Nozar Azadi: an Iranian treasure re-emerges

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Nozar Azadi: an Iranian treasure re-emerges
by Nazy Kaviani
23-Aug-2010
 

Are you one of the millions of Iranians who wondered, at least once, where Nozar Azadi went? Nozar Azadi, also known as agha-ye Ghatebeh, is without a doubt one of Iran's most beloved actors of all times. He is the man who performed some of the most memorable theatrical pieces in the Iranian television history. His famous one-liners have been living a life of their own in the Iranian contemporary lingo for at least three decades now.

Who could forget this man? Some of us have looked high and low for him, looking for news about his whereabouts, his health, and his activities. Well, wonder no more! Nozar Azadi has spent the past 20 years painting! The lucky Iranians of Southern California are going to be treated to an exhibition of Mr. Azadi's works, Rainbows, at the Seyhoun Gallery in Los Angeles between August 28th and September 9th, 2010. In his invitation card for the event, Nozar Azadi talks about his decision to leave acting after his legendary performance on the Iranian TV Series, "Italia, Italia." He says:

"Since my youth, my constant pastime next to acting and literature was painting. But working as a professional actor, laboring and sweating my life while performing on stage or on television screen, there were hardly any opportunities left for me to paint. Many years ago, I was faced with premature retirement and isolation. After finishing production of the television series, Italia, Italia, I left the stage for several physical and psychological reasons and chose a life in isolation. My isolation and distance were mixed with diaspora, and as Shamloo said, “my lamp did not burn there.” My overwhelming physical illnesses led me to feeling like my life was futile and that I was eroding and fruitless, burning my life and my body. I felt aimless like a fish out of the water, flailing, when my old attachment to painting came back to me, threw healing rays to my life, and provided a strong foothold for me to be and to remain, healing my anguish and helping me toward artistic creation. It has now been more than 20 years since I started painting again and the main subject or character of my works is the rainbow, or as we call it in Persian, tirajeh…”

So, there you have it folks! Please go to visit Nozar Azadi's website to see more photographs of him, old and new, and a few of his works. Please do remember to leave him a comment on his guestbook, welcoming his return to public life. I have been trying to get an interview with him and to ask him some questions on behalf of the readers on Iranian.com. If I do, you guys will be the first ones to know!

In the meantime, if you live in the Los Angeles Area, don't miss a chance to meet the artist on the opening night and to see his works for a few weeks later this month. Here are the details:


Rainbows by Nozar Azadi

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 6 to 9 p.m.
Exhibition: August 28, 2010 - September 9, 2010
Seyhoun Gallery
9007 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 858-5984 

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Souri

Merci Anahid jon

by Souri on Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:20 AM PDT

I tried it many times until today when suddenly the links worked!

Very funny videos. I laughed so much.

Thanks for your attention.


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Anahid Hojjati

Souri jan, last night I was able to watch the one with Hayedeh..

by Anahid Hojjati on Thu Aug 26, 2010 12:34 PM PDT

Souri jan, I used the link and was able to watch the one that Ghatebeh calls Hayedeh. It was pretty funny. I also saw part of the one about Ghatebeh and Gogoosh. So for me, link with Hayedeh worked perfectly. The one with Gogoosh stopped in middle but I did not try to find out where the problem was. These are the only links I tried.


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Anonymouse

شرقی دوست داشتنی

Anonymouse
Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:55 AM PDT

An earlier i.com article about Ghatebeh the loveable easterner. 

Everything is sacred


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Ilya

I really love him. I will

by Ilya on Wed Aug 25, 2010 09:25 PM PDT

I really love him. I will definitely go see him in LA. Thanks for this article.


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Souri

But I couldn't watch them

by Souri on Wed Aug 25, 2010 08:25 PM PDT

The links which Anonymouse provided don't work for me!

It says bad link !!! 

Did anybody else (but Mehman) watch those videos?


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Mehman

Thanks Anonymouse and Majid jans

by Mehman on Wed Aug 25, 2010 08:21 PM PDT

for clips! They were great! Watching Ghatebeh is full of pleasure...

Wish Bahram (or anyone) can provide us with some Octapus.

