International
Iranian film bags three top honours at Berlin Fest
MUMBAI: Bagging three top awards including the coveted Golden Bear, Iranian film Nader and Simin, a Separation, directed by Asghar Farhadi, emerged as the most successful film At the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.
The seven-member international jury, which included actor-director-producer Aamir Khan, also honoured the leading male and female lead of the film by awarding them the Silver Bears for the best actor and the best actress.
“I never thought that I will get this prize,” Farhadi said after receiving the Golden Bear from the jury president Isabella Rossellini and festival director Dieter Kosslick.
Farhadi had received the Silver Bear for the best director for his portrayal of the Iranian society in his last feature film ‘About Elly‘ at the festival two years ago.
Nader and Simin, a Separation is based on a middle-class couple‘s divorce on the grounds that the wife Simin wants to move abroad to find a better future for their 11-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi), but her husband refuses because he wants to look after his sick father.
The Iranian competition entry was widely expected to win one of the main awards of the Berlinale, but its capture of three top positions surprised many festival participants.
Aamir Khan presented the Silver Bear for the best director that was shared by Peyman Moadi, Shahab Hosseini and Sareh Bayat.
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.
