International
Surkhaab nominated to receive the prestigious REMI award at the 46th Annual WorldFest in Houston
New Delhi: Canadian film-producer Tushar Unadkat’s film Surkhaab is an Official Selection for programming into The 46th Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film and Video Festival in its TEXAS Premiere.
He had been honoured with the prestigious Trailblazer Award at the 11th Annual ReelWorld Film Festival last year..
WorldFest-Houston is one of the three original international film festivals in North America, after San Francisco and New York. It was founded in 1961 as Cinema Arts, an International Film Society. Houston will be presenting Surkhaab to the World, in the prime time of 20 April at the 30 Screen AMC.
Surkhaab is nominated to receive one of the prestigious REMI awards in its feature film categories at this year‘s WorldFest 2013. WorldFest awards are the Grand Award (Best of Category), REMI Special Jury Awards, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze REMI awards. The WorldFest REMI Award is named after the great Western Artist Frederick Remington, who captured the spirit of Texas and The American West with his remarkable paintings and sculptures.
Unadkat shares, "Surkhaab is the name given to the Ruddy Shelduck (a type of bird) in India and Pakistan. This film is a story of a girl from India, her flight to Canada and the first 96 hours on the run! Barkha Madan, former Femina Miss India and Miss Tourism World Wide, who was seen in Bollywood‘s famous filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma‘s Bhoot and in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi with superstar Akshay Kumar, plays the lead in the film. I collaborated with Golden Gate Creations, a California based company, Executive Producer: Vivek Kumar and Director: Sanjay Talreja to produce Surkhaab. It is a Hinglish (Hindi + English) feature film scheduled for theatrical release this summer in the US, India and Canada."
Asked about his journey as a filmmaker, he says, "It‘s been a wonderful journey and I have directed numerous shorts and features. I have had the opportunity to work with Oscar winning producers and editors, namely Fred Fuchs, Phil Svaboda and Frank Reynolds to name a few! I have also worked with the likes of Shabana Azmi and Girish Karnad."
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.
