FIRST INDO-IRANIAN FILM..85 YEARS!

Poster of first Iranian talkie 'Lor Girl' (1933).

'Imperial Film Co.'s producer Ardeshir Irani!

Today we admire Iranian cinema and watching the masterpieces of its renowned filmmakers like Kiarostami, Makhmalbaf and Majidi! But do you know that first Iranian Sound film made in our India? Yes, it was Indo-Iranian project..'Lor Girl!

Pioneer of our first Indian talkie ('Alam Ara'/1931)..Ardeshir Irani produced this Iranian first sound film 'Lor Girl' under his 'Imperial Film Company' Bombay in 1932. Iranian writer-director Abdolhossein Sepanta collaborated with him for the production of this film..Persia ntitle 'Dokhtar-E-Lor'!

Iranian first talkie 'Lor Girl's writer-director Abdolhossein Sepanta!

This film focused on the comparison between state of security in Iran at the end of Qatar dynasty and during Reza Shah period! On this backdrop it tells the story of young girl Golnar who was kidnapped as child and taken to Lorestan with clan bandits living among Lors!

Shooting of this film was happen in our India. It took seven months to complete. Cinematographer Rostam Irani did great job for it! Abdolhossein Sepanta also acted in it..with Hadi Shirazi, Sohrab Puri and Roohangiz Saminejad who got the status of first female star of Iranian cinema!

Scene of first Iranian talkie 'Lor Girl' (1933).

This first talkie 'Lor Girl'..then arrived in Iran in October, 1933 and released in two theatres of Tehran..'Mayak' 
and 'Sepah'! 
Latter filmmaker Sepanta directed landmark movies there..includes 'Ferdowsi' the life story of celebrated epic of Iran!

Tribute to this first Iranian talkie and it's pioneers!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
   ['Chitrasrushti']