International
Berlinale opens with Farewell My Queen
MUMBAI: The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival opens today with the world premiere of Benoît Jacquot’s film Farewell My Queen (Les adieux ? la Reine)
While Mohan Kumar Valasala’s Panchabhuta will compete in Berlinale Shorts at the festival, Gattu, directed by Rajan Khosa and produced by the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) will compete in Generation KPlus section of the festival.
Kutch, a project to be directed by Bobby Bedi will be the first Indian project to participate in Berlinale co-production market.
Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2 which is a co-production between India and Germany will have a special screening at the festival.
Indian film curator and journalist Meenakshi Shedde is on the FIRPRESCI jury of the festival. All members of the International Jury- Anton Corbijn, Asghar Farhadi, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mike Leigh, François Ozon, Boualem Sansal and Barbara Sukowa – will be present. The 62nd Berlin International Film Festival will close on February 19, 2012.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
