The Viral Fever, better known as TVF, is a production company that has found a cosy place in our hearts for its quirky comedy shows in recent times — first on YouTube and then on other OTT platforms, including its own TVFPlay website and app.
Here are five TVF comedy shows, each with short episodes ranging from 21 minutes to 40 minutes, that you can watch on the TVFPlay app or website for free.
Permanent Roommates
One of India’s first serialised web content, Permanent Roommates is a fun and relatable romantic comedy that explores the day-to-day life of an urban couple in a live-in relationship. You’ll fall in love with the lead characters, played by Sumeet Vyas and Nidhi Singh, as they share plenty of goofy and dramatic moments along their journey as a couple.
The series unfolds with Tanya’s (Nidhi Singh) long-distance relationship with Mikesh (Sumeet Vyas) when he lived in the US for three years. What would happen if they are to find themselves engaged and living in Mumbai? Written and developed by Biswapati Sarkar and Sameer Saxena, the success of this romcom has helped in the rapid growth of online content in India.
Pitchers
Written by Biswapati Sarkar and directed by Amit Gonali, TVF Pitchers is a workplace comedy chronicling young professionals’ foray into the wild world of Indian start-ups. Focusing on four friends who are dissatisfied with their work lives, the series shows how they take a leap of faith and let go of their day jobs to concentrate on their own business.
Naveen Kasturia, Arunabh Kumar, Jitendra Kumar and Abhay Mahajan steal the show as the four young professionals taking a topsy-turvy ride along the startup journey. An uplifting tale laced with some funny sequences, TVF Pitchers depicts the hardships, effort, hurt, tears and numerous sacrifices that go into creating a successful business.
Tripling
Ever wondered what would happen if three siblings go on a road trip after years of staying away from each other? Developed by Sameer Saxena and written by Akarsh Khurana and Sumeet Vyas, TVF’s Tripling explores this question with a lightness that hangs heavy on your mind.
When three siblings Chandan, Chanchal and Chitvan — played by Sumeet Vyas, Maanvi Gagroo and Amol Parashar — embark on an impromptu road trip, it turns out to be a rollercoaster ride of emotions. With many humorous moments and dramatic turns, the Tripling treats family complications with tenderness and a rare understanding of the modern malady of communication breakdown.
Yeh Meri Family
Created and directed by Sameer Saxena, Yeh Meri Family is a trip down memory lane for those who grew up in the 1990s. Set in 1998 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the show tells its story from the point of view of 12-year-old Harshu Gupta (played by Vishesh Bansal) and his family.
A treasure trove of nostalgia-filled childhood memories for a ’90s kid, this TVF show explores the middle-class sensibilities of a young nuclear family and how adolescence dawns upon the family’s middle child. Harshu must balance the demands of school, family, friendship and other aspects of growing up. Mona Singh puts in a sterling performance as Harshu’s mother.
Humorously Yours
Created by frequent TVF collaborator Amit Gilani, this Humorously Yours busts the myth about the fabulous lives of stand-up comedians. It takes a scalpel through their lives and brings to light the challenges faced by successful stand-up comedians — exposing their financial and social insecurities, albeit with a touch of the customary lightness that is a trademark of all TVF shows.
Stand-up comedian Vipul Goyal plays a fictionalised version of himself in this series, using his mini-adventures as the basis for the plot to demonstrate the drama behind his comedy. Humorously Yours also features talented actors like Rasika Dugal and Abhishek Banerjee. The stand-up bits in the show are hilarious, but the comedy of errors that remains unseen behind the curtains is even better.
