled in March before reaching a formal finale. Media sources mention that the season had to be halted mid-course, and thus no winner was declared.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 3 (2021)
The third season, aired in early 2021, revived the momentum. Over ~96–99 days, contestants engaged in tasks, conflicts, alliances, and viewer-driven evictions. Actor Manikuttan emerged as the winner, with Sai Vishnu finishing runner-up. The winner reportedly received a house prize worth ~₹75 lakh. Drama, emotional arcs, strategic gameplay and a strong audience connect marked this season.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4 (2022)
Season 4 began on 27 March 2022 and lasted till July. Hosted by Mohanlal, this season’s big highlight was the crowning of Dilsha Prasannan, the first female winner of Bigg Boss Malayalam. She defeated fellow finalists including Mohammed Blesslee (runner-up). The show was broadcast on Asianet as well as OTT streams. The house was designed with a vibrant artistic concept, adding visual flair to tasks and daily living.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5 (2023)
Season 5 aired from March to early July 2023. Still hosted by Mohanlal, it introduced a twist by including a commoner contestant for the first time alongside celebrities. After weeks of social dynamics, tasks, and public votes, Akhil Marar won the title, with Reneesha Rahiman as runner-up. This season leaned more into viewer relatability by mixing public contestants, increasing suspense in alliances, and delivering dramatic evictions.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 (2024)
The sixth season started in March 2024 and concluded on 16 June 2024. Hosted by Mohanlal, the competition spanned 99 days and included ~25 housemates at peak. Jinto (Jinto PD) won the season, earning around ₹50 lakh, while Arjun Syam Gopan was the runner-up. This season saw increased task difficulty, more twists (evictions, wildcards), and strong social gameplay, drawing high viewer engagement.
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 (2025)
Season 7 premiered on 3 August 2025, again with Mohanlal as host. This time, the show is experimenting by combining celebrities and commoners into the same house, to spice up dynamics. The new format promises more unpredictability in alliances, strong emotional arcs, and strategic gameplay. As of now, the finale has not been reported, so the winner is yet to be declared.