International
Orson Welles comes back to screen as narrator
MUMBAI: Orson Welles is set to appear posthumously in a film. A rare recording, recently discovered has the filmmaker narrating a children‘s Christmas novel, is being used as the basis of a film.
The film is being produced by Drac Studios, known as a special effects and makeup studio for movies like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It has now moved into full-fledged production.
Drac is developing Christmas Tails, a 3D live-action/CG hybrid film to be directed by Todd Tucker and narrated by Welles who expired in 1985.
Said Drac president Harvey Lowry, “It‘s a movie about how Santa‘s dog saves Christmas, but on one level, this a story about the discovery of Orson‘s lost tapes. This is a substantial find. It‘s something that a filmmaker dreams of.”
More than 25 years ago, author Robert X. Leed self-published a book titled Christmas Tails and in 1985 got his friend, the legendary Welles, to narrate it making five reel-to-reel recordings.
The filmmaker passed away a few months later, and apart from Leed making the occasional copy of a reel to pass along with his book, the recordings stayed on a shelf in a closet of his Las Vegas home.
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.
