International
Jack Black speaks for Yahoo! on online content today
MUMBAI: The Cannes Lion Award is organised each year to hold a gathering of over 11,000 members of the global creative communications where each one is awed, inspired and educated with the latest upcoming trends engulfing the industry. At the 2013 awards on June 17, Yahoo flexed its muscle by conducting the seminar- The New World of Online Content- Appealing to the Habits of Today‘s Consumer. Hollywood‘s Kung Fu Panda, Jack Black took the stage too for Yahoo expressing his views on online content.
Black discussed that although online content is spreading across virally the stance of big screen studios is here to stay for a long time. “According to Spielberg, the studios are going to be extinct in about three years. I don‘t think that is entirely true, because there‘s always going to space for large screens. People like to get together in a communal way and watch something together on a gigantic screen and get lost in that,” Black states.
Speaking about his own internet‘s influence on his lifestyle, Black says, “My world has got so internet communicative. It‘s all about emails. I click on a link that someone sends me and I am watching a video that will lead to another video and get sucked down into wormholes. But these are very entertaining and informative.”
Sharing his views on online content, Black a master of comedy himself preferred the online content to be hilarious and trimmed down. “You don‘t really want to go too long. I found that 10 minutes is the optimal link. You throw in some good music with the comedy and it works.”
Black also appreciated Yahoo‘s creative move in the industry which was portrayed through the seminar. “Yahoo is an artist friendly site and they are going to do a lot more creative things on their site in future. They are going to be very competitive in their game. A lot of different internet organisations are throwing their hat on their ring like Netflix and Google all vying for that new real estate of entertainment delivery. And Yahoo is saying Hey! We are flexing our muscle a little bit too.”
“I don‘t think that online content is killing the Hollywood‘s leading man. There‘s going to be lots of Hollywood leading men on the line. That‘s just human nature, to go and look for the prettiest man and put him on camera, whether be it an iphone screen or a giant movie screen, because the world is tilted that way. It‘s not fair, but it‘s in the DNA,” he adds.
“People do want more control and they like the control and the choices they have watching on their iphones, on their laptops, at least I do. I don‘t go into making videos on the internet with the goal of making this viral, I don‘t even know, how you anticipate something like that. You just make something that is hilarious and you keep it tight. You trim the fat and keep it short. Today I think they found out that,” Black ends.
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.
