International
Ed Falco novel The Family Corleone to release next year
MUMBAI: A prequel to Mario Puzo‘s Godfather, a novel written by Ed Falco, titled The Family Corleone is being readied and will be published in June 2012.
Based on an unproduced Puzo screenplay, The Family Corleone takes place before the Corleones‘ rise to power and tells the story of how young Vito Corleone fought his way through New York‘s criminal underworld to become the powerful Don introduced in The Godfather.
“Guided by Mario Puzo‘s own unproduced screenplay, Ed Falco thrillingly brings back Puzo‘s classic characters in a prequel that both honors the original, and stands on its own as a Godfather novel for a new generation of readers,” Grand Central Publishing exec vice president Jamie Raab has reportedly said.
Puzo shared adapted screenplay Oscars with Francis Ford Coppola in 1972 and 1974 for their work on The Godfather and The Godfather Part II respectively.
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.
