The untold narrative of the “Sarbadaran” series in the cinema museum – Mehr news agency Iran and world’s news
According to the Mehr News Agency, citing the public relations of the Cinema Museum, the Iranian Cinema Museum, in continuation of its series of oral history meetings on the occasion of the birthday of screenwriter and director Mohammad Ali Najafi, has published parts of the oral history conversation of this artist, which is related to Sarbadaran.
Mohammad Ali Najafi said about the role of Qazi Shareh in Sarbdaran: Kayhan Raheghaz (director’s consultant) had seen Mehdi Hashemi’s performance in the show “Caucasus Ringing Circle” directed by Dariush Farhang and he had this role in mind for him, and Saeed Nik for the role of Sheikh Hassan Jouri. Pour and Parviz considered Pourhosseini, but none of them happened.
He continued: Regarding Judge Shareh, considering that this role was very serious, I did not find Mehdi Hashemi suitable for this role, and my only choice was Ali Nasirian because his face was both positive and negative, which luckily Mr. Nasirian also accepted.
Najafi said that for the role of Sheikh Hassan Jouri, we had many people in mind and auditioned, and noted: Even Ali Nasiryan suggested Bijan Mozhaiyan for this role. I had seen Amin Tarakh’s plays in Tehran University theaters. That’s why we invited him for the role of Mohammad Beyk. I remember that Tarakh and I were sitting opposite each other in the room that belonged to Akbar Alami, something happened outside the room, and because of the noise, Amin Tarakh turned and looked at the window. After we talked for a while, I said to him, let me think for a while and I will let you know about the role of Mohammad Beyk. After he left, I called Kihan Raheghaz and told him that Tarakh is very suitable for the role of Sheikh Hassan. He was surprised and told me that this is a handsome young man of today and he is not suitable for the role of Sheikh Hassan. I told him, so let’s do something, I will choose the roles of the sheikhs and you will choose the rest.
Addressing Fereydoun Jirani, who was talking to him, he said: As you know, cinema is an image and facial expressions are very important in it. The reason for choosing Firoz Behjat Mohammadi for the role of Tagha was his special voice and face, and I had also seen his roles in Abbas Javanmard’s theaters. Of course, I must also mention that my first choice for the role of Taghai was Mohammad Mati. When Bijan Mohtsham (Grimour) told me that Behjat Mohammadi is Turkish and he doesn’t fit this role, I told him that there is something called drawing that makes a riot out of it.
Najafi also explained about the selection of Afsana Baygan for the role of Turkan Khatoon: We took many auditions for Turkan Khatoon until we reached Afsana Bayagan, who was a 19-year-old girl. I remember in the summer of 1960, I told him to take off his shoes and run in the hot sand and I practiced fencing with him, and during those exercises, my hand was injured and it still remains. Her nose had a special shape, that’s why I told Akbar Alami to take a photo of her. When the photos were published, I asked her opinion and he said that her nose shape helps the role to be more natural and is a good choice, and thus she was chosen for the role of Turkan Khatoon. we did.
This veteran director of cinema and television noted: I remember saying to Afshana Baygan’s father that I will choose your daughter for the role of Turkan Khatun, but I have a condition; That your daughter must be present during the filming from the beginning to the end, and food, travel and everything must be under our supervision, which she also accepted, and finally we got consent from her and her father and signed a contract.