International
Argo wins BAFTA award
MUMBAI: Iran hostage drama Argo won three awards including best-picture, at yesterday‘s British Academy Film Awards.
Ben Affleck was named best director for the film based on a real story of a long shot plan to rescue a group of American diplomats from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the film also took the editing trophy.
Quipped George Clooney, one of the producers of Argo,”I don‘t know what you‘re going to do for a third act.”
Daniel Day-Lewis won the best-actor trophy for Lincoln – the only prize out of 10 nominations for Steven Spielberg‘s historical biopic. Emmanuelle Riva, the 85-year-old French film legend, was named best actress for Michael Haneke‘s poignant old-age portrait Amour. It also was named best foreign-language film.
On the other hand, Les Miserables won four awards including best supporting actress for Anne Hathaway. James Bond adventure Skyfall won trophies for best music and best British film.
Meanwhile, Suraj Sharma, who was nominated in the EE Rising Star Award for his role on Life Of Pi, lost the trophy to actress Juno Temple. Juno, the actress of The Atonement was clearly more popular than Sharma as the rising star trophy is the only award at BAFTA that is decided by public vote.
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.
