International
Julia Roberts receives Spain’s Donostia award
MUMBAI: Julia Roberts received the Donostia Award for lifetime achievement from the hands of Eat Pray Love co-star Javier Bardem at the 58th San Sebastian International Film Festival last Monday.
Exclaimed Roberts, “What a fortunate woman I‘ve been in my life for a variety of reasons. If we were having dinner, I‘d tell you all of them. But now, I‘ll just say thank you from the bottom of my heart.” On his part Bardem called Roberts “fearless,” “fun” and “friend.”
The duo is in town along with director Ryan Murphy and Richard Jenkins for the release of Eat in Spain. The film was screened to packed theatres at the festival.
While Eat was dismissed by critics as light fare, other films in the festival‘s lineup were getting positive reactions.
Diego Luna‘s directorial debut film Abel screened in the Latin Horizons sidebar and Josh Radnor‘s both played well to audiences with Peter Mullan‘s Scottish gang drama Neds and and Oscar Aibar‘s El Gran Vazquez making a splash in the main competition over the weekend.
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.
