Screen time turns scream time as PVR Inox rolls out Kerala Comedy Fest

MUMBAI: Why should the big screen have all the fun? This June, Kerala’s moviegoers can expect less drama and more laughter as PVR Inox transforms its plush cinemas into live comedy hotspots. India’s largest multiplex chain, PVR Inox, is hitting refresh on the moviegoing experience with the launch of the Comedy Fest in Kerala, a three-weekend-long celebration of stand-up comedy in partnership with Comedy Lounge, the state’s foremost comedy collective. From rising local stars to crowd-favourite comics, the fest promises a chuckle-fuelled line-up all served in the comfort of air-conditioned auditoriums with top-tier sound and lighting.

The festival kicks off on 14 June at PVR Lulu Mall, Kochi, with ‘Straight Outta Kochi’, Comedy Lounge’s signature showcase featuring top Kochi-based comics. The bilingual act (English & Malayalam) is designed to tickle funny bones across Kerala.

Next up, on 21 June, is the ‘Vishnu Pai Crowd Work Show’ at Inox Sobha City Mall, Thrissur. Known for his razor-sharp wit and pan-India performances, Vishnu Pai Kerala’s top-rated English-language comic brings his improv-style set that thrives on audience interaction.

The month wraps up with the ever-popular Kochi Open Mics on 28 June, back at PVR Lulu Mall, bringing a blend of English, Malayalam, and Hindi humour from emerging comics, keeping things fresh, unscripted, and full of surprises.

But this isn’t just a one-off laugh riot. It’s part of PVR Inox’s broader strategy to diversify cinema spaces into multi-format cultural hubs. From indie film screenings to live theatre and now stand-up comedy, the brand is reimagining its venues as stages for local stories and spontaneous joy.

“This isn’t just about bringing comics into theatres,” said PVR Inox Ltd chief business planning & strategy Kamal Gianchandani. “It’s about expanding the definition of entertainment and connecting with audiences in a format that’s local, lively and unmissably real.”

As Kerala’s stand-up scene gains momentum, the Comedy Fest offers comics a high-quality platform and audiences a fresh reason to head back to the theatre this time, not for the plot twists, but for the punchlines.