In 2024, Indian comedy went bigger, harder, stronger than ever before. And all that hard work deserves a reward. With these awards we celebrate and highlight the best of Indian standup from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024. They’re like the Oscars, but the kind Indian1 standup n̶e̶e̶d̶s̶ deserves. Without further ado, here are the winners of the DeadAnt Comedy Awards 2025.

Viewer’s Choice: India’s Favourite International Comedy Special

Few comedians can fire off punchlines with the precision of Jimmy Carr. His 2024 special Natural Born Killer was proof of that, a showcase of brutal wit and flawless delivery that Indian fans couldn’t get enough of – perhaps also because we got the chance to see him live at the top of 2024? And so it is that your votes put him at the top of the DeadAnt Comedy Award for India’s Favourite International Comedy Special.

Viewer’s Choice: Best Live Show

Abhishek Upmanyu owned the live circuit in 2024. With Toxic, he packed out venues across the globe, proving once again that a truly great live show isn’t just about the jokes, but the energy, timing, and connection with the audience. No surprises then that Toxic takes home the DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Live Show.

Viewer’s Choice: Funniest Person On The Indian Internet

In 2024, no one dominated the Indian internet quite like Aatman Desai. With his sharp sketches, hot takes, and a knack for making everyday absurdities hilarious, Aatman built a fanbase that laughs with him every single day. It’s no surprise that he’s been voted as this year’s DeadAnt Comedy Award winner for Funniest Person on the Indian Internet.

Viewer’s Choice: Entertainer of the Year

When it comes to comedy and entertainment in 2024, Samay Raina wasn’t just part of the conversation—he was the conversation. His scale, reach, and relentless presence online made him an unstoppable force. The DeadAnt Comedy Award for Entertainer of the Year could only go one way.

Peer Picks: Next Big Thing

The Peer Picks DeadAnt Comedy Award for Next Big Thing is about spotting the comic who’s about to break out in a big way. This year, that’s Shamik Chakrabarti—a comedian whose work in 2024 proved he’s not just promising, but already unmissable.

Peer Picks: Most Inspiring Comedian

Few comedians carry the weight of global recognition while still pushing the boundaries at home. In 2024, Vir Das continued to do just that—winning awards abroad, creating work that resonates everywhere, and proving that Indian comedy can hold its own on the world stage. For this, Vir Das is the Peer Picks DeadAnt Comedy Award winner for Most Inspiring Comedian.

Peer Picks: Best Venue for Standup Comedy

The Habitat has (for years now) offered a stage where comics experiment, grow, and deliver unforgettable sets. For nurturing talent and giving audiences some of the best nights out, The Habitat takes home the 2024 Peer Picks DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Venue for Standup Comedy.

Peer Picks: Best Comedy Producer

Behind every great comedy show is a producer who makes it all possible (trust us, we know). In 2024, no one did it better for India’s top acts than Oriole Entertainment. From curating lineups to pulling off large-scale productions, the Peer Picks DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Comedy Producer goes to Oriole Entertainment.

Peer Picks: Comics’ Comic

The Comics’ Comic award is about respect—the kind that comes from peers who know just how hard this craft is. And in 2024, Varun Grover earned it in full. A writer, performer, and relentless truth-teller, his work continues to set the standard for Indian comedy, and winning the Peer Picks DeadAnt Comedy Award for Comics’ Comic.

Critics’ Choice: Best Indian Comedy Special Released Online

Few comedians can walk the tightrope between political satire and personal storytelling as deftly as Kunal Kamra. His 2024 release Uncle Logic proved just that, earning rave reviews across the board, garnering ~5M views, and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Indian Comedy Special Released Online.

Critics’ Choice: Best Format Show by a Comedian

With India’s Got Latent, Samay Raina proved that format shows in comedy can be as whaaacky as they are entertaining. Clocking over ~50M views, blending structure, spontaneity, and his signature wit, he created a show that not just the critics, but the whole country couldn’t ignore. We’re happy to announce that everyone’s favourite show is also the Crictics’ Choice DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Format Show by a Comedian.

Critics’ Choice: Most Exciting Voice

Sharon Verma and Manjeet Sarkar didn’t just perform in 2024—they announced themselves. With stories rooted in lived experience and delivered with originality, they brought something new to Indian comedy. Sharon & Manjeet tie for top spot for the Critics’ Choice DeadAnt Comedy Award for Most Exciting Voice.

Critics’ Choice: Best Podcast by a Comedian/Comedy Creator

The Critics’ Choice DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Podcast by a Comedian/Comedy Creator goes to not one, but TWO shows that defined the year in comedy podcasts. Moment of Silence and Chaar Yaar both proved that when comics talk, the internet listens.

Critics’ Choice: Best Poster Design

From concept to execution, the poster for Hoemonal captured everything that makes Sumukhi Suresh’s comedy stand out: fearless, funny, and unforgettable. It’s the design that caught everyone’s eye in 2025, winning Best Poster Design [Critics’ Choice] at the DeadAnt Comedy Awards.

Critics’ Choice: Best Standup Bit Online

Shreeja Chaturvedi has a gift for turning the ordinary into the absurdly funny. With Yauvan, she delivered a bit that went viral for all the right reasons—smart, surprising, and unmistakably her. The internet loved it, and so did we. For that, Yauvan takes home the DeadAnt Comedy Award for Best Standup Bit Online [Critics’ Choice].