International
Boston critics name Brad Pitt as best actor
MUMBAI: Boston critics voted Brad Pitt and Michelle Williams as best actor and actress. While Pitt was voted best actor for playing Oakland A‘s manager Billy Beane in Moneyball, Williams was named best actress for playing Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.
In the best supporting actor category, Albert Brooks was named as best supporting actor for Drive, while Melissa McCarthy was voted as best supporting actress for her role in Bridesmaids.
Martin Scorsese was chosen best director for his 3D movie Hugo.
The Moneyball team of Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin picked up the screenwriting award.
Other category wards are as follows: best cinematography, Emmanuel Lubeski, best documentary, The Tree of Life, best foreign language film James Marsh‘s Project Nim, best animated film, Dennis Villeneuve‘s Incendies, best filming editing, Christian Marclay in Rango and best new filmmaker, Sean Durkin.
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.
