International
BAFTA hands out Kings Speech with five awards
MUMBAI: The BAFA awards crowned The King‘s Speech as the big winner followed by the Facebook-founding drama that took three awards including best director award for David Fincher. Inception too won three trophies.
The King‘s Speech, that went into the awards as a hot favourite with 14 nominations beat The Social Network, ‘Black Swan, Inception and True Grit for the best picture award. The film also took awards for best British film, original screenplay, original music, supporting actor and supporting actress.
As expected, Colin Firth won best actor award for his portrayal of the reluctant monarch.
The Social Network took awards in the direction and editing categories as well as an award for Aaron Sorkin‘s adapted screenplay while Inception won awards for sound, production design and visual effects.
Natalie Portman won the best actress prize for psychosexual dance thriller Black Swan, its only win from 12 nominations.
Writer-director Chris Morris took the prize for best British debut for Four Lions.
Swedish thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo bagged the best foreign language film award. Actor Tom Hardy won the Rising Star Award.
Most of the winners were selected by the votes of 6,000 Academy members.
Christopher Lee, who chilled generations as Count Dracula in a series of Hammer Studios horror classics, received a lifetime achievement award.
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.
