International
Former Cameron employee sues filmmaker
MUMBAI: A former employee of James Cameron‘s Lightstorm Entertainment, Eric Ryder has sued both the filmmaker and his production house claiming that he has been excluded from participating in the success of Avatar though he spent two years developing the film.
Ryder filed the suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that in 1999, while he was a Lightstorm employee, he wrote a story called K.R.Z. 2068 as well as created treatments, photos, 3-D imagery and character elements for a planned movie the company was developing.
The K.R.Z. project was to be an “environmentally-themed 3-D epic about a corporation‘s colonization and plundering of a distant moon‘s lush and wondrous natural setting,” he alleged in the complaint, it is understood.
The story allegedly included “a corporation spy,” “anthropomorphic, organically created beings populating that moon,” and a relaitonship between the spy and one of the beings that culminates in the spy becoming a leader of the group‘s revolt against the corporation‘s mining practices.
The complaint contains allegations of breach of implied contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, international interference with prospective economic advantage and negligent interference with prospective advantage.
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.
