International
Warner Bros top studio for third year
MUMBAI: For the third year in succession, Warner Bros. has topped the Hollywood studios by market share despite drop in ticket sales even as overall industry revenues were flat.
The studio led the pack in North America with a $1.89 billion gross, giving it 18.3 per cent of the total revenue pie. Its top-grossing films were Inception ($292.5 million) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 ($283 million). In 2009, the studio claimed a 19.8 per cent share and a total take of $2.1 billion.
Overall domestic revenue for last year came in just below $10.57 billion down less than 1 per cent from the record $10.6 billion earned in 2009. It was only the second time in history that domestic revenue has jumped $10 billion. However, attendance dropped more than 5.2 percent in 2010 from the previous year, the second biggest dip in a decade.
The discrepancy was attributed to a stiff 3D-fueled increase in the average ticket price, from $7.46 in 2009 to $7.85 in 2010 (midyear, the average price jumped to $7.95, then went back down in the fall to $7.85).
Paramount held at No. 2 in 2010 with roughly 16.1 per cent, as its films collected more than $1.67 billion. Its top performers were a pair it distributed for other studios, Marvel‘s Iron Man 2 ($312 million) and DreamWorks Animation‘s Shrek Forever After ($238 million).
Thanks to Avatar, 20th Century Fox jumped one place to No. 3 with roughly $1.45 billion and a 14 per cent share. Besides, Fox had a lacklustre year domestically.
Disney rose one place to No. 4, with $1.4 billion and a 13.6 percent share, up from $1.2 billion and 11.6% in 2009.
Sony fell two places to No. 5 with $1.26 billion and a 12.3 per cent market share, down from $1.46 billion and a 13.7 per cent share in 2009.
Universal bottomed the chart at No. 6 with 8.2 per cent and a $842.2 million haul.
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.
