International
Rory Peck honours Channel 4’s doc on Mumbai children
MUMBAI: A documentary titled The Slumdog Children of Mumbai commissioned by UK‘s Channel 4 about the lives of children who live in Mumbai slums was among the honorees at the Rory Peck Awards in London recently. The documentary was made along with Oscar-winner Slumdog Millionaire.
The film lapped up the Sony Professional Impact Award that honours freelance camerawork in either news or current affairs that raises humanitarian issues and whose broadcast has had an international impact or contributed to a change in perception or policy.
Shot over three months through the Monsoon, the film follows the lives of four children: 7-year-old Deepa, who lives next to an open dump and runs barefoot through traffic selling flowers to help support her family; 11-year-old Salaam, who, a few weeks after running away from his abusive stepmother, lives outside the main railway station; and twins Hussan and Hussein, also 11, who risk cholera and infection fishing for scraps in a filthy canal so they can earn money to eat.
According to the director Nick Read, “The documentary was designed to be a complement to Slumdog Millionaire and a counterpoint to the movie.”
Rory Peck Awards, the annual international competition honours the skill, courage and enterprise of freelance news and current affairs cameramen and camerawomen.
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.
