International
Warner Bros in a deal with Chinese firm You On Demand
MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Entertainment has entered into a deal with Chinese firm You On Demand Media that will make its new releases and catalogue films available on China‘s first national pay-per-view and VoD platform, expected to be accessible to 3 million homes by the end of this summer.
The agreement makes Warner the first Hollywood studio to offer films on such a platform in China where foreign media conglomerates have not been granted broadcast TV licences.
“The opportunity of China is just too irresistible to most companies and particularly Warner Bros.,” said Warner Bros international home video president Jim Wuthrich.
“We‘ve been trying to crack this nut for a while.The service will release films like the 2010 hit Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and the recent Russell Brand comedy Arthur. Most of the 600 films that Warner Bros. has sold by way of DVDs in China would be offered through the service,” he added.
In addition to films from the Warner Bros. library that include Batman and the Harry Potter series, the service would include recently released films that would appear on Chinese pay-per-view services about the same time they are released on DVD.
Last week, Legendary Pictures, a Burbank company that helped finance and produce films like The Hangover and The Dark Knight, entered into a joint venture with a Chinese entertainment conglomerate to make big-budget English-language films in China for export around the world.
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.
