Malayalee House: Everything about the reality show that came before Bigg Boss Malayalam

As fans eagerly await the grand premiere of Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7, many may not remember that this isn't the first time Malayalam television has seen a Big Brother-style reality show. Long before Bigg Boss entered the scene, a show called Malayalee House created ripples in the industry with its unique format, controversial episodes, and bold presentation. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the show that laid the foundation for reality television in Malayalam.

Malayalee House premiered in May 2013 and ran for 85 days, concluding in August that year. The show was directly inspired by the global hit Big Brother, and it brought together 16 celebrities from various fields to live together under one roof, completely cut off from the outside world. Contestants would nominate each other for eviction every week, and the one with the most nominations would be eliminated. A unique feature of the show was that all the rooms in the house were initially locked. After each eviction, one room would be unlocked, and the decision on which room to open was made by the remaining contestants through a voting process.

The house was specially constructed at a film studio in Hyderabad owned by actor Nagarjuna. At the center of the house was a traditional nadumuttam (courtyard), which became the focal point for most activities. The house had a kitchen, prayer room, and several bedrooms but no access to TV, phones, internet, or even clocks, completely isolating the participants from the outside world. The entire space was under constant surveillance with 30 CCTV cameras hidden behind mirrors. Contestants even gave the cameras nicknames, with the main one being affectionately called "Kanthaari." Instructions were given through LCD screens and speakers placed around the house.

The show was hosted by veteran actress Revathy, who appeared during the weekend episodes. She addressed the major happenings of the week, interacted with the housemates, and announced the evictions.

The contestants came from diverse backgrounds, ranging from politics and music to cinema and media. Notable names included Sindhu Joy, Chithra Iyer, Harisankar Kalavoor, G.S. Pradeep, Dalu Krishnadas, Neena Kurup, Sneha Nambiar, Rosin Jolly, Narayanankutty, Santhosh Pandit, and Thinkal Bhal. Their interactions, conflicts, and alliances made for compelling television, but also stirred controversy.

Like Bigg Boss, Malayalee House had its fair share of drama off-screen as well. The show came under fire for multiple reasons. Viewers criticized what they felt were unfair evictions and inconsistencies in the show's ‘no external contact’ rule—especially after family members of contestants made appearances. The delayed telecast of episodes was another frequent complaint. The controversies escalated when the Endemol Group, creators of Bigg Boss, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the makers of Malayalee House. The case, filed in the Bombay High Court, alleged that the show had copied the production format of Bigg Boss without proper licensing.
The backlash didn’t stop there. Several women’s rights organizations, including the Kerala Women’s Commission, DYFI, and the Democratic Women’s Association, condemned the show, alleging that certain male contestants were shown degrading female participants. Many called the content tasteless and vulgar, demanding a ban on the show altogether.

Despite the criticism, Malayalee House concluded with social activist Rahul Easwar being declared the winner. Sindhu Joy finished as the first runner-up, while Thinkal Bhal secured the second runner-up position.