iWorld
Planet Marathi & Vistas Media partner for new Marathi OTT
MUMBAI: Singapore-based Vistas Media Capital (VMC) has partnered with Planet Marathi Seller Services (Planet Marathi) to introduce an OTT platform focusing on Marathi content. The soon-to-be launched streaming service aims to cater to a TG of 100 million globally with a number of genres.
VMC will be investing up to $5 million into Planet Marathi for a strategic equity in the venture. Planet Marathi plans to deliver rich, contemporary and diversified content through advanced technology for consistent streaming across devices.
Vistas Media Capital group CEO Abhayanand Singh said, “The Indian OTT space has grown significantly over the last few years but there is still an opportunity to capitalise on in the regional segment. The Marathi audience across the globe is a large one which for many years has patronised good content important for the digital space. We are thrilled to partner with Planet Marathi to launch this platform and fill the need-gap.”
Planet Marathi head and founder Akshay Bardapurkar said, “Marathi viewers today are devoid of digital entertainment in their native language barring a few shows or movies on television or other platforms. With this insight, introducing an exclusive Marathi OTT shall fill a void that the Marathi entertainment industry has been facing. We also plan to expand our reach globally and VMC is the perfect partner to take the first step with us in this journey. We look forward to this long term association with VMC”.
While the world overcomes a pandemic, the lockdown has brought about newer ways and genres in which the entertainment sector can maximise its audiences pan India with internet playing a key role. As per KPMG’s India Media and Entertainment Report 2020, “robust growth in digital infrastructure and content supply allowed the digital segment to post a 26 per cent growth in FY20 despite a slowing economy, with digital and OTT advertising growing by 24 per cent.”
VMC owns and invests in multiple media related businesses, companies and assets in capital markets and private equity. Golden Ratio Films, a subsidiary of VMC has had a strong focus on content creation, marketing and distribution across feature films, web series and short films across budgets in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and English in India and Hollywood.
An established brand in Marathi media & entertainment, Planet Marathi has played a pivotal role in initiating and setting trends in the Marathi film industry, be it a tie up with multi social media giants, branding and promotions of Marathi cinemas or even image building for celebrities through Planet Talent.
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.
