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Ovanes Ohanian
Ovanes Ohanian (Armenian: Հովհաննես Օհանյան, Persian: اوانس اوهانیانس; October 1896 – September 1960) was an Armenian-Iranian filmmaker, inventor, founder, doctor, scientist with PhD in medicine, film,[clarification needed] science[clarification needed] and languages.[clarification needed] He established the first film school in the history of Iran. His first film, Abi and Rabi (1930) was Iran's first feature-length movie. He founded the first acting school in Iran and the first acting school in India together with the first police school in Iran.[2] He was fluent in seven languages. He died of Heart attack in his office in Tehran. The museum in Tehran contains relevant information of his life. BiographyOvanes Ohanian was born in 1896 in Mashhad, Iran, the son of a father named Gregory. He studied film at the Cinema Academy of Moscow and then returned to Iran. In 1924, he went to India to form the first film school in India. After facing many difficulties, he went to Iran in 1930 to form the first film acting and technical school in Tehran; 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 Abi and Rabi (1930). The film, lensed by Mo'tazedi, was shot silent on 35mm black and white stock and ran 1,400 meters long. The main actors were Abolghassem Ashti, Ahmad Dehghan and M. Ali Ghotbi as reflected in the book titled Filmshenakht Iran by Mr. Abbas Baharloo. Same actors also played in another movie called Bolhavas. Unfortunately both movied caught fire during screening at Mayak movie therter in Tehran. The Diploma de L'ecole Cinematograpique a' Tehran signed by Ohanian and one other person and sealed on the picture of Abolghassem Ashti does still exist. 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 and 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. In 1933, Ovanes released the movie Haji Agha Actor (sometimes translated as Mr. Haji the Movie Actor).[3] Ovanes directed and starred in the movie as the movie-directing suitor of Mr. Haji's daughter. 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. Professional biographyPublished by the International Federation of Scientific Research Societies (Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe & America) Academic Professor Dr. O. G. Ohanian (Mojdeh) D. Sc. (h.c.); D. C. Sc., M.D, Deputy President of the International Federation of Scientific Research Societies; Acting President of the International Motion Picture Institute Of Asia; member of the Committee of the International Academy of Sciences and Letters; member of the International Medical Research Institute of Asia; member of the Royal institute for Asian Society in London. Academician Professor Dr. O. G Ohanian, D. C. Sc., (Academia Asiatica). D. Sc, M. D. (I. F. S. R. S.), India. M. R. C. A. S. (London). His activities in sciences and arts:
Education
 Amongst his pupil received diploma have been: the late Ahmad Deikhan (Member of Parliament) Shahani, Gorji, Moorad, Kodbi, Rashidi, Kobadi, Sooltani, Edalatpoor, and Saphi. Eng. Zarrabi, Sohrabi, Miss Pavlov, Miss Zohreh, Miss Ohanian and many others. Scenario writer and film director of the first Iranian film production. "Abi and Rabi", "Haji Agha, the Cinema Actor" "Tagor in Iran" Author of Scenario "Reza Shah the Great" about which the Radio and Propaganda Department of the Government of Iran expressed its best opinion and which recently was presented to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi appreciation received from the Prime Minister of Iran Dr. Eghbal. INDIA: Founder of the first Motion Picture Institute for training actors and film directors. Some of his ex-students are now well-known film directors in India. 1937 – 39 President of the International Motion Picture Institute of Asia which has granted the first prizes for the best Indian Films in 1939. "Pukar"of Sohrab Mody's Production. "Admi" of V.Shantaram's Production. Devika Rani and Moti Lal as the best screen actors of India in 1939. In literature
Bureau of the International Motion Picture Institute: Prof. Said Nafici – President. Prof. O.G. Ohanian – Acting President Abbas Massoudi – Deputy. Prof. O.G. Ohanian (Senator). Ahmad Deikhan – General Secretary (M.P.). Ahavian – Joint Secretary. H. Moorad – Treasurer. Satu Roy – Representative in India. Ali Vakili (M.P.). Mirzayants (M.P.) as honorary members in India. Prof. Apte, Sohrab Modi, H.C. Sidwa (Globe Theatre), P.C. Patel (Opera House Cinema), P. K. Kapadia (Evergreen Pictures) in Bombay, Satu Roy (Film Director), Chandrasohekhar (Editor of Calcutta Dipaly weekly). Founder of the film production and screen acting education in Iran from 1929 - 1936 whose honorary president was a well-known film director in Hollywood Mr William Cecil B. DeMille and Dr. Rabindranath Tagor (Honorary Member). Amongst his pupils who received diplomas was the late Ahmad Deikhan (Member of Parliament), Shahnai, Gorji, Moorad, Kodbi, Rashidi, Kobadi, Sooltani, Edalatpoor, Saphi, Eng. Zarrabi, Sohrabi, Miss Pavlova, Miss Zohreh, Miss Ohanians and many others. Scenario writer and film director of the first Iranian film productions – Abi and Rabi, Haji Agha, the Cinema Actor and Tagor in Iran. Author of Scenario 'Reza Shah the Great' about which the Radio and Propaganda Department of the Government of Iran expressed its best opinion and which recently was presented to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and received an appreciation letter from D. Egbal the then Minister of Iran. India: 1924 Founder of the first Motion Picture Institute for training screen actors and film directors. Some of his ex-students are now well known film directors in India. 1937-1939 – President of the International Motion Pictures Institute of Asia which has guaranteed first prizes for the best Indian films in 1939: – 'Pukar' of Sohrab Mody's Production Devika Rani and Moti Lal as the best 'Admi' of V. Shantaram's Production screen actors of India in 1939 Member of Society of all Russian writers since 1929 in Moscow. Author of 64 literary works and books. 'The Flaming Hearth' was dedicated to the late Robindranath Tagor and published in the Bombay Chronicles in 1941. 'The Valley of Dream' an Iranian legend, published in Paris in 1939, 'The Treasury of Timor Lang' published in Tehran in 1932. A theatrical drama – 'Love Under the Wing of the Devil' published in 1917 in Ashkabad. His drama 'Coup d'État' from the life of the late Reza Shah the Great was personally accepted by His Imperial Majesty in 1932. In the preface of this drama which is a well-known literature in Iran – Professor Said Nafici – is expressing the opinion that this drama is the best example ever written in the history of Iranian literature. About Indian life he has written the following – 'The Wandering Professor', 'The Seal of the King Asoka', 'The Indian Prince', 'The Emerald God', 'The Beautiful Lusi', 'The White Horseman', 'Her Revenge', etc., In theatre Director of the first Iranian Opera 'Parvaneh' in Teheran in 1932, Director and Author of the drama – 'The Lost Child' in Tehran in 1931; Director of the 'Arshin Mal-Alan' in Tehran in 1931; Director of 'The Coquette Lady' in Teheran in 1932 etc. In scienceHe has held the following positions:
Professor in Iranian Police School in 1934 in Tehran.
Inventions
Personal lifeThree children with his wife Ashraf Karimzadeh: Orod Ohanians, Pavel Ohanian and Helen facchetti. References
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