International
India opens facilitation office to speed up approvals for international filmmakers: Javadekar
New Delhi: India has opened up a facilitation office to attract more international filmmakers to India and ensure that they get all permissions in one go, said the union minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday.
Javadekar was addressing the virtual inauguration of the ‘India Pavilion’ during the 74th Cannes Film Festival, organised by the ministry jointly with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
“This is the second year when the pavilions are virtually organised but the business is real including the creativity, talent, technology, and India offers the best of these. The virtual India pavilion can become a meeting place to meet and discuss the future of the world of cinema,” said the union minister, adding that he hopes “the world comes out of the pandemic very soon and people come back to theaters once again”.
Highlighting India’s increasing contribution to world films, Javadekar said, a lot of Hollywood movies like Lion King, Jungle Book, Avatar have got their VFX animation done in India. Many of the international films are being filmed in India with over 500 sites available, he added.
India is participating in the Cannes Film Festival 2021 virtually due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic. At the virtual pavilion, India will focus on celebrating the birth centenary of the legendary filmmaker, Satyajit Ray, promoting India as an important shooting destination and improving co-production between Indian filmmakers and foreign counterparts, said FICCI Film Forum co-chair, Uday Singh.
Balaji Telefilms, joint MD, Ekta Kapoor highlighted that India weaves a lot of local inbuilt flavours in its storytelling. “India is known as a content creating nation. Indian content has always been the soft ambassador of India and it has a lot of appeal in the international market. Collaborations are the way forward for any company and there are a lot of opportunities in India,” she said.
According to CBFC chairman, Prasoon Joshi, Indian cinema along with the filmmakers are going in the right direction today along with the focus on regional cinema. “Indian audiences today are more active seekers and the pandemic has given more acceleration to explore the world of cinema. There is a churn in Indian cinema,” he added.
Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious movie galas in the world, was initially scheduled to take place in May but was pushed by two months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Last year’s edition was cancelled due to the pandemic and replaced by a low-key event in October, showcasing short films but without the A-list movie stars, directors and producers.
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.
