Shahrzad (TV series)
| Shahrzad | |
|---|---|
| File:Shahrzadseries.jpg | |
| Genre | Drama Romance Action Mystery |
| Written by | Hassan Fathi Naghmeh Samini |
| Directed by | Hassan Fathi |
| Starring | Ali Nasirian Taraneh Alidoosti Shahab Hosseini Mostafa Zamani Parinaz Izadyar Mehdi Soltani Mahmoud Pak Niat Abolfazl Poorarab Jamshid Hashempour |
| Theme music composer | Fardin Khalatbari Amir Tavassoli |
| Country of origin |  Iran |
| Original language | Persian |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Mohammad Emami Hadi Razavi |
| Production location | Tehran |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies | Fatemi Group Asiatech Moshaveranibs |
| Original release | |
| Network | Video Rental Services |
| Release | 12 October 2015 – 9 May 2016 |
Shahrzad (Persian: شهرزاد) is an Iranian romantic/historical series. The series is written by Hassan Fathi and Naghmeh Samini and directed by Hassan Fathi [1] The storyline is set around and after the 1953 Iranian coup d'état.[2] The Shahrzad series is licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran and available online and in CDs around the country.[3] It aired on cable network Film Net on Mondays at 22:00 (IST) for 28 episodes from October 2015 to May 9, 2016.[4] Shahrzad is preferable series a romantic drama in the political climate.[5]
Storyline
The bureaucrat, Bozorg Agha is the head of a very powerful mafia syndicate who had a strong role in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état against Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh legal governmental administration on 18 August 1953.[6] The son and daughter of two of Bozorg Agha henchmen, Shahrzad and Farhad, are about to get married. During the coup chaos, Farhad gets arrested and sentenced to death. Bozorg Agha uses the influence he has amongst the coup heads to set Farhad free on the condition that Shahrzad agrees to break her engagement to him and marry the nephew of Bozorg Agha, Ghobad. Ghobad is already married to the sterile daughter of Bozorg Agha, Shirin, who does not take kindly to her husband's growing love for his second wife. The conflict created by these circumstances as well as the political activities of Farhad set the background for the story. The series follows the troubled lives of the people under the control of Bozorg Agha's rule as well as the ongoing rivalry between Bozorg Agha and other corrupt political leaders of the time.[7]
Production
The cast of the 28-episode series includes over 200 artists. Considering the professional team behind the camera plus two years spent on pre-production and four months of shooting, it is the biggest project by the private sector for the home video network.[8]
Location
The series was shot in Ghazali Cinematic Town in the western part of Tehran. Covering an area of 10 hectares, the complex was established in 1971 by the late director Ali Hatami, partially simulating old Tehran. It comprises various state and historic buildings; streets, and places similar to more than 100 years ago decorated by Italian decorators, particularly Gianni Cortina. The other locations in the Museum of the Qasr Prison, Vossug ed Dowleh House, House dr Mohammad Moin, Naderi café, Passenger Terminal, Sulaimaniyah Palace and Baharestan Square camerawork.[9]
Seasons
Shahrzad has 2 seasons. Season 1 has been released and Season 2 is currently in development.
