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Netflix India brought together creators, performers and storytellers at the CII Big Picture Summit 2026 to explore what makes comedy connect with audiences, from relatable characters and everyday situations to distinctive creative voices and evolving formats. At the Confederation of Indian Industry’s flagship summit, the session, “Beyond the Punchline: What Makes Comedy a Hit?”, examined how stories rooted in local contexts can resonate with audiences and how comedy continues to evolve across series, stand-up, unscripted entertainment and creator-led formats.
Moderated by Rohini Ramnathan, the session featured Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India; Ravi Kishan, Actor, Producer and Member of Parliament; Sumukhi Suresh, Comedian, Actor and Writer; and Aatish Kapadia, Writer, Director, Co-Producer and Creator, bringing together diverse perspectives on comedy and storytelling. The panel looked at what makes comedy engaging, relatable and binge-worthy, with characters and stories that compel audiences to come back.
Speaking about the significance of comedy as a genre and Netflix’s continued focus on it, Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India, said, “I think comedy is perhaps one of the biggest shared cultural experiences that can exist. I also firmly believe that comedy is India’s love language. We love laughing over a cup of chai, during a break at the water cooler, or as families over dinner. So, what better way to bring that to life than through content of the highest quality? Comedy is a very important genre. I think it connects people and for us, it has become more than a genre; it has become a lens through which we look at content.”
The session showcased how Netflix’s comedy slate brings together established entertainers, experienced storytellers and emerging voices. Bami highlighted that comedy may speak in different voices, styles and languages, but its ability to bring people together is universal. The beauty lies in this diversity, with different forms of comedy, from slapstick to satire, finding their own points of connection with audiences. Through its Har Type Ka Funny campaign, Netflix brings together different expressions of comedy across its slate with titles such as Chumbak, Maamla Legal Hai, The Great Indian Kapil Show, and Papa Yaar with Bhuvan Bam’s Dhindora S2 slated to release soon, alongside formats like Sumukhi Suresh’s Hoemonal and Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent S2 that are now streaming on the platform.
The conversation also highlighted three key takeaways: comedy thrives on recognisable human experiences, distinctive creative voices bring fresh perspectives to familiar situations, and the craft behind the humour is as important as the punchline.
Speaking about what it took to bring VD Tyagi to life in Maamla Legal Hai, Ravi Kishan said, “We worked very hard on getting the timing right, figuring out the performance, the rhythm and the meter. We planned and choreographed everything meticulously, working extremely hard and our aim was to create a cult show on Netflix and we managed to reach audiences across 193 countries. That’s when I came to be known as VD Tyagi, and from there, my journey began.”
Sumukhi Suresh on being asked what makes comedy truly connect with audiences said, “Comedy is at its most honest when nobody is performing and it comes from a place of genuine spontaneity. That’s when the audience truly connects with it.”
Speaking about his process of identifying characters and building them into comedy narratives, Aatish Kapadia said, “Ordinary people have so many distinctive qualities, quirks and even egos that characters almost seem to emerge from within them organically. When I sit down for a meal, I often find myself more interested in the people around me than in the food, because I genuinely love people. And the more ordinary a person is, the more fascinating I find them.” He also spoke about his experience writing for Netflix and said, “ When Netflix becomes the audience for your writing, their experience teaches you that they know their audience deeply and are representative of what resonates with them. If we can make them laugh, we know we’re on the right track. That became our benchmark.”
The session concluded with the observation that while comedy may look effortless on screen, its execution relies on the craft behind it, including the writing, performances and on-screen chemistry that make a moment feel effortless and a character unforgettable.
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