Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 17, 2025
News editorial office
Mosfilm director Karen Shakhnazarov presented a retrospective of his films at the 23rd Chennai International Film Festival, which is taking place in the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu from December 11 to 18.
"This year, the festival program places a special emphasis on Russia. The film festival featured screenings of five films by Karen Shakhnazarov, marking the director's 50th anniversary," said Alexander Dodonov, director of the Russian House in Chennai.
The program of the 23rd Chennai International Film Festival included five films by film director and People's Artist of Russia Karen Shakhnazarov: The Courier (1986), The Tsaricide (1991), American Daughter (1995), The Vanished Empire (2008), and White Tiger (2012).
Before the screening of the war film "White Tiger," Karen Shakhnazarov met with his Tamil colleagues, National Film Award winners Vasanth Sai, Seemu Ramasamy, Sharavana Subbiah, and Jayapraksh Radhakrishnan. The participants exchanged creative experiences and discussed the specifics of national cinematic traditions. Karen Shakhnazarov's films are frequently featured at various Indian festivals and film festivals. The director has repeatedly noted that cinema plays a significant role in bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together.
Addressing the audience, Karen Georgievich noted that he had always dreamed of showing his films in India. "Indian cinema is one of the largest and greatest in the world. I am sincerely grateful to the film festival for the opportunity to present my work in Chennai. Russia and India are two great friends, and culture greatly contributes to strengthening our relations. Cinema is a classic example of this," the director emphasized.
An interesting fact: the mystical war drama "White Tiger," one of the director's most popular films among international audiences, was watched by more than 3.5 million viewers with English subtitles on official Mosfilm websites!
The Chennai International Film Festival has been held annually in December since 2003 and is one of the most significant cultural events in Indian cinema. In 2025, the festival will take place from December 11 to 18.
As a reminder, the Russian House in Trivandrum, with the support of Mosfilm, also regularly hosts film festivals and screenings of Russian and Soviet films. In December 2024, it hosted a film festival celebrating the centenary of Mosfilm Studios, with Karen Shakhnazarov's adventure film "Khitrovka: The Sign of Four" (2023) serving as the opening film.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.