Cast
Season one
- Ali Nasirian as Bozorg Agha Divansalar
- Taraneh Alidoosti as Shahrzad Sa'adat
- Shahab Hosseini as Ghobad Divansalar
- Mostafa Zamani as Farhad Damavandi
- Parinaz Izadyar as Shirin Divansalar
- Ghazal Shakeri as Azar Goldarehyi
- Mahmoud Pak Niat as Jamshid Sa'adat
- Abolfazl Poorarab as Heshmat Pashaei
- Jamshid Hashempour as Major Fouladshekan
- Soheila Razavi as Parvin
- Mehdi Soltani as Hashem Damavandi
- Fariba Motekhases as Marzieh
- Gelareh Abasi as Akram
- Mona Ahmadi as Simin
- Amir Hossein Rostami as Babak
- Ramin Naser Nasir as Houshang
- Houman Barghnavard as Colonel Teimouri
- Parviz Fallahi Pour as Nosrat Pashaei
- Nasim Adabi as Homeira Sa'adat
- Mina Vahid as Maryam
- Pantea Panahiha as Sharbat
- Jamshid Gorgin as Behboudi
- Nahal Dashti as Mitra Damavandi
- Manouchehr Zendehdel as Colonel Soheili
- Banipal Shoomoon as Esfandiari
Season two
Reception
Reviews
Without a doubt, Shahrzad is one of the best among Iranian epic drama series made so far simply because of the range of themes and topics it covers.[10] Shahrzad is Historical, complex, multi-layered, vibrant and it draws your eye in to the surprising level of detail. Amazing acting performances and his is one of those rare series where the acting and dialogue is darn near of course it has its weaknesses but the story is so well developed that the weaknesses can be ignored. The acting of all the main characters is great and most of all Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti an Ali Nassirian have portrayed their characters to perfection. Set decoration and custom design and cinematography is good for classic atmosphere and drama forms in series.[11]
Parviz Jahed review from Guardian wrote:
Good story-telling has made it an intriguing and successful melodrama set against the backdrop of an important episode in Iran’s modern history.[12]
Mehdi Ganjavi review from Global Voices Online wrote:
As the story of Shahrzad shows, the political and economic aspirations, desires, and interests of any historical moment entail a revision of what happened in the past. Shahrzad is a love story in the disturbed atmosphere.[13]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ||||
| Best Series | Shahrzad | Won | ||
| Best Director | Hassan Fathi | Won | ||
| Best Soundtrack | Mohsen Chavoshi with Sina Sarlak | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Shahab Hosseini | Nominated | ||
| Ali Nasirian | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Taraneh Alidoosti | Nominated | ||
| Parinaz Izadyar | Nominated | |||
| Life Achievement | Jamshid Hashempour | Won |
Poll
- Best Series in Iran of all Time with 67% vote - Cmmagazine[15]
Soundtracks
Shahrzad OST
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shahrzad" | Alireza Ghorbani | 2:50 |
| 2. | "Shahrzad 2" | Alireza Ghorbani | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Bedfellow" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 2:59 |
| 4. | "As A Memorial" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 5:31 |
| 5. | "Where Are You ?" | Mohsen Chavoshi Ft. Sina Sarlak | 3:48 |
| 6. | "Shahrzad" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 4:11 |
| 7. | "The Bridle" | Mohsen Chavoshi Ft. Sina Sarlak | 4:40 |
| 8. | "Moon Forehead" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 3:57 |
| 9. | "Get up" | Sina Sarlak | 4:51 |
| 10. | "Bitter Farewell" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 3:58 |
| 11. | "Insane" | Mohsen Chavoshi | 4:34 |
References
- ^ Shahrzad comes with a Special
- ^ Iran TV series set in 1950s draws big audiences with echoes in politics today - The Guardian
- ^ Details Second Season Shahrzad
- ^ Shahrzad in TVmaze.com
- ^ 10 secret of the popularity of Shahrzad
- ^ Shahrzad Tv Series Story - Persian News Network
- ^ Love in the time of pre-revolution Iran - Al Jazeera
- ^ Cologne rolls out Red carpet for 'Shahrzad'
- ^ Shahrzad Series Locations
- ^ Shahrzad Reviews in CounterPunch Magazine
- ^ Critic Shahrzad in Salamcinema
- ^ Shahrzad Review in Dawn
- ^ A Lavish Iranian TV Series Revises the History of the 1953 Coup for the Post-Nuclear Deal Age
- ^ The Hafez Awards was held at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall, First Kiarostami prize awarded to “Fish and Cat” director - Tehran Times
- ^ Analysis of Communication and Sociology success of the series
External links
- www.shahrzadseries.com (Pr)
- www.shahrzadseries.com (En)