STR is Bigg Boss Host - follow up to STR aka Simbhu - Sarathkumar- Aravind Swamy probable's to host Bigg Boss

 

Latest promo confirms that STR is the host that will step in to the shoes of Kamal Haasan in Bigg Boss Ultimate Tamil. Literally as it goes, STR ties the shoe lace and wears the blazer to turn to the camera and say Did not expect it ? Me Too Lets us meet.

From the list of shortlisted celebrity list that Disney Hotstar has put up, STR aka Simbhu might sign on the dotted line and

start promo shoot for coming weekend of Bigg Boss Ultimate Tamil, says sources. STR is said to have a very close relationship with Star Vijay, the arm of Star Network that works in tandem with Disney Hotstar.  However, Dhanush who is said to have a cold war with STR is among the actors who has bagged the most number of Star Vijay awards ( 7 awards). The position of host held by Kamal Haasan being inherited by STR and the participation money ( Rs 50 lakhs for a single appearance  was given to Kamal) could be a factor for STR to take it up says sources. For the channel, STR who is riding the wave of popularity after Maanaadu success  would be able to bring in the youth and the fan base to the show. STR is away shooting for last leg of Gautham Menon directed film.

Sarathkumar had come in Bigg Boss 5 as a guest for a episode and interacted with the contestants. He left a brief case of Rs 15 lakh as a bait for a contestant to take it and quit the contest. He might be called in to do the main host . In the last poll, his party was aligned with Kamal's political outfit and both drew a blank.

Aravind  Swamy name is mentioned as he had hosted a show Season 3 of Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi ( Tamil KBC) on same channel . In fact before Kamal Haasan became host it was Swamy whose name was said in TV circles as the host.

Prakash Raj who has also hosted  KBC  Tamil show  and Kamal along with his live in partner Gauthami had taken part and the episode sent TRP soaring. Ramya Krishnan had  stood in for Kamal in previous BB season after the actor was taken sick due to COVID infection. She had judged the BB Jodi show on Vijay and had a spat with Vanitha Vijayakumar ( one of house mates of that season and now a contestant in Ultimate ). Promos will start soon.

Kamal Haasan exit from Bigg Boss exposes reach of OTT

 Exit of Kamal Haasan, host of Bigg Boss Ultimate reality show is the reach of OTT in Tamil Nadu ( outside Chennai) and also has brought back the comparison between the  5 serials TRP in both the channels. One major reason being said for Kamal's exit is that the OTT platform Disney Hotstar does not have the reach to take the show across Tamil Nadu and it was mutually beneficial for OTT platform and host to part ways. For Disney, the amount paid to Kamal was burning a big hole in the pocket and for the actor, his proposed visit to Paris Fashion week to promote his brand of Khaddhar clothes and  post production work that needs to be done abroad for his own film Vikram would have been affected if he were to be in  Chennai every weekend for next four weeks. Kamal has used the latest BOLT camera to film the climax and is leaving no stone unturned to make it a technical treat.

( courtesy: tamiltvexpress )

One of the contestants Thamarai in Ultimate show itself kept grumbling that her house in a village does have internet broadband to get a OTT APP and nobody had a Smart TV. Though Kamal read out figures of BB Ultimate voting to be double of BB on Star VIjay, advertisements and the in house brands that featured were nothing `national' about it.

By bringing in a lesser paid host for a weekend appearance and as the viewership on the days would continue like before, Disney would save the show from being a white elephant. As trade experts pointed out that with Mumbai- Delhi- Kolkata Metros as a strong market for BB, the OTT Hindi version was hosted by Karan Johar and not Salman Khan.

Secondly< STAR VIJAY, urban- rural combine TRP ratings has plunged and as per BARC rating even their flagship serial Raja Rani slipped gradually from No 1 to No 5.and shares spot with Sun TV's Roja. A One time No 1 Bharathi Kannamma of Star Vijay slipped to No 6th. Sun TV's Kayal is No 1.

Star Vijay, only channel to put up a fight in Tamil segment and be sixth on the All India list of viewed channels, has however a consolation that all the four top slots in BARC Urban belongs to their stable. Among the reality shows, BB is only one that has accepted by viewers and mainly because of the host reach outside the Chenaai Metro. Zee Tamil Survivor hosted by Actor Arjun and Sun TV's Master Chef by Actor Vijay Sethupathi failed to create any ripples.