iWorld
Royal Stag BoomBox returns with music, gaming and big beats
MUMBAI: Seagram’s Royal Stag BoomBox, India’s iconic live music festival, is back and bigger than ever. Season Four promises to unite fans across four cities: Kolkata, Vizag, Mumbai and Mohali, for an unforgettable celebration of music, fashion, food and gaming.
Kicking off on 21 February in Kolkata, the festival will travel to Vizag on 7 March, Mumbai on 14 March and Mohali on 28 March. Since its inception, BoomBox has redefined India’s live music scene by blending Bollywood’s timeless melodies with the energy of hip-hop, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for the youth.
This year, fans can look forward to chart-topping performances from rap sensation Badshah, pop icons Armaan Malik and Divine, melodious voices like Neeti Mohan, Nikhita Gandhi, Rashmeet Kaur and Sreerama Chandra, and the legendary band Fossils. Hip-hop heavyweights Raftaar and Dino James, along with DJ Sahil Gulati, will keep the beats pulsing. Adding a new twist, gaming star Payal Dhare will host an action-packed gaming face-off, making the festival a full-on cultural extravaganza.
Tickets are now available on Skillbox, renowned for its immersive sound and lighting, interactive fan zones and vibrant cultural showcases, Royal Stag BoomBox brings the spirit of each city to life, giving audiences more than just a concert, a true celebration of youth culture.
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.
