iWorld
SonyLiv ties up with Web Talkies, claims to have become India’s largest original VoD co
MUMBAI: In a major move which potentially redefines the country’s digital entertainment landscape, SonyLIV has announced its strategic partnership with Web Talkies. Under the association, seven original web series from Web Talkies, including popular shows like CM CM Hota Hai and Maid in India (Season 1 & 2), will now be available on SonyLIV’s web and mobile platforms.
A paradigm-changing development for the industry, this association follows close on heels of SonyLIV’s recent partnerships with several leading original content creators across India. Web Talkies is a unique platform for personal entertainment which creates, acquires and delivers highly-relatable and engaging content for Indian viewers. Its original web series, like Current 440 Volts, Gang of Big Boys, Border Border, Samadhanki Samasya and Mushaira Unplugged, have received an impressive response from viewers, thanks to their quirky takes, witty dialogues, and humour.
With its extensive library of diverse and high-quality original content offerings, SonyLIV – the digital platform of Sony Pictures Networks India has become a comprehensive melting pot of India-based digital entertainment. The platform also recently tied-up with Pocket Aces to add high-quality short-form comedy and food-related videos to its vast content library.
Comments Uday Sodhi, EVP and Head – Digital Business, SonyLIV: “Having pioneered and popularised the concept of original entertainment in India, we wanted to go a step further and curate the best of original content from across the country on our platform. Our partnership with Web Talkies is yet another step in that direction to offer high-quality entertainment to our esteemed viewers. Through our strategic partnerships as well as our own offerings, we have created the biggest repository of premium original content in the country. Complete entertainment offerings across genres of content is our intent and this partnership is a progression in that direction.”
Virendra Shahaney- Chairman and Managing Director, Web Talkies: “Our partnership with SonyLIV gives our content a great platform and we are sure that this milestone will be crucial in making Web Talkies content the most watched digital content in India.”
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.
