International
Edinburg Film fest to honour Sir Sean Connery this year
MUMBAI: This year the Edinburg Film Festival (EIFF) will celebrate the 80th birthday of Sir Sean Connery when it screens Connery‘s The Man Who Would be King on 20 June.
Connery who has been patron of the festival since 1992, will be attending a special gala of one of his best-loved films in the festival sponsored by our newest supporter, Bank of Scotland.
The gala will give the audience at the festival, the opportunity to show their appreciation for Connery‘s stellar career, his support of the EIFF and his upcoming birthday celebration in August.
Avers EIFF artistic director Hannah McGill, “This event is a fitting way to celebrate Sir Sean‘s 80 years – almost twenty of which he has given to support EIFF as Patron.
“He is a great friend of the Festival and we look forward to celebrating this amid the glitter of the Festival Theatre. We are immensely grateful to Bank of Scotland for their support and are delighted to welcome them on board.”
The gala will also give an opportunity for the public audience to spend a glamorous evening in the company of Sir Connery.
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.
