Ovanes Ohanian

Biography

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.