International
Jackie Cooper bids adieu at 88
MUMBAI: Former child star, Jackie Cooper, who enjoyed renewed fame years later as the editor of Daily Planet, Perry White in the Christopher Reeve Superman film has expired. He was 88.
After a stint as a television executive during the 1960s and as a TV director in the 70s, Cooper won over a new generation of fans playing grizzled newspaperman Perry White in the 1978 film Superman and its three sequels.
He rose to fame as a prominent cast member of Hal Roach‘s Our Gang short comedy films, appearing in such notable releases as Teacher‘s Pet and Love Business.
He holds the record as the youngest actor to receive an Oscar nomination for his title role, at age 9, in Skippy, an adaptation of the comic strip about a lively youngster.
Later that year, he co-starred in The Champ as the innocent son of a washed-up boxer played by Wallace Beery.
He co-wrote his memoirs, ‘Please Don‘t Shoot My Dog‘ in 1981.
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.
