Ovanes Ohanian
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
In 1925 a young Armenian-Iranian, Ovanes Ohanian (Oganianse), who
studied film in Cinema Akademi Of Moscow, returned to Iran. His goal
was to establish a film industry in the country. Since he found it
impossible to initiate any production without professionals in the
field, Ohanian decided to begin a film school in Tehran. Within five
years he managed to run the first session of the school under the name:
"Parvareshgahe Artistiye cinema" (The Cinema Artist Educational
Centre). Acting and performance, rather than film production, were the
cornerstones of the institution. After five months, with a few of his
graduates and the financial help of a theatre owner, Ohanian directed
his first Iranian film, Abi va Rabi (1930). The film, lensed by Mo'tazedi, was
shot silent on 35mm black and white stock and ran 1,400 meters long. As
Ghafari states: "This film was patterned directly after the comic acts
of the Danish cinema couple Pat and Paterson. Iranians had seen [films
of] this couple many times in the cinemas and liked them." Abi va Rabi
was received well by critics and the public. Unfortunately the only
copy of the film burnt to ashes two years after its release in a fire
accident in cinema Mayak, one of the first theatres in Tehran. By the
end of the school's second session, Ohanian started his next project,
another comedy entitled Haji Agha actore cinema (1933). The film was a reflexive construction
about a traditionalist who is suspicious of cinema, but by the end of
story recognizes the significance of film art. <>The film did not do
well at the box office. Not only were there technical shortcomings, but
additionally, the release of the first Persian talkie (produced in
India) diminished its prospects for profit. After the failure of his
second film, Ohanian could not find any support for further activities.
He left Iran for India and continued his academic career in Calcutta.
Subsequently he returned to Iran in 1947, where he died seven years
later.