International
Michael Sarrazin no more
MUMBAI: Michael Sarrazin, remembered for his role opposite Jane Fonda in the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don‘t They? expired in Montreal after a brief encounter with Cancer. He was 70.
It may be remembered that Horses was nominated for nine Oscars and won a single statuette for Gig Young‘s supporting role in the film in which Fonda played a suicidal woman who heads to Hollywood and meets up with Sarrazin‘s character, an aspiring director. The two enter a grueling dance marathon during which she tries to convince him to shoot her and put her out of her misery.
Besides Tunisia, more than 12 countries took part in the festival, including Japan, Mexico and the United States. All films featured were categorised as writers‘ films or films belonging to the independent cinema as opposed to commercial films.
Sarrazin was born Jacques Michel Andre Sarrazin in Quebec City in 1940 and later moved with his family to Montreal.
In 1965, Sarrazin signed with Universal and became one of the last actors to come out of the studio. He went on to land a few roles, including playing a Confederate soldier 1968‘s Journey to Shiloh, opposite Harrison Ford and earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a slacker surfer in The Sweet Ride.
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.
