International
Chronicle, Woman in Black top b-o collections
MUMBAI: 20th Century Fox‘s high school superpower film Chronicle opened with a collection of $22 million. It was followed closely by CBS Films‘ Daniel Radcliffe’s horror-thriller The Woman in Black that brought in $21 million.
Both the films over performed with total box office revenues up by 35 per cent compared to that of last year.
For months, films have been skewing, bringing in a lot of worry to filmmakers. But that trend reversed on Friday.
Both films proved to be victories for their respective companies. Fox only spent $12 million to produce Chronicle.
While Chronicle received a B CinemaScore, Woman and Black received a B-. Woman in Black‘s performance is a boost for Radcliffe whose Harry Potter fans turned up to see the star, with females making up 59 per cent of the audience.
Woman in Black, based on Susan Hill‘s novel of the same name, was produced by Hammer Film Productions and preemptively acquired by CBS Films just before the Cannes Film Festival last year.
The third new film of the weekend is Universal and Working Title Films‘ family friendly whale film Big Miracle that opened at No. 4 with a muted revenue of $8.5 million.
Beating Big Miracle for the No. 3 spot was Open Road Film‘s The Grey that grossed $9.5 million in its second weekend for a cume of $34.7 million. The film ‘s attendance fell roughly 40 per cent. The film received an A- CinemaScore.
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.
