International
WGA screenplay awards for Allen, Payne films
MUMBAI: The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has presented Midnight in Paris and The Descendants with top screenplay honors.
With his biggest hit in decades, writer-director Woody Allen earned the Guild‘s prize for original screenplay on Midnight in Paris while director Alexander Payne shared the adapted screenplay honour with co-writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.
The wins boost the prospects for both films to earn the same prizes at next Sunday‘s Academy Awards, where both movies also are in the running for Best Picture.
But it is not that all key Academy Awards contenders were eligible for the honours of the Guild including Oscar best-picture front-runner The Artist since the black-and-white film has no dialogues it being a silent film.
The Guild‘s prize for Big-Screen documentary writing was bagged by Katie Galloway and Kelly Duane de la Vega for Better This World.
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.
