International
LIMA awards New Moon with license of the year award
MUMBAI: The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers‘ Association (LIMA) awarded Summit Entertainment‘s The Twilight Saga: New Moon this year‘s license of the year award at the ongoing Licensing International Expo in Las Vegas.
LIMA also honoured the film as the best film, television, celebrity or entertainment programme. Nordstrom won the best retailer award for its New Moon programme.
In all, LIMA handed out 16 International Licensing Excellence Awards with honorees ranging from classic brands, such as Mattel‘s Barbie (best character/toy brand) and Hasbro‘s Scrabble (best licensed promotion) in partnership with Subway to first-time winners like Food Network (best corporate brand program).
While ESPN won the best sports and sports-themed entertainment programme honour, video game maker Electronic Arts was named best sports entertainment licensee for its FIFA soccer games.
LIMA also honoured lifetime achievement awards to industry pioneers Alan Hassenfeld and the late Stephen Hassenfeld of Hasbro who were brought into the Licensing Industry Hall of Fame.
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.
