International
Aamir Bashir film at San Fransisco Film Fest
MUMBAI: The 54th annual San Francisco International Film Festival has a wide variety of films in its lineup of nearly 200 selections. Here is a short list of five recommended films.
Topping the list is Beginners, the opening night film. It is the story of man coming out at age 75. The focus of the story is Plummer‘s character‘s son (Ewan McGregor) and his struggle with childhood memories, the loss of his father, depression and an attempt at romance. The film would be shown on 21 April.
The second recommended film is The Mill and the Cross that traces the lives of people in and around Pieter Bruegel the Elder‘s 1564 painting, The Way to Calvary created during the brutal Spanish occupation of Flanders as Philip II‘s army wreaked havoc on the population, executing “heretics” by crucifying them. To be screened on 23 April.
Next recommeded film is the Japanese film Hospitalité that talks about the economic problems of working-class Tokyo residents. Among the strange happenings are unexpected secrets, the presence of a foreign blonde who speaks accentless English and surrealistic couplings. To be also screened on 21 April.
The fourth film is the Indian film Autumn directed by Aamir Bashir. The film, set in Kashmir was filmed on location in the beautiful Kashmir Valley and features non-professional or first-time Kashmiri actors.
The story follows the lives of a family in which one son has been lost in the conflict, and the younger son faces peril in everyday life, while his parents fight trauma and depression. To be screened on 25 April.
And the last recommended film is Ulysses. Odyssey-like wanderings of a Peruvian emigrant in Chile comprise the film in which the main character finds himself with a head wound on the pavement of a city and, feeling dazed, confused and disconnected, begins a journey back home.
On the way, he faces challenges on a somewhat smaller scale than those of Homer‘s Ulysses. Instead of mythical monsters, he deals with sleeplessness, a job search and immigration regulations. To be screened on 26 April and 2 May.
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.
