International
Film on US hunt for Osama in offing
MUMBAI: The production of a film the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is being hastened.
Hollywood‘s Oscar-winning scriptwriter Mark Boal worked on his still untitled script about the US search for bin Laden since last year almost completing it. The production of the movie with another Oscar-winner, Kathryn Bigelow, as the director was scheduled for the summer.
Boal had been following the mission for quite some time, thanks to his access to military intelligence and his background as an investigative journalist. For him, the timing of bin Laden‘s death could hardly be better but the news comes late enough in the project‘s evolution that it‘ll maximise the movie‘s timeliness.
The scriptwriter and the director will now wait how the Arab world would react to the news on bin Laden‘s death to start production. Reportedly, Boal has already cancelled his trip to Afghanistan that he scheduled for the coming week.
Boal and Bigelow worked together as the scriptwriter and director of Hurt Locker in 2008. Last year, the film was awarded six Oscars including the best picture, best director and best original screenplay.
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.
