International
Blue is Warmest Colour gets Palme d’Or at Cannes
NEW DELHI: Blue Is The Warmest Colour (France) directed by Abdellatif Kechiche with Ad?le Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux has won the Palme d‘Or at the 66th Cannes Film Festival in France.
The Grand Prix went to Inside Llewyn Davis (USA) directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, while Amat Escalante got the best Director Award for Heli (S).
The jury prize went to Japanese film Soshite Chichi Ni Naru (Like Father, Like Son / Tel P?re, Tel Fils) directed by Kore-Eda Hirokazu. The best screenplay award went to Jia Zhangke for Tian Zhu Ding (A Touch of Sin) from China.
The best actor and actress awards went to Bérénice Bejo in Le Passé (The Past) directed by Asghar Farhadi and Bruce Dern in Nebraska directed by Alexander Payne respectively.
L‘image Manquante (The Missing Picture) directed by Rithy Panh received the Un Certain Regard award, while the Camera d‘Or went to Ilo Ilo directed by Anthony Chen (Quinzaine Des Réalisateurs).
In short films, the Palme d‘Or went to Safe director by Moon Byoung-Gon and the Special Mention was for Ex-?quo Hvalfjordur (Whale Valley / Le Fjord Des Baleines) directed By Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson and 37°4 S Directed by Adriano Valerio.
The jury prize for short films went to Omar by Hany Abu-Assad while the director award went to Alain Guiraudie Pour Son for L‘inconnu Du Lac.
A certain talent prize went to the whole cast of La Jaula De Oro by Diego Quemada-Diez and the AVenir prize went to Fruitvale Station directed by Ryan Coogler.
The Cinéfondation Premier Prix went to Needle directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh and Deuxi?me Prix went to En Attendant le Dégel directed by Sarah Hirtt, while Troisi?me Prix went to Ex-?quo În Acvariu (In The Fishbowl) directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu and Pandy (Pandas) directed by Matúš Vizár.
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.
