International
Japanese animator Satoshi Kon passes away
MUMBAI: Well-known Japanese animation director Satoshi Kon better known for Tokyo Godfathers and Millennium Actress among other award winning films expired d of pancreatic cancer at the age of 46 last Tuesday.
Considered one of Japan‘s most exciting animation film directors, oKon was born in 1963 on the island of Hokkaido and debuted as a comic book artiste when he was 23 while still an art student at Musashino Art University near Tokyo. He began making animated films about 1990, establishing a style that blurred the boundaries of reality and fantasy.
In his Oscar-nominated 2003 film Tokyo Godfathers, Kon featured three homeless people instead of three cowboys, breaking with the clean and ritzy image of the Japanese capital.
The 2006 film Paprika based on a novel by popular writer Yasutaka Tsutsui, used breathtaking cutting-edge animation and won a prize at the Brussels anime festival in 2007.
Kon was working on his first children‘s film The Dreaming Machine at the time of his death.
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.
