International
Fast Five most-pirated film of 2011
MUMBAI: Films continued to be downloaded at a fast pace as Fast Five topped the list of 2011‘s most-pirated films on BitTorrent, according to a data.
With Fat Five being illegally downloaded 9.3 million times this year, there shows a significant drop from last year‘s most-downloaded film Avatar that was downloaded more than 16 million times.
In fact, the average number of downloads for the entire top 10 list is lower than 2010, which the data attributes to the “increase in legal alternatives” as well as “alternative piracy sources” including cyber lockers and streaming sites.
Coming in at No. 2 was The Hangover Part II with 8.8 million downloads, followed by Thor (8.3 million), Source Code (7.9 million) and I Am Number Four (7.7 million).
What followed were films like I Am Number Four (7.7 million), Sucker Punch (7.2 million), 7. 127 Hours (6.9 million), Rango (6.5 million), The King‘s Speech (6.3 million) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (6 million).
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.
