International
Hungarian film to open Shanghai fest
MUMBAI: Hungarian film Czuckor Show will be the opening film at the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) that opens on Saturday.
Producer Ferenc Pusztai said that he‘s hopeful that writer-director Tamás Dömötör‘s film will go well with Chinese audiences.
Czuckor is a love triangle that ends in suicide is inspired by a true story that first was dramatised on the stage in 2007.
The film will first screen at the SIFF and vie for the Jin Jue (Golden Goblet) award on 14 June.
Czuckor is a co-production of KMH Film and Dropout Films of Hungary and Anagram Produktion of Sweden.
The producers took a loan of 250,000 euros from the state-run Hungarian Film Fund for the making of the film.
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.
