iWorld
Viu forays into micro originals with ‘Viru Ke Funde’
MUMBAI: Vuclip, a PCCW Media Company and the leading premium video on demand (VOD) service for emerging markets, has today announced the launch of ‘Viru ke Funde’, a fifteen episode web series that will be streamed on Vuclip’s OTT Video on Demand Service – Viu.
Virender Sehwag will play the central character in the show and will be seen doling out advice to his group of friends on issues such as weight loss, managing stress, dodging telemarketers and the taxman as well as ways to win an argument with your better half and learning to cope with your mother-in-law’s taunts among others.
The show was conceptualized based on Vuclip’s research insight that 60% of India’s digital audiences show the propensity to consume cricket focused comedy genre content which ties well with Sehwag’s raw, earthy and ‘in your face’ humor which has made him a Twitter sensation with over 7.5 million followers.
The first five episodes of the show have been released today on Viu, with one new episode scheduled to be released every day for the next ten days until 2 December 2016.
With a run time of about two minutes per episode, the show marks the advent of ‘Micro Originals’ – short form snackable video content aimed at entertaining the mobile audience ‘on the go.’ This effort also underscores Viu’s differentiated short form content strategy.
Vuclip India country head Vishal Maheshwari said, “Viu is a celebration of fandom and a video destination that knows its viewers’ entertainment quotient. Much like our first original show ‘What the Duck,’ this series too will enable fans of Virender Sehwag to see him in his off-field personality which they have grown to like. ‘Viru Ke Funde’ is an exciting addition to our catalog of originals for our viewers.”
Sehwag said, “Life is all about keeping things simple. See the Ball, Hit the Ball! Viru ke Funde is about sharing what I have learned in life and cricket with my real friends, making the experience all the more ‘FUN.’ I am delighted to partner with Viu which has given me a platform to engage with my fans through the digital medium. I hope the show will give you as much thrill as my batting did.”
Links to the first five episodes of ‘Viru Ke Funde’
Promo – https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139615025?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #1: How to Win an Argument with your Wife
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341106?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #2: How to behave in a 5 Star Hotel
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341134?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #3: How To Increase Facebook Likes
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341139?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #4: How To Manage Stress
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341149?containerId=playlist-24122189
Funda #5: How To Lose Weight
https://www.viu.com/en/media/1139341137?containerId=playlist-24122189
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.
