International
Ongoing Toronto fest dedicates entire section to Bollywood films
MUMBAI: The 37th Toronto International Film Festival that began today has dedicated an entire section to films from Mumbai. This would include the gala premiere of Sridevi‘s comeback film English Vinglish.
With the spotlight on Indian cinema this year, the North-American cinema event, which has gained importance over the years for its ability to create Oscar-buzz, is offering a rich bouquet of 15 films from India in which two of its biggest attractions are Deepa Mehta‘s Midnight‘s Children and Mira Nair‘s Reluctant Fundamentalist.
English Vinglish which marks Sridevi‘s return to films after a gap of 15 years, has been directed by debutante Gauri Shinde, wife of R Balki who had earlier directed Cheeni Kum and Paa. A funny and touching story about an Indian woman‘s struggle to learn English in America, the film will be screened on 14 September.
Midnight‘s Children, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie‘s Booker award-winning novel of the same name, boasts of a huge Indian star cast. The fantasy film tells the strange story of midnight children. Born on the cusp of India‘s independence from Britain, these children are endowed with strange, magical abilities.
Reluctant Fundamentalist, on the other hand, tells the story of a young Pakistani‘s disillusionment with the great American dream in the post 9/11 era. The film, partly shot in India, stars Shabana Azmi and Om Puri apart from its international star cast.
National-award-winning filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli‘s The Tortoise, An Incarnation will be screened in the ‘Contemporary World Cinema’ section of the festival.
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.
