Cinema VinesToday, September 6, the much‑anticipated eighth season of Bigg Boss Malayalam kicked off with a grand launch episode at 7 PM, streamed live on Asianet and JioHotstar. The return of superstar Mohanlal as host marked the official start of the new season, giving audiences a first glimpse of the contestants who will battle it out in the house.
The launch episode unveiled 12 finalists who emerged from the pre‑show competition “Agni Pareeksha.” The contest began with 40 aspirants and, after several rounds of tasks and evaluations, was whittled down to the final group: Shijin, Shamon, Eldo, Shyam, Tashi, Rakesh, Shijulal, Lolita, Shibin, Pooja, Sona, and Afiyanas. Judges Ranjini Haridas, Riyas Salim and Akhil Marar—previous Bigg Boss Malayalam participants—oversaw the selection process, ensuring a mix of commoners and familiar faces for the season.
While the launch episode showcased the Agni Pareeksha finalists, viewers were left eager to see which of the other rumored contestants would join the house. The season’s full lineup is expected to be revealed during the premiere, adding an element of surprise to the competition.
Bigg Boss Malayalam 8 is part of a historic 20th‑anniversary celebration for the franchise, which launched simultaneously across six Indian languages. In addition to Mohanlal, the other language editions feature Salman Khan for Hindi, Sourav Ganguly for Bengali, Kichcha Sudeep for Kannada, Nagarjuna Akkineni for Telugu and Vijay Sethupathi for Tamil. This coordinated launch underscores the franchise’s expansive reach and the significance of this milestone year.
For Malayalam audiences, the focus remains on the new season’s drama and the contestants who will vie for the title. The launch episode, airing on Sunday at 7 PM, sets the stage for a season filled with intrigue, strategy and entertainment.
