International
Betty Garett no more
MUMBAI: Betty Garrett , better known for his films like All In The Family and On The Town died last Saturday. She was 91. Garrett‘s career formed acting on stage, screen and television.
Garrett performed on Broadway in the 1930s. In the ‘40s, she starred in sparkly MGM musicals before her career was tarnished by the Red Scare of the ‘50s.
In the musical On the Town, Garrett played a spunky New York City cab driver. She flirted with a sailor on leave, played by Frank Sinatra.
Garrett stopped getting work soon after her husband, Larry Parks was accused of being a communist and blacklisted. In an interview in 1998, Garett had said in an interview that “it was a dark and foolish period.”
By the ‘70s, Garrett was a regular on popular TV sitcoms, playing a neighbor in All in the Family and a landlady in Laverne and Shirley.
She also founded a non-profit theatre company called Theater West in North Hollywood.
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.
