Comedy
TGILC revamped with a Pakistan angle
NEW DELHI: It is back with a double measure of fun, laughter and entertainment! The second season of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (TGILC Dwitiya) starts on 24 February on Star One with new features added to it.
The nationwide search for the best comic talent in India will now have 35 episodes with 18 of them classified as studio episodes. This home grown format is now having many takers in others countries of South East Asia.
As the favourite show is getting bigger, contestants from neighbouring Pakistan too are slated to participate this time round. Apart from this, viewers too will be allowed to decide the fate of a contestant from the semi-finals onward. The SMS interactive element comes into play as viewers can vote in to provide an ousted competitor with a lifeline.
Pointing out at a press conference here today that TGILC Dwitiya or the second season has received an overwhelming response from across the sub-continent, Star India COO Sameer Nair said this year TGILC Dwitiya promised to replicate the success of the first many times over.
The ‘Wizards of Wit’, Shekhar Suman and Navjot Singh Siddhu, return as the judges and Parizaad Kolah will be back as the host of the show. Produced by Endemol India, TGILC Dwitiya will also dons a new look with a fabulous new set designed by celebrated art director and set designer Nitin Desai.
Star One made the best use of the stand-up comedy genre with properties such as The Great Indian Comedy Show and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. These were the properties that provided Star One the much-needed identity during its initial phase. The Great Indian Laughter Challenge was followed with The Great Indian Laughter Champions on the channel.
Star India’s Tamil channel Vijay TV also tasted success with the Tamil version of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Vijay is all set to launch The Great Indian Laughter Champions in Tamil now.
MUMBAI: If laughter is the best medicine, Sony Marathi seems to have found a way to bottle it and now, uncap it. After nine years, 950 plus episodes and a cult following that treats Maharashtrachi Hasyajatra (MHJ) like a weekly family ritual, the channel has taken the comedy blockbuster beyond the stage with MHJ Unplugged, a digital-only podcast that lets fans peek behind the punchlines.
Season 1 of MHJ Unplugged became an instant favourite, thanks to its refreshing premise: nine beloved MHJ artists dropping their on-stage personas to share raw, reflective, and often emotional stories. From childhood struggles to backstage chaos, each episode offered a rare, unfiltered look at the people behind Maharashtra’s most-watched comedy universe, a contrast fans embraced wholeheartedly.
The numbers tell the story. The debut season clocked 23 million plus views across Sony Marathi’s digital platforms, proving that the MHJ fandom doesn’t end when the cameras stop rolling. And for brands, the podcast became a high-engagement playground for integrations that didn’t feel shoehorned instead blending organically into the show’s storytelling.
Presenting partners Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers and Ravetkar Group rode the wave, with both receiving prominent host mentions and consistent visibility via L-bands, Aston bands and episode-level branding. Ravetkar Group even levelled up with on-set physical branding, rooted in the show’s community-first sentiment.
But the jewel in the crown quite literally was Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers’ now-signature integration: the “Waman Hari Pethe Soneri Kshan moment”. Each episode spotlighted a heartfelt moment between the host and guest, capped with a gifted silver coin that aligned perfectly with the brand’s motto “Soneri Kshananche Sobti”. It wasn’t just product placement, it was emotional placement.
Ravetkar Group founder and managing director Amol Ravetkar said, “Just as we build homes, we want to build moments of joy. Sponsoring this beloved show, which celebrates local talent and humour, reinforces our commitment to the culture and values of the communities we serve. We are proud to support quality regional entertainment and be a part of the incredible ‘MHJ universe’ that has captured millions of hearts.”
Waman Hari Pethe partner Ashish Pethe said, “Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers is delighted to partner with Sony Marathi’s MHJ Unplugged. This collaboration allows us to connect directly with our customers. MHJ Unplugged is a perfect vehicle for us as there is a perfect synergy between our customers and the audience of MHJ. Happy that we could share in the joy and laughter that this unique platform brings to the MHJ universe.”
Much of the show’s resonance comes from the way host Amit Phalke anchors it steering conversations with warmth, humour, and an ear for the stories that deepen fans’ emotional connection with the MHJ family.
Now, buoyed by Season 1’s success, Sony Marathi is gearing up for a bigger, bolder Season 2, with new sponsors already circling and an expanded content slate in the works. The channel calls MHJ Unplugged a “milestone in Marathi entertainment,” an experiment that not only paid off, but opened doors for high-engagement digital IPs rooted in regional storytelling.
If Season 1 brought fans closer to their favourite comedians, Season 2 promises to pull them right into the greenroom. After all, in the MHJ universe, the laughter doesn’t end, it simply goes unplugged.
