International
Jack Reacher mktg altered in view of school shooting
MUMBAI: Film Studio Paramount has decided to make changes in the marketing materials for Jack Reacher, the gritty crime-action, Tom Cruise starrer based on Lee Child‘s character by the same name. Cruise plays a hard-boiled former military cop trying to prove that an alleged sniper was framed in the film that opens Friday.
Though the studio hasn‘t officially said what the changes are, but buzz is that a scene of Cruise‘s character firing off a semi-automatic weapon is being cut from promotional spots. The reason behind this move is the recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School which left 20 children between five to 11 years dead and many others scarred for life.
Apart from Cruise‘s Jack Reacher Leonardo DiCaprio starrer Django Unchained directed by Quentin Tarantino is slated to open on 25 December. The R-rated Django stars Jamie Foxx as a slave promised his freedom if he helps a bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz ) track down a plantation owner (Leonardo DiCaprio). On 17 December The Weinstein Co.
Announced it was cancelling Tuesday night‘s Django premiere in Los Angeles because of the school tragedy but it would still hold a screening for cast and crew.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and in this time of national mourning we have decided to forgo our scheduled event," the company said in a statement.
At a junket for Django on Saturday in New York, Tarantino said he is weary of defending the violence in his movies. "I just think there‘s violence in the world. Tragedies happen," the filmmaker said. "[Django} is a Western. Give me a break."
Foxx, however, said Hollywood can‘t "ignore" that violence in movies has an impact. And this summer, Harvey Weinstein, an advocate for gun control, called for a summit on violence in films after the Aurora theater shooting during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises.
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.
