Podcast
Cyrus Says
Hosted by IVM Podcasts · EN
Broadcasting through the week with a rotating panel of guests, Cyrus Says is the definitive show on life in urban India, politics, sports, civic sense, traffic, kids, food, and everything that matters. Mostly.
84episodes
Episodes
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Tusharr Kumar & Preranaa Khatri on OML, India’s Creator Economy and the Future of Entertainment | Cyrus Says
Yesterday00:57:30Tap to summarizeWelcome to Cyrus Says! On this episode of Cyrus Says, Tusharr Kumar, CEO of OML, and Preranaa Khatri, CBO of OML, reveal how the company grew from representing independent musicians to becoming a major force across comedy, creators, branded content, production and sports entertainment. They explain what OML looks for in new talent, how artists are discovered and why collaboration between a creator and their manager matters so much. They also talk about the rise of Indian stand-up comedy, OML’s journey with NH7 Weekender, producing over 70 shows for streaming platforms, Zakir Khan’s international success, the impact of the AIB Roast and how creators such as Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi and Kullu have built loyal communities. The conversation also covers brand collaborations, censorship in comedy, influencer marketing and why social media could change the future of Indian sports content.Watch the full episode of Cyrus Says for an entertaining look at the business behind India’s biggest comedians, creators and digital entertainment brands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Punit Pania Returns for Trains, Politics and Peak Cyrus Says Chaos
4d ago00:54:30Tap to summarizeStand-up comedian Punit Pania joins Cyrus Broacha for a chaotic, sharp and deeply funny conversation about political protests, Mumbai life and the everyday absurdities of modern India. Fresh from attending the protest at Shivaji Park, Punit shares what he witnessed on the ground, how the gathering grew and what happened when the police began detaining participants, including fellow comedians. Cyrus and Punit discuss the importance of dissent, media coverage of protests, political communication, celebrity reactions and the sudden wave of political content across social media. Naturally, the conversation repeatedly returns to Punit’s true area of expertise: Mumbai’s trains. A delayed AC local and a wasted ₹70 ticket become the starting point for a larger discussion about Indian infrastructure, public transport and political accountability. The episode also covers Punit’s alleged girlfriend, Gopal Datt’s new podcast, unusual viral marriages, political mattresses, Mumbai restaurant inspections, Indian-Chinese food and a chaotic fact-or-fiction quiz involving dabbawalas, Pepsi, Soviet warships and ladies’ special trains. Watch till the end for politics, protest stories, train trivia and classic Cyrus Says derailments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Shailendra Singh’s Wildest Stories: Bollywood, Books, Hair and the IPL | Cyrus Says
6d ago01:03:47Tap to summarizeShailendra Singh came to talk about his book. Instead, we got Sunburn, YouTube India, Salman Khan’s hair, IPL history and Cyrus trying to find a sponsor somewhere in the wreckage. Shailendra looks back at the early Sunburn days, including YouTube’s ₹3.25 crore broadcast deal, and explains how the festival helped push live streaming in India before everyone became a creator. The chat then drifts into cricketainment, Lalit Modi, self-help, Bollywood and the urgent question of whether Cyrus can still save his hairline. Basically, one guest, ten industries and absolutely no chance of staying on topic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Farhad Samji on Singham, Golmaal, Chennai Express and His Bollywood Journey | Cyrus Says
1w ago00:53:03Tap to summarizeWelcome to Cyrus Says!In this episode of Cyrus Says, Farhad Samji joins Cyrus to share his journey from arriving in Mumbai with 350 songs to becoming one of Bollywood’s most recognised writers and directors. He talks about his early struggles, meeting Salman Khan, working with Ram Gopal Varma and Rohit Shetty, writing for Golmaal, Chennai Express and Singham, and the story behind the iconic line “Aata Majhi Satakli.” Farhad also opens up about his bond with Johnny Lever, how he writes comedy for big stars, and the pressure of working on popular franchises such as Golmaal, Housefull, Singham, the Rohit Shetty cop universe and Welcome. He also talks about recently working on Welcome to the Jungle and explains why, despite being a director, he still sees himself as a writer first. Watch the full episode of Cyrus Says for hilarious stories, Bollywood memories and a behind-the-scenes look at Farhad Samji’s creative journey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Messi, Reality TV and Absolute Nonsense ft. Akanksha & Shantanu | Cock and Bull | Cyrus Says
2w ago01:12:19Tap to summarizeAkanksha and Shantanu came to discuss sensible things. We put a stop to that immediately.There’s FIFA possibly protecting Messi, Ram Kapoor versus Kushal Tandon, wedding gossip, weight loss, reality TV and enough incorrect information to comfortably run a news channel.Nobody learns anything. Cyrus talks too much. Standard episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Music, Spirituality and Sports with Mahesh Kale | Cyrus Says
