iWorld
Enjoy Alt Balaji entertainment as you ride in Ola
MUMBAI: Alt Balaji and Ola’s connected car platform for ridesharing Ola Play have joined hands to provide entertainment on the go.
Through this collaboration, a preview of Alt Balaji’s original and exclusive shows will be available to Ola Play customers across the country. The users will be able to access a vast collection of original shows produced and curated by Alt Balaji through an immersive and personalized experience which customers can seamlessly control through their smartphones as well as a device mounted at the back of the seat.
Present in cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, Ola Play presents Alt Balaji with the opportunity to engage with hundreds and thousands of Ola customers. Alt Balaji aims to create 250+ hrs of original content this year for its viewers all over the world.
Alt Balaji CEO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Oia is the only ridesharing app in India that links mobility to an unparalleled in-cab experience, providing a great platform for content creators like us with a unique opportunity to reach out to a wide customer base. With an average ride time of 45 minutes or more, travellers are usually deprived of options. But through Ola’s unique connected experience for travellers, Ola Play users can now access an assortment of Alt Balaji’s shows from multiple genres, and beat traffic woes. All new shows will be available on Play, and for more content, users can download the Alt Balaji app through Ola’s free in-cab Wi-Fi connectivity. We look forward to our continued association with Ola Play to create the best possible experience for Ola customers.”
Ola Play Head and senior director Ankit Jain said, “Content partnerships such as Alt Balaji play a huge role in enhancing the unique customer experience that 0/a Play as a pioneering innovation has to offer. The strategic tie-up aims to provide fresh and exclusive content to our customers who can control the entire experience and engage with the content. With partnerships such as these, Ola is well on its way to transform the consumer’s ride experience, building an experience that is intelligent, contextual, and unique.”
Alt Balaji was launched on 16 April 2017 with five original shows and the app will unveil shows every fortnight for its viewers to binge watch. The platform recently launched The Test Case’ directed by Nagesh Kukunoor starring Nimrat Kaur as the first female officer in a combat role. The content has been created by some of the best talent in the Indian entertainment industry, including critically acclaimed directors and actors.
The illustrious list of artistes also comprises Juhi Chawla,Rajkumar Rao, Hansal Mehta,Sakshi Tanwar,Ram Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni, Sameer Soni, Yudhishtar Urs, Dipannita Sharma Atwal, and many more. Alt Balaji now has the widest payment options amongst SVOD on services in India.
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.
