International
January box-office plummets by 25.3 pc to total $792.3 million
MUMBAI: Last month‘s totals came in at $792.3 million, much lower than 2010 and 2009, when tickets sales exceeded $1 billion for the first time in history. The box-office results of January 2011 showed a downward trend of 25.3 per cent from the $1.06 billion collected in the first month of 2010 and 22 per cent down from the $1.02 billion earned in the same month in 2009.
Box office revenues in January 2011 plummeted dramatically compared to that of 2009 and 2010 when tickets sales exceeded $1 billion. Revenues last month recorded an income of $792.3 million compared to $794.7 million recorded in the same month in 2008.
The decline is said to be due to the lack of a breakout Christmas hit that carried over — such as Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel last year as well as a number of underperforming films in January last.
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.
