iWorld
‘Kota Factory’ director Raghav Subbu to take Vidnet Masterclass
MUMBAI: Kota Factory director Raghav Subbu will be present at the Indiantelevision.com’s Vidnet Masterclasses, being hosted at The Westin, Mumbai, on 4 October, to discuss the process of directing hard-hitting and compelling web series.
The Vidnet Masterclasses are being conducted by Indiantelevision.com as an extension to its online video and content summit, with the aim to facilitate the creativity of young and aspiring content creators who are willing to leave a mark in the digital world. The Masterclasses will host directors & editors, and writers, who will be talking to the audience directly about the craft of video creation.
Subbu is a celebrated director in the digital world and has created series like Kota Factory (2019), TVF Pitchers (2015) and Truth or Dare with Dad (2016). A collaborator with TVF since 2013, he has also directed several comedy sketches and mini-series. His next web series ‘Hostel Daze’ is slated to release late this year.
Other speakers at the Masterclasses include Gourav Gopa Jha, Dhruv Sehgal, Jaya Mishra, Puneet Krishna, and Danish Aslam.
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.
