With more Indians discovering the power of video as a gateway to the world, YouTube was a constant companion to millions navigating the shifting sands of 2021. Viewers turned to YouTube to learn new skills, hone newfound passions, discover new, and find like-minded communities. Now, as 2021 comes to a close, YouTube is looking back at the most popular videos that caught the attention of viewers across the country and the creators who continued to inspire and impress audiences with their ingenuity.
In 2021, gaming leveled up emerging as a rich and diverse ground for storytelling and community building, with a notable presence across Top Creators, Top Breakout Creators, Top Women Breakout Creators and even, Top Shorts Creators. In fact, a 5-hour long gaming Livestream of the FreeFire World Series Final in 2021, became one of the most popular videos in India this year.
Comedy got new laughs. While Round2Hell’s 40-minute long horror-comedy zombie apocalypse short film became the #1 trending video, comedy did just as well in short-form video. The break-out success of the Tamil sensation Enjoy Enjaami, set off a drumbeat of content inspired by the Tamil Hit reaction videos, cover songs including some in Hindi and Malayalam, animated re-creations, re-creations within FreeFire, make-up tutorials, and even a PSA by the Kerala Police! Our Top Shorts creator A2 Motivation {Arvind Arora} showed us that you really only need a minute to win it. And, our Top Women Breakout Creators represented a diverse tapestry of genres and languages.
For more trends and insights, please see the detailed blog here.
For a deeper look at the year on YouTube and to see the top creators, videos, and trends in many other countries, head to the Culture & Trends site.
Here’s a complete list of the most popular creators and videos on YouTube in 2021:
| Top Trending Videos | ||
| # | Video title | Channel |
| 1 | ZOMBIE | The Living Dead | Round2Hell | R2H | Round2hell |
| 2 | PAAGAL BETA 13 | Jokes | CS Bisht Vines | Desi Comedy Video | School Classroom Jokes | CS Bisht Vines |
| 3 | TVF’s Aspirants | Episode 1 | UPSC – Optional Me Kya Hai? | The Viral Fever |
| 4 | THE LAND OF BIGG BOSS | CARRYMINATI | CarryMinati |
| 5 | [HINDI] Free Fire World Series 2021 Singapore Finals | Free Fire Esports India |
| 6 | The Mummy Returns | Ashish Chanchlani | ashish chanchlani vines |
| 7 | BHAI – BEHAN AUR चुड़ैल || Rachit Rojha | Rachit Rojha |
| 8 | Dhindora | EP 01: Lag Gayi | BB Ki Vines | BB Ki Vines |
| 9 | Roommate – Stand Up Comedy Ft. Anubhav Singh Bassi | Anubhav Singh Bassi |
| 10 | Bhide Jumps Off Balcony?! | Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah | TMKOC Comedy | तारक मेहता | Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah |
Also Read: International artists Lil Nas X, BLACKPINK, BTS rule Youtube’s musical chart 2021
| Top Creators | |
| # | Channel |
| 1 | Total Gaming |
| 2 | Techno Gamerz |
| 3 | Jkk Entertainment |
| 4 | Crazy XYZ |
| 5 | A_S Gaming |
| 6 | LOKESH GAMER |
| 7 | MR. INDIAN HACKER |
| 8 | Village Cooking Channel |
| 9 | Round2hell |
| 10 | Gyan Gaming |
| Top Shorts Creators | |
| # | Channel |
| 1 | A2 Motivation {Arvind Arora} |
| 2 | Dushyant kukreja |
| 3 | Sanjoy Das Official |
| 4 | Ajay Sharma |
| 5 | baseer gaming |
| 6 | English Connection |
| 7 | LittleGlove |
| 8 | Mr Gyani Facts |
| 9 | Shivam Malik |
| 10 | Tsuriki Show |
| Breakout Creators | |
| # | Channel |
| 1 | Harpreet SDC |
| 2 | ADITECH |
| 3 | The Viral Fever |
| 4 | Family Fitness |
| 5 | STAR GAMERS |
| 6 | Jeki khan khatri |
| 7 | Flight Gamer |
| 8 | Rai Live |
| 9 | Dance with Alisha |
| 10 | Ayush Yadav |
| Women Breakout Creators | |
| # | Channel |
| 1 | Dance with Alisha |
| 2 | PAYAL GAMING |
| 3 | Suhani Shah |
| 4 | Kashika Sisodia |
| 5 | Lakshmi Nakshathra |
| 6 | Aditi Sharma |
| 7 | Mamatha natural food |
| 8 | DEVIKA GUPTA |
| 9 | Priyanka hard-work |
| 10 | Deepthi Sunaina |
