International
Warner Home Video launches China video operation
HONG KONG: Warner Home Video has launched a joint venture video operation with China Audio Video (CAV), marking the first time that a US studio has established an in-country DVD/VCD distribution and marketing outfit in China.
The Shanghai-based venture, CAV Warner Home Entertainment Co, officially started operations last month. However, as a precursor to the full-scale nationwide launch, China’ s leading retail and video outlets, including Wal-Mart, Xinhua Bookstore and Carrefour, began carrying select Warner Bros titles last November. Films such as Troy and The Last Samurai debuted in key cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing.
“China has been an important market for years, but too often Chinese consumers have had to choose inferior products on the illegitimate market that were available sooner but with poor quality,” said Warner Home Video president Jim Cardwell.
He added that the new operation hopes to increase consumer demand for legitimate products with world-class quality, reduced pricing, Mandarin dubbing and sub-titles, enhanced content and shortened release windows.
According to China Audio and Video president Wang Xiaoran, China already has an installed base of more than 100 million players – 60 per cent VCD and 40 per cent DVD – and players cost as little as $40. “The potential for legitimate sales in China is extraordinary,” Wang said.
CAV Warner Home Entertainment will release new DVD titles in a two-tier pricing programme. “Silver Releases”, available shortly after a film’ s US theatrical release, will feature English and Mandarin dialogue tracks and Mandarin subtitles. “Gold Releases”, which will roughly correspond with US DVD release dates, will carry enhanced DVD extras.
Silver Releases and catalogue titles have a suggested retail price of RMB22 and Gold Releases are priced at RMB28.
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.
