iWorld
Binge rules: Streaming finds its new rhythm
MUMBAI: Binge-watching may be a “snack attack”, but at VIDNET 2025, it became a full-course conversation on how India now consumes its stories. Moderator Gayatri Gauri opened the panel with a cheeky probe into personal binge habits, and the discussion quickly revealed a cultural mash-up at play. Aparna Ramachandran, head of digital originals at Balaji Telefilms, confessed she had surrendered to Korean anime. “K-pop and Demon Slayer are my new binge,” she laughed, adding that in an era of mindless scrolling, only emotionally resonant stories truly stay.
Film director Aditya Jambhale, known for Article 370, said bingeing works when a show creates a world you do not want to exit. His latest fix: Black Warrant. For him, the battle is not attention span alone but maintaining craft while adapting to changing viewer habits. “If we surrender to trends entirely, the art will deteriorate,” he said. “Conviction is the only constant.”
Impact Films founder and chief executive Ashwani Sharma admitted he rarely binges because he is constantly reviewing content for acquisition. To him, quick-consumption shows feel like “snacks you forget by the next day”. He noted that competition for eyeballs is fiercer than ever, with release timing, trending titles and even cricket matches influencing viewership. One wrong match-day clash and cinemas go empty.
Aparna highlighted a growing hurdle second-screen behaviour. Viewers watch a show on one device while scrolling reels or shopping on another. “We must find stories that can hold attention even through distractions,” she said. She emphasised the need to back bold pitches that challenge the clutter, citing genre-blending projects that may not fit trends today but could resonate in a year.
The conversation turned to how Indian content travels abroad. Ashwani revealed that niche categories such as LGBTQ stories and films from the North-East see surprising international demand. His new venture, Zeal Media, aims to take strong Indian films to foreign markets, though he believes global content will continue to pour into India in even greater volumes. Hollywood’s India success, he pointed out, has grown from 3 per cent to 12 per cent within eight years.
On future trends, the panel reached an intriguing consensus. Aparna and Aditya stressed that India’s storytelling soul lies in its roots but must be executed with global finesse. Mythology, folklore and hybrid genres will lead the charge. Ashwani predicted that while Indian stories will travel, the bigger wave will be India absorbing more international cinema.
As the session wrapped, one thing stood out India is no longer just bingeing stories, it is blending them. And in this cultural exchange, the audience appetite shows no signs of slowing.
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.
