Bigg Boss Tamil has already landed in troubled waters

Bigg Boss Tamil, the Tamil version of the Indian reality TV program Bigg Boss, which follows the Big Brother format, first developed by Endemol in the Netherlands, is already facing issues in the region. Hosted by Kamal Haasan, it looks like the show has certainly not struck the right chord with the audience, as controversies arise surrounding the contents of the show. The Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded a ban on the Tamil version of reality show Bigg Boss, and wanted its host, actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, to be arrested for tarnishing Tamil culture last Wednesday. In its police complaint, the nationalist Hindu party also demanded the arrest of some of the contestants of the show – Oviya, Namitha, Ganja Karuppu and Harathi, among others, claiming that the show is obscene. Veeramaanickam Siva, the secretary of Hindu Makkal Katchi, has filed a complaint against the makers of the show and the host Kamal Haasan, with the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, sources confirm. “People of India are paragons of virtue. Indian television channels, nowadays, are acting in a way to wreck the Indian culture. The Bigg Boss program in Vijay TV overthrows every other show on television in tarnishing the Indian culture and Tamil traditions. People who don’t know each other wearing slinky clothes and using crass language erode our social values and are a threat to our culture. We are in the times where television is accessible from kids to elders, and these kind of programs are a menace to our society. Even the respectable Tamil anthem was subjected to disgrace in the show and contestants made a mockery of it. This has deeply hurt the sentiments of 7crore Tamilians. The host, Kamal Hassan and the participants – Namitha, Oviya, Gayathri Raguran, Julie, Raiza, Haarathi, Vayyapuri, Shakthi, Ganja Karuppu, Aarav, Snehan, Bharani, Ganesh, and  Venkatraaman should be arrested immediately, and I seek legal action from the police department. The reality show should be immediately banned to save the Tamil culture and values,” read the letter addressed to the police commissioner. “I don’t mind being arrested. It would make a point in proving how silly these accusations are. Why didn’t they call for a ban on cheerleaders dancing in the stadium during a cricket match?” said Haasan. When asked about why he’s being targeted by the fringe groups time and again, he said, “I’m mistaken to be a Communist by Hindutva groups. The truth is I’m a rationalist. I am willing to accept any good ideas coming from either side as long as it works along with the world logic.” This is the first-ever season of Bigg Boss Tamil, which launched on June 25, 2017, on the Star Vijay channel.