International
Disney editor for 45 years, Norman Palmer expires
MUMBAI: After serving Disney Studios for 45 years, Norman Palmer expired on 23 March, the studio has announced. He was 94.
In his service at Disney, Palmer slowly became closely associated with the studio‘s acclaimed True-Life Adventure short-subject series of documentaries.
Palmer was part of the Disney live-action films Ten Who Dared (1960), The Legend of Lobo (1962), The Incredible Journey (1963), The Gnome-Mobile (1967) and The Shaggy D.A. (1976) and had almost two dozen credits on Walt Disney‘s Wonderful World of Color and other TV shows from the mid 1950s to the early ‘80s.
The True-Life Adventure nature films provided early production experience for Roy E. Disney, who began his career in the studio‘s editorial department and went on to become the studio‘s vice chairman and head of animation. Palmer served as his mentor.
"Stormy was one of the key players in creating the classic Disney True-Life Adventures series, and he was a true pioneer in the field of nature documentaries," said Dave Bossert, producer and creative director at Walt Disney Animation Studios and the producer (along with Roy Disney) of the True-Life Adventures DVD collection.
"He took tens of thousands of feet of raw footage and was able to craft it into some of the most riveting, beautiful and entertaining nature films ever created. That series of Oscar-winning films set the gold standard for years and helped to inspire the many generations of nature filmmakers that followed," he added.
Palmer edited other titles in the True-Life series as Beaver Valley (1950), Nature‘s Half Acre (1951), The Living Desert (1953), The African Lion (1955) and White Wilderness (1958). He also edited the CinemaScope film Grand Canyon, the 1959 Oscar winner for best live-action short.
He retired from Disney in 1983.
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.
