International
Restored Universal Studios back in business
MUMBAI: A treasured landmark movie setting was unveiled last Thursday, with a champagne-popping comeback seen only in Hollywood.
Courthouse Square sprang to life on the restored Universal Studios Hollywood backlot with characters previously filmed on the hometown setting, from the wild-haired Doc Brown in Back to the Future to the jiggly Professor Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor.
Those Tinseltown characters and others streamed out of a rehabilitated three-story brick courthouse on cue, followed by the USC Marching Band playing 76 Trombones. They greeted a tram filled with the first visitors to see the area blackened last year in a four-acre fire.
“We think our guests will get an experience that far exceeds any experience they‘ve ever had,” said Larry Kurzweil, president of Universal Studios Hollywood. “This is the beginning of a let-it-roll.”
Seen in more than 1,000 productions dating to the 1940s, Courthouse Square was among other movie facades on the 400-acre lot demolished in a fast-moving blaze on June 1, 2008.
It was once known as Mockingbird Square for its appearance in key scenes of To Kill a Mockingbird. It also provided the backdrop for River City, Iowa, the venue for the toe-tapping musical The Music Man and as Sweet Apple, Ohio, in Bye Bye Birdie.
Surrounding the courthouse are facades for an antique shop, bakery, video and music stores, police and fire stations and a gas pump. A veranda stands nearby on a grassy, shrub-lined park.
Today, the clock tower that once adorned the courthouse in “Back to the Future” is gone, because the setting is now home to the TV drama Ghost Whisperer. Still, it wouldn‘t be Hollywood without a little nip and tuck done before the high-profile unveiling.
Universal officials also introduced a new tram system on Thursday, loaded with high-definition TV monitors and surround sound.
The high-tech system shows movie clips to thrill-seekers as tram riders tour backstage lots. It also offers commentary from legendary moviemakers who filmed at the studio, from Steven Spielberg, who directed Jaws on the lot, to Stephen Sommers, writer of The Mummy.
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.