2w ago01:01:23Tap to summarizeNational Award-winning Indian classical vocalist Mahesh Kale joins Cyrus Broacha for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about music, career choices, spirituality and sport. Mahesh shares how growing up around bhajans and classical music in Pune shaped his musical instincts, even as he followed the conventional path of studying engineering. He recalls the emotional encounter during his master’s programme in America that pushed him to reconsider a Silicon Valley career and give music his full attention. He also talks about supporting himself through teaching, working in Marathi musical theatre, performing in Katyar Kaljat Ghusali and receiving national recognition for his singing. The episode explores the philosophy behind Mahesh’s Abhangwari concerts and his efforts to connect Indian classical music with younger listeners. From writing bandishes about artificial intelligence and self-driving cars to experimenting with EDM, Mahesh explains why tradition must remain authentic while also finding new spaces in which to be discovered. Cyrus and Mahesh also discuss football, cricket, Messi, Neymar and the psychology of high-level sport before ending with a classical music quiz and a spontaneous performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb on OML, NH7 Weekender, Rebellion and India’s Music Business | Cyrus Says
2w ago01:03:04Tap to summarizeWelcome to Cyrus Says!In this episode, Cyrus sits down with Girish Talwar and Debayan Deb, founder and co-founder of Rebellion Management, for a fascinating conversation about India’s independent music movement, artist management, live events, creator culture, and how entertainment businesses are actually built from the ground up. Girish reflects on his journey from law school and playing bass in Zero to helping shape the indie scene through Only Much Louder(OML), artist management, CDs, music videos, festivals, and eventually some of the biggest shifts in Indian live entertainment. Debayan adds the next-generation lens, sharing how fandom, the internet, and modern creator ecosystems changed the way talent is discovered, built, and monetized.The conversation moves through the rise of OML, the early independent band circuit, NH7 Weekender, artist communities, Babblefish, branded content, streaming, music economics, Vir Das, creator management, sync licensing, and how Rebellion now works across music, creators, and brand partnerships. It is funny, nostalgic, sharply observant, and full of real industry insight on what it takes to build culture before the market is ready for it. This is a great episode for anyone interested in music, entrepreneurship, media, and the business of entertainment in India.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Films, Cricket and Midlife Comedy | Aakash Mehta & Kailashnath Koppikar | Cyrus Says
3w ago00:57:39Tap to summarizeMost people collect degrees to build a career. Kailashnath Koppikar collected an MBBS, an MBA, film-school experience, jobs in cinema and television, ghostwriting work and then decided to start doing open mics.Naturally, Cyrus is offended on behalf of every Indian parent.Kailashnath and Aakash Mehta joins Cyrus Broacha to discuss his journey from medicine to NFDC, film production, television and stand-up comedy. They also get into Backspace, the importance of doing the unglamorous work, Aakash’s international tour and the strange economics of performing comedy abroad.The conversation then behaves like every Cyrus Says episode should: Christopher Nolan eating at Olympia, alcohol becoming a vaccine, unsuccessful fishing trips, Bollywood feuds, cricket fans, Rajinikanth in Japan, ancient Egyptian gold tongues and current affairs solved with absolutely no responsibility.Come for the career advice. Stay because nobody remembers what the original topic was.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Venom, Cobras and India’s Snakebite Problem | Sumanth Bindhumadhav | Cyrus Says
3w ago00:59:55Tap to summarizeWhy are Indians so afraid of snakes and how much of what we believe is completely wrong? On this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus Broacha speaks with animal welfare and snake conservation advocate Sumanth Bindhumadhav about snake behaviour, snakebite prevention and the misinformation surrounding reptiles in India. Sumanth explains the difference between venomous and poisonous animals, introduces India’s “Big Four” medically significant snakes and reveals why a cobra’s hood is usually a sign of fear, not aggression. He also shares the correct response to a snakebite, including why cutting the wound, sucking out venom or tying a tourniquet can make things worse. The conversation explores India’s snakebite public health crisis, the lack of research and effective antivenom, dangerous advice still appearing in textbooks, unethical snake relocation and the role cinema has played in spreading animal myths. Along the way, expect stories about a 12-foot king cobra, a five-star hotel’s bizarre snake-catching scam, elephant conservation, Bangalore traffic, weight training and Cyrus asking questions nobody else would dare ask. Watch the full episode and share it with someone who still says “poisonous snake.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Vaibhav Tatwawadi on The Titan Story, Theatre, Engineering, Marathi Cinema and Hindi Films | Cyrus Says
3w ago00:56:13Tap to summarizeWelcome to Cyrus Says!In this episode of Cyrus Says, Cyrus sits down with Vaibhav Tatwawadi for a warm, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about theatre, engineering, acting, language, discipline, and the long road to finding success on your own terms. From growing up in Nagpur and choosing Pune over Mumbai, to discovering that badminton gave him applause but theatre gave him purpose, Vaibhav opens up about how he slowly built himself as an actor through inter-college drama, FTII projects, Marathi cinema, and eventually Hindi films. The conversation also dives into Vaibhav’s journey through COEP, his backup plan of becoming a professor, the realities of coming from a non-metro city, and how confidence, craft, and patience shaped his career. He speaks about working with Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Naseeruddin Shah, and the emotional impact of The Titan Story, which connected with audiences far beyond just performance because of the brand’s deep nostalgia and emotional place in Indian life.This is a thoughtful and highly engaging episode about passion, preparation, humility, and the kind of success that comes from staying rooted while growing across industries and languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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