iWorld
Hungama Artist Aloud and DeadAnt team up for stand-up comedy platform on Hungama Play
Mumbai: Hungama Artist Aloud, a platform that supports and promotes independent artists and content, has partnered with DeadAnt to curate, acquire and distribute regional stand-up comedy content on its OTT platform Hungama Play.
The content has also been made available in the podcast format. The idea is to provide regional comedians with a platform within Hungama’s network for a wider reach, it said in a statement. At least 10 artists will perform in five different languages — Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi, and Tamil — to begin with. The roster includes Manpreet Singh, Mohit Morani, Trupti Khamkar, Mandar Bhide, Sriram Prasad, Chockalingam, Ramkumar Natarajan, Chirag Panjwani, Shravan Narayan, Subrahmanya Hegde.
Hungama Artist Aloud senior VP Soumini Sridhara Paul said, “Regional comedy acquisition perfectly ties in with our core philosophy of creating pathways for independent artists from different backgrounds and cultures. While all these artists are popular names in the regional market, we wanted to provide them a global platform via OTT. We also wanted viewers to enjoy comedy while being in the comfort of their homes along with their friends and family, and this partnership with DeadAnt has given us the opportunity to make this happen.”
DeadAnt founder and editor-in-chief Ravina Rawal said, “Comedy is emerging as the new voice of the youth, with the power to unite people and uplift their mood. With this partnership, we hope to harness Hungama Play’s wide network to introduce talented regional comedians to new audiences across the country, and even beyond borders.”
The content will also be available on MX Player, Flipkart, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Tata Sky Binge, Tata Sky Binge+, DishSMRT Stick, D2H Stream, DishSMRT Hub, SITI Playtop, ISPs like Meghbela Broadband, Alliance Broadband, ACT Fibernet and Netplus, and Smart TVs like MI TV, TCL, OnePlus TV, CVTE, Toshiba and CloudWalker.
iWorld
Cineflicks set to enter India’s OTT market with community-first focus
New platform aims to blend streaming content with interactive viewing experiences
MUMBAI: A new player is gearing up to join India’s crowded streaming arena, with Cineflicks preparing to launch as a community-driven OTT platform aimed at redefining how audiences engage with digital entertainment.
The platform plans to offer a mix of movies, series and digital content, while placing equal emphasis on building an interactive ecosystem where viewers can connect, share and participate beyond passive viewing.
India’s OTT market has seen explosive growth over the past decade, fuelled by rising smartphone penetration and affordable internet access. As streaming becomes the default mode of content consumption, new entrants are increasingly looking to differentiate themselves not just through content libraries but through user experience.
Cineflicks appears to be positioning itself within this next phase of evolution. Instead of focusing solely on scale, the platform is aiming to create a space where audiences can engage more deeply with the content they watch, turning entertainment into a shared experience rather than a solo activity.
While details around its content slate remain under wraps, people familiar with the development say the platform is currently building out features and partnerships ahead of a phased rollout. The broader strategy suggests a blend of content discovery, community interaction and digital participation.
The timing is notable. With global and regional streaming platforms competing intensely for attention, the emphasis is slowly shifting towards engagement and retention rather than just acquisition. Platforms that can foster stronger audience connections may have an edge in this evolving landscape.
Cineflicks’ entry reflects the continued expansion of India’s digital entertainment ecosystem, where innovation is increasingly being driven by how content is experienced, not just what is offered.
As the platform moves closer to launch, the real test will be whether it can translate its community-first pitch into a compelling, everyday habit for viewers.
