International
Landmark decision against film pirate in UK
MUMBAI: In a landmark court decision, a film pirate who indulged in recording Hollywood films on his iPhone at a cinema based in Harrow has been sentenced to six months in prison today
Emmanuel Nimley becomes the first person to be sent to jail in the UK for this kind of offence after he was caught red handed using his mobile phone in the Vue Cinema in March this year.
The local Court heard how copyright theft is estimated to cost the movie industry in excess of more then half a billion pounds in the UK alone but it believed that the 22-year-old was not making any money from his crimes.
Police arrested Nimley while he was recording the Jennifer Anniston and Gerard Butler film Bounty Hunter.
The police found duplicates of The Crazies, Alice in Wonderland and Green Zone on file sharing network quicksilverscreen.com and found that they were filmed at the Harrow cinema.
Officers from Harrow police and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) then looked back through CCTV footage at the cinema that showed Nimley entering screenings of the films on the day of their release.
The court heard how the copies were posted just hours after the screenings but were of poor quality and that Nimley himself could be heard eating and drinking during the filming.
It was also said that rather than benefiting financially he had uploaded them in a bid to gain ‘kudos‘ from people visiting the site.
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.
