International
Location filming in LA rises by 4.7 per cent!
MUMBAI: According to FilmL.A.-the not-for-profit organisation that issues on-location shooting permits in the city of Los Angeles, unincorporated parts of LA County and other jurisdictions, location filming in and around Los Angeles rose 4.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year, but it was not film or TV but miscellaneous projects such as music videos, industrial videos and student films.
According to FilmL.A., there were 11,604 production days in the quarter, compared to 11,087 during the same period last year (2010).
But the news was not all that good in the major categories. “The latest data suggest a softness in the industry but not a full loss of momentum,” FilmL.A. said. “Pilot production is up, and we have a couple of big features in production, so we‘re optimistic about a better set of numbers come July,” it added.
Feature production actually declined 5.3 per cent during the quarter, even though there were 10 projects filming on location that were taking advantage of the California Film and Television Tax Credit.
In the television category, production dropped 3.7 per cent for the quarter, led by losses in TV reality (down 6.4%) and TV drama (down 2.6 per cent). TV sitcoms, reflecting a number of single-camera shows in production, saw a 77.3 per cent increase but still accounted for only 360 shooting days, and the production of TV pilots grew by 4.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, commercials increased by 2.4 per cent during the quarter altough FilmL.A. noted that that category appears to be falling from an 18-month surge that delivered a record year-over-year increase last year.
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.
