iWorld
Hungama Play launches ‘Comedycha Raada’
MUMBAI: Hungama Play, a leading video-on-demand platform owned by Hungama Digital Media, today launched ‘Comedycha Raada’, a Hungama Original featuring stand-up comedy acts in Marathi. The show includes 10 episodes and features a total of 21 aspiring comedians performing fresh, topical and relatable acts that cover a wide range of themes including satire, slice of life, abstract topics and more. Hosted by the versatile Marathi actor, Pranav Raorane, ‘Comedycha Raada’ is created and produced by CafeMarathi.
Starting today, the show will be available to stream on Hungama Play, Hungama’s video on demand platform. It will also be available to stream through Hungama Play on Vodafone Play, Idea Movies & TV, Airtel Xstream App, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Tata Sky Binge, MX Player and Android TVs. Additionally, Hungama’s association with Xiaomi will enable consumers to watch the show via Hungama Play on Mi TV.
Hungama Digital Media COO Siddhartha Roy said, “With Hungama Originals, we have created a diverse library of multilingual and multi-genre content. There is an immense demand for stand-up comedy in regional languages and we are glad to offer Comedycha Raada, a show that is local, funny and relatable. At a time when Maharashtra and the entire country is staying at home to practice social distancing, we are certain that our stand-up comedy special will offer the audiences an easy way to entertain themselves from the safety of their homes.”
CafeMarathi Co-founder & CEO Nikhil Raibole commented, “We are delighted to work with Hungama Play again and offer a new original show that provides a huge platform to budding comedians in Maharashtra. We are certain that Hungama Play’s strong distribution network will help deliver the stand-up comedy special to a diverse audience. Given the current situation, I hope that Comedycha Raada succeeds in bringing entertainment and humour in people’s lives.”
Talking about his involvement in the show, Pranav Raorane said, “I feel glad to have been the host of the show. Maharasthra has immense talent and it is heartening to see platforms like Hungama Play and CafeMarathi come together to promote regional comedians. I am certain that the audiences will enjoy watching the show, as much as I enjoyed working on it.”
Comedians performing in Comedycha Raada include Ramdas Tekale, Nishant Ajbele, Saish Gotekar, Akash Khedkar, Akshay Kokane, Chirantan Lonkar, Swapnil Jadhav, Yogesh Khedkar, Mandar Patil, Spandan Ambekar, Tejas Ghadigaonkar, Kishor Salunkhe, Shriram Parve, Prashant Wakode, Vinay Natekar, Sukeshini Waghmare, Prashant Manore, Sachin Bhilare, Anand Kulkarni, Vilas Panchal and Aditya Sawant.
iWorld
MS Dhoni invests in Kuku, joins Kuku TV as brand ambassador
Cricket icon backs AI storytelling platform, fronts Kuku TV campaign
MUMBAI: MS Dhoni has invested in Kuku and joined its short-form drama app Kuku TV as brand ambassador, signalling a high-profile bet on India’s fast-growing AI-led content space.
Kuku, a mobile-first storytelling platform, operates across formats with apps such as Kuku TV for micro-dramas, Kuku FM for audio content and Guru for learning-led entertainment. Founded in 2018, the company has scaled rapidly, crossing 350 million installs and building a catalogue of over 20,000 titles across multiple Indian languages.
Dhoni said his decision to invest and partner with the platform was driven by its distinct approach to storytelling and its strong growth trajectory. MS Dhoni said, “I chose to invest in Kuku, and also come on board as the ambassador for Kuku TV, because the platform really stood out to me. It has built a differentiated entertainment experience for audiences across India, spanning multiple languages and formats. The growth has been impressive, and I connect strongly with the founders, who come from small towns like mine and have built something of this scale. I believe in their vision of building an AI-driven storytelling platform from Bharat, for Bharat, and for the world.”
Founded by Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar Meena and Vikas Goyal, the platform positions itself at the intersection of technology and storytelling, using AI to create and distribute bite-sized content tailored to mobile audiences.
Sharing his perspective, Kuku co-founder and CEO Lal Chand Bisu said, “MS Dhoni is known for backing bold decisions that others might hesitate to take. At Kuku, we are also taking bold bets. That spirit of unconventional thinking resonates deeply with us.”
Adding to this, Kuku co-founder and COO Vinod Kumar Meena said, “Our beloved Thala is one of the rare personalities with truly nationwide appeal. As we build Kuku for all of India, that connection makes him a natural fit for us.”
Further, Kuku co-founder and CTO Vikas Goyal said, “MSD has a unique understanding of people. As we build for both creators and consumers, that perspective will be incredibly valuable, especially as we continue strengthening our AI-driven storytelling stack.”
Backing the momentum, Panthera Peak Capital managing director Nikhil Bhandarkar said, “Kuku’s vision, execution, and clarity of thought are exceptional, qualities that closely mirror MS Dhoni’s approach. We are excited to partner with the team as they build Kuku into a global entertainment platform.”
To mark the association, Kuku TV has rolled out the campaign Dhoni Watches Kuku TV, anchored by a brand film that plays on Dhoni’s instinctive decision-making. Built around short, engaging stories delivered in minutes, the campaign highlights the platform’s promise of quick, compelling entertainment.
With Dhoni stepping in as both investor and face of the brand, Kuku appears to be doubling down on its ambition to take AI-driven storytelling from India to a global audience, one short story at a time.
