International
‘Lincoln’ leads Bafta nominations with 10 citations
MUMBAI: Steven Spielberg‘s biopic ‘Lincoln‘ is leading the Bafta nominations with 10 nods including for Picture, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Adapted Screenplay. But surprisingly its helmer Steven Spielberg has not been nominated which might hurt its chances to win the top prize. The show takes place on 11 February 2013 in London.
‘Les Miserables‘ and ‘Life of Pi‘ have each received nine nominations including Best Picture. Also competing for Best Picture are ‘Argo‘ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty‘. Missing from the list is ‘Silver Linings Playbook‘ which has been nominated in other categories like actor and actress. ‘Django Unchained‘ also missed the cut. However its director Quentin Tarantino has been nominated for directing and for his screenplay.
‘Les Miserables‘ has also been nominated for Best British Film. But as was the case with ‘Lincoln‘ its director Tom Hooper has not been nominated. For it to win Best British Film it has to fend off competition from the James Bond film ‘Skyfall‘. Also competing here are ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘, ‘Anna Karenina‘ and ‘Seven Psychopaths‘.
Films competing in the foreign language category are ‘Amour‘, ‘The Hunt‘, ‘Rust And Bone‘, ‘Headhunters‘ and ‘The Intouchables‘.
Daniel Day Lewis is the favourite to win best actor for playing ‘Lincoln‘. Other nominees are Joaquin Phoenix for ‘The Master‘, Bradley Cooper for ‘Silver Linings Playbook‘, Hugh Jackman for ‘Les Miserables‘ and a surprise nominee Ben Affleck for ‘Argo‘.
The best actress nominees are Jessica Chastain for ‘Zero Dark Thirty‘, Jennifer Lawrence for ‘Silver Linings Playbook‘, Emmanuelle Riva for ‘Amour‘, Marion Cotillard for ‘Rust and Bone‘ and Helen Mirren for ‘Hitchcock‘.
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.
