International
Negative cutter Donah Bassett no more
MUMBAI: Donah Bassett, a negative cutter in Hollywood for more than forty years expired on Tuesday. She was 83.
Bassett took a job as a film technician at Technicolor Film Laboratory in 1954 and established her own company known as Donah Bassett and Associates in 1976, worked on more than 200 films including classics such as Raging Bull, Reds, The Natural, Amadeus, Blue Velvet, Wall Street, A League of Their Own and Legends of the Fall.
She retired in 1996 and two years later moved to Arizona to study oil painting at local workshops and the Scottsdale Art School. Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions and galleries in California and Arizona.
Bassett is survived by her brother, Charles Taft; children Chris Scudder, Cathy Bassett Goldman and Craig Bassett; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
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.
