International
Top Torontro critics award for Social Network
MUMBAI: The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFC) has named The Social Network as this year‘s best picture.
While David Fincher won an award for best direction, Jesse Eisenberg was named best actor for his role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Co-star Armie Hammer bagged the best supporting actor award for his performance as the Winklevoss twins.
Aaron Sorkin‘s adaptation of Ben Mezrich‘s book The Accidental Billionaires was awarded the best screenplay award.
Other TFCA award winners include Jennifer Lawrence named best actress for her role in Winter?s Bone and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the best supporting actress for her debut performance in True Grit.
The Toronto film critics, while shutting out rival Oscar contenders like Black Swan and The King‘s Speech from its awards list, also gave the best first feature prize to British director Robert Banks for Exit Through the Gift Shop and named DreamWorks Animation‘s How To Train Your Dragon as the best animated feature.
The best foreign language film award went to Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives directed by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
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.
