International
Louie Psihoyos sues CBS, BBC for use of his pic
MUMBAI: Louie Psihoyos, who won an Oscar award this year for his dolphin-rights documentary The Cove has sued CBS and BBC alleging unauthorized use of a photograph he took in 1994 for National Geographic.
The photo depicts a vast bank of active television screens surrounding a person seated in a dark cavernous space.
According to a complaint, Psihoyos said that the photograph took him more than a month and $100,000 to create. He says it has been licensed “thousands of times” to Microsoft, IBM, Lucent, Sony, Time magazine, text books, pamphlets and Apple. Apple, later, agreed to license the image after being sued by Psihoyos over an iPhone application.
Psihoyos takes exception with an article that appeared on the BBC news website last September entitled “Future is TV-shaped, says Intel.” The article was accompanied by the famed photograph.
As for CBS‘ alleged misuse of the photo, Psihoyos says CBS Marketing appropriated it for commercial display at the 2009 Intel Developers Forum.
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.