 

Thanks


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Anonymouse

My favorite Ghatebeh

by Anonymouse on Wed Aug 25, 2010 04:50 PM PDT

Majid jaan I like that clip too!  I'd say that's my 3rd favorite.

- My first favorite is talking to Haydeh.

- Second favorite is talking to Googoosh.

And for Mehman I didn't find Octupus but found this which was a project related to Octupus, a plan hatched during an Octupus meeting.  Perhaps Bahram jaan can provide a link for Octupus. 

Everything is sacred


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Majid

قاطبه....ماشین فروش سال!

Majid
Wed Aug 25, 2010 03:38 PM PDT

 

قورباغَه خُشگهء سوزمانی
کیه که نقش های بیاد ماندنی و «منحصر بفرد» نوذر آزادی رو ندیده باشه؟ کارآکتری رو معرفی کرد که واقعاً هیچکس جرأت نکرد حتّی به حریمش نزدیک بشه، کلمات مخصوص خودش، حرکات مخصوص خودش و.........قاطبه!

نمیدونم کدوم کلیپش رو انتخاب کنم ولی این یکی از اون شاهکار هاست...............


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Mehman

سریال اختاپوس

Mehman
Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:11 AM PDT

 

 شخص بنده نمایندۀ ثابت، دائمی و غیر قابل تعویض اعلام می نمایم ...

I have delightful images of the 'Okhtapus' serial in memory even though the Okhtapus serial in which Nozar Azadi started the character of 'Ghatebeh' along with Parviz Sayyad, Shahnaz Tehrani and Ostad (forgot his name) happened when I was too young, but I wish I could somehow find some videos of it

Do you know if there is  any footage left of the Okhtapus serial in the internet or anywhere else?

Thank you Nazi jan for posting this memorial of 'Ghatebeh'.

 

 قاطی جان... قاطی...

 


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Anahid Hojjati

Thanks Nazy jan, I was wondering what happened to "Nozar Azadi"

by Anahid Hojjati on Mon Aug 23, 2010 02:57 PM PDT

dear nazy, thanks for updating us about "Nozar Azadi". It is great that he was able to find satisfaction in painting after yaers of work in other art areas. I had a quick look at his paintings and they are good. I will have to check them more later on, but thanks for writing about him and letting us know about his new activities.


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default

Ay okh

by Doctor X on Mon Aug 23, 2010 01:55 PM PDT

 

Ay oookhh! ayy okhh Izabelaaaa ayy okh.


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vildemose

What a talented Painter

by vildemose on Mon Aug 23, 2010 09:38 AM PDT

What a talented Painter too. His paintings should be featured on IC. They are some of the best work I have ever seen by any artists.

Thanks Nazi jon.


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Souri

Thank you Nazy jon

by Souri on Mon Aug 23, 2010 09:24 AM PDT

This is really great that you have found Nozar Azadi for us!

I always loved him. He is a very talented artist.

I believe many Iranian do agree that Nozar Azadi has a unique talent of comedy play, like Parviz Sayaad does.

I am so glad that he is still active and happy with his new life.

More power to Mr Azadi.

And many thanks to you, dear.

 


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default

That is Great

by Doctor X on Mon Aug 23, 2010 07:57 AM PDT

For some odd reason, perhaps my own ignorance and lack of desire to follow up on the newsi hear from iin o oon!, i had the impression that he was deceased!!!

thank god that he is alive and well and artistically involved:)


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Darius Kadivar

FYI/ Nozar Azadi With Ramesh ...

by Darius Kadivar on Mon Aug 23, 2010 05:32 AM PDT

Great Find Nazy Jaan,

You should invite him for the next Iranian.com Event. He should be able to transform it into a Rave Party ;0) 

Where is Ramesh By the Way ? Is she still alive ?

Ramesh Sings "Asmar Yaaram" with Nozar Azadi:

 


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Anonymouse

He is truly the best. I hope he can tour more 4 millions of fans

by Anonymouse on Mon Aug 23, 2010 05:26 AM PDT

I'd compare his (first?) public appearance since revolution to Googoosh's first public appearance.  No other event had gathered so many Iranians outside Iran. Now it is his turn.

His paintings look as good as his acting.  I'd love to meet him one day. 

Everything is sacred


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