Bigg Boss Tamil; 75% Nude Means What?

‘Bigg Boss Tamil’ is doing well. TN is not. And what the hell is 75% nude anyway?

Julie, a nurse who got famous during the Jallikattu protests for cat-calling PeTA, is one of the housemates. Maybe she’s wondering what 75% naked means.

Hotstar / Screenshot

There’s been a rash of controversies and memes surrounding Bigg Boss Tamil, adding to TRPs and general stickiness for the program. This sucks. I meant both the programme and the fact that nowadays, controversies and memes seem to be the way to go, to popularise content.

Before I rant, if you’re not in the mood to read, just take a listen!

Full disclosure; I unequivocally, unconditionally and absolutely hate the Bigg Boss format. As Jack Nicholson famously said;

I’m using the word HATE here.

Jack Nicholson, As Good As it Gets

And yet, I must admit that the show is doing pretty well. After barely a few episodes, the people of TN (God save their souls) have taken to it like fish to water.

This means two things. I'm formatting these 'two things' in a special format, since I believe they're both important;

1. 1. My opinions don’t determine the success and failure of a piece of entertainment. This feels like a shocking revelation every time it happens, like a suddenly loud snore that jars you awake (it was you who snored).
2. 
   2. The success of Bigg Boss Tamil was not dependent on the rash of memes OR the confabricated (con+fabricated. Yes, it’s a word now, didn’t you know.) controversies surrounding it.

No. Really. Stop with the bloody controversies. Bigg Boss Tamil doesn't need them.

Allow me to elucidate my exasperation.

What is 75% Nude?

The Hindu Makkal Katchi, a rabidical (radical+rabid. It's a real word. Didn't you know.) political group called for Kamal Haasan's arrest on 13th July, a Wednesday (Kamal acted in a remake of the movie of the same name. He he).

Why arrest the Ulaga Nayagan (Universal Hero)?

Because he dared to host Bigg Boss Tamil, a show in which according to Hindu Makkal Katchi Press Release;

The participants are mouthing obscene statements and are acting 75 per cent nude. It is also derogative of Tamil culture and hurts the sentiments of seven crore Tamilians.

Okay, now what is this 75%? How did the Hindu Makkal Katchi arrive at this percentage of nudity? Is it an aggregate of the skin shown by all of the participants put together, vis-a-vis the clothing? Or could it be an individual average?

Does wearing shorts and a vest constitute 50% nudity? If so, every uncle in Chennai is guilty of it, for there can be nothing more comfortable in the city's humidity. And any additional clothing (even a handkerchief) will be seen as an invitation to the sweat pours to squirt in torrents.

Moreover, even those wearing the traditional Veshti (dhoti) fold it above their knee most of the time. So does that mean the legs are nude?

I also am unable to find the seven crore Tamilians who are insulted by the show.

The Press Conference; Controversy No. 2

Kamal Haasan called for a press conference a few days after the HMK's cries for his arrest, to address the concerns of the public, on what Kamal thinks of the allegations against him of harming Tamil culture through such shows.

Here again, lies a fundamental (funda+mental. It's a word. Didn't you know.) problem. Special formatting incoming;

No one takes Hindu Makkal Katchi seriously. Except Hindu Makkal Katchi, and #AmitMedia, and also Kamal Haasan.

For over thirty minutes, Kamal Haasan, the veteran actor, philanthropist and pride of TN, fielded with utmost patience, absolutely random questions that had nothing to do with Bigg Boss Tamil, or even his movies. And at the press conference on A Wednesday (13th July), in passing he said;

No government department is free from corruption.

Oops!

The law minister, CV Shanmugam has taken umbrage to this and is now threatening to sue Kamal Haasan for something one of the contestants said, about another contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil. Wait what?!

First of all, is there anyone among us who has not said, 'no government department is free from corruption'? In fact, it has been said multiple times in probably all of the 1600 languages in India, including my personal favourite;

‘Yeh Bik Gayi Hai Gormint’ (this government has been compromised). Indiatimes / Altered by The Quint

Which is about the same thing.

If anything, Kamal Haasan should be sued for lack of originality. He should have gone through and thoroughly revised his tweets before coming to the press conference. At least the media will be left wondering if whether he's agreeing with them or not. Now that's a thought!

M K Stalin politicises Kamal Haasan’s democratic right to express his opinion on the government, in the same breath in which he stands by him. Twitter/Screenshot

The Never Ending Story

MK Stalin (working president, DMK, and leader of the opposition), has tweeted his support to Kamal Haasan's statement, adding his two and a half bits and then some.

And then OPS too joined the 'Support Kamal Haasan' club. Remember OPS? Former TN CM? Meditation guy? No? No one here seems to either.

Like Batman Vs Superman. Like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Like Sura; The controversy around Bigg Boss Tamil is a never ending, agonizing, soul sucking story.

And here I thought the show was bad; Barani trying to jump over the wall. The 125 times the housemates gathered to discuss someone’s demerits while extolling their so-pure-the-sun-shines-out-of-my-arse qualities. Sheesh!
And YET...
I'm writing rave reviews about Bigg Boss Tamil from next week. At least I can fake busy to avoid the madhouse outside.

We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue?
Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL [e-mail] or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.