iWorld
Culture Machine’s ‘Put Chutney’ to air on Star Vijay every Sun
MUMBAI: Culture Machine’s ‘Put Chutney’, the #1 Tamil digital media brand, is now foraying into television with Star Vijay starting 2 July 2017.
This move marks the collaboration of two of Tamil’s biggest media giants to create digital to linear long form original content. This pioneering alliance marks a first of its kind in South India, where a digital brand has extended its footprint onto a major broadcast television network. Culture Machine’s Put Chutney that caters to the Tamil speaking audience globally, will produce one hour long exclusive episodes on Star Vijay for the show titled, ‘Intensive Comedy Unit (ICU)’. The unique format and characters for the show have been developed by Put Chutney.
The show will be an extension of the immensely loved digital brand Put Chutney, popular for their spunky videos, full of wit and humour. Put Chutney fans can now look forward to more entertaining and engaging content from the Put Chutney stable, on one of the most widely watched television channels in the region.
Culture Machine president Tuhin Menon commented on this deal, “’Put Chutney has grown in the hearts and minds of viewers to occupy a pivotal spot in the cultural milieu of Tamil speaking audiences globally. This deal with Star Vijay represents a major extension of the brand, which now straddles both digital and linear platforms. We could not have found a better partner than Star Vijay to take the Put Chutney brand to the next level, through a unique one hour show that is guaranteed to delight loyal and new audiences alike.”
Vijay TV GM Krishnan Kutty said, “We at Vijay TV believe in partnering with the most exciting creative minds in the business. In Put Chutney, we found a partner who we believe will push the boundary in the comedy genre and who share our commitment in providing the most cutting edge content to Tamil consumers.”
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
