International
Take Shelter tops five releases this week
MUMBAI: This week saw the release of five new films viz Take Shelter, Kenneth Lonergan‘s Margaret, Nick Broomfield and Joan Churchill‘s doc Sarah Palin: You Betcha!, Sergei Loznitsa‘s acclaimed Russian drama My Joy and Renaud Barret and Florent de La Tullaye‘s doc Benda Bilili!
And the winner is Jeff Nichols‘ Take Shelter. The Sony Pictures Classics release, that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year has been winning rave reviews at festivals ever since. The film grossed $56,171 from the three screens where it was released.
Shelter is the story of a young husband and father who begins being plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions that threatens the comfortable existence he has with his loving wife. Part family drama, part psychological thriller, the film manages to succeed as an otherworldly blend of Field of Dreams and Noah‘s Ark.
After years of delay Kenneth Lonergan‘s Margaret finally hit theaters this weekend with little fanfare. The film, that stars Anna Paquin as a woman caught up in the aftermath of a bus accident, was released on 2 screens by Fox Searchlight in New York. The result was a weak $7,496 gross.
Faring even worse was Sarah Palin: You Betcha! That grossed less than what Margaret did despite releasing in six screens. The film, that was released by Freestyle – a distribution company that releases films via service deals for the filmmakers grossed $7,374.
The other openers fared vewry poorly with Benda Bilili! grossing just $1,722 on its sole screen release and My Joy that released on only one New York screen and made a gross of $2,800.
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.
