Behrooz Afkhami

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--The process of directing a film about the late Imam Khomeini, the architect of the Islamic Revolution, by Behrooz Afkhami has encountered a problem.
According to the Persian daily Bonniefilm, the head of the Foundation for Safeguarding the Values of the Sacred Defense, Brigadier Baqerzadeh has reservations about the artists who have been invited to take roles in the film called 'Son of Dawn '.
Baqerzadeh believes that since the late Imam Khomeini was a charismatic figure for the Iranian nation, the actors and actresses in the film are the criteria for the Islamic standard the Imam advocated during his lifetime.
He maintained that the artists popularly known as respecting the religious obligations are allowed to act in the film given the sensitivity of the movie's theme.
Producer of the film Mohammad Reza Sharaf-eddin said he prefers not to comment on the issue.
Bonniefilm said that Hedieh Tehrani and Mohammad Reza Sharifi-nia are expected to act in the film. The shooting of the film began several days ago.

Musicians can register their works with the International Standard Music Numbering system.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Following Iran's accession to the International Standard Music Numbering (ISMN), publishers and authors of books on music can henceforth register their works in the system to take advantage of the facilities it offers in international markets.
According to ISNA, Book House's Public Relations Department said that ISMN, which facilitates collaboration and information exchange at the international level, has been designed in mechanized systems for processing and management of printed music texts and bibliography data.
It is an exclusive identity card to distinguish printed works on music, which recognizes them without referring to bibliographical specifications such as the publisher and producer of the works.
Since trade in printed works on music is expanding, the problems regarding easy access to the title or a special edited version of the title are on the increase.
The name of the producer or composer is not a suitable indication for identifying the intended work, while using ISMN, the work can be found accurately.
Music and song notes, lyrics, published poetries and anthology of songs are registered in this system.
ISMN was established based on the ISO-19075 standard in 1993 and some 50 countries have so far acceded to it.
To present the printed works on music at the international level and electronic trade, Iran's Book House, which represents International Standard Book Numbering (ISBN) in the country, gained membership at the ISMN's 32nd meeting which was held in Berlin on November 4-5.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--A noted archeologist has said that he cannot recall any good memories about foreign archeologists working in the country as they have all betrayed Iran in the past.
Gholamreza Masoumi told ISNA that the latest decision by Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) to invite foreign archeologists to conduct studies in Iran is useful only if they work for a fair salary.
"Foreign archeologists should not be given a chance to dominate their Iranian counterparts. The best way for cooperation with European archeologists is to remunerate them for cooperating with their Iranian colleagues," he said.
"I know some of my Iranian colleagues who had a record of 7,000 days of work assignment. They are now in retirement. I propose that the ICHTO summon such individuals to undertake research studies. Despite their high skills in research studies, the Europeans know nothing about Iranian custom and traditions. I should say that the head of the Paris-based Louvre Museum has worked with me for several years in Iran and has confessed that he did not know the purpose of the items being unearthed," he concluded.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Well-known composer Hossein Dehlavi said that his opera of 'Mani and Mana' has not been performed due to a dispute over omitting part of the work.
Speaking to the Persian daily Hamshahri, he said that he began to compose the opera in 1977 and completed the work in 1980. He regretted that he could not perform the opera in the past 23 years.
"The failure to bring the opera on stage in the past 23 years has deal a blow to my spirit. It also depressed me and hindered the progress of my works. It is most unfortunate that other musicians have the same problems as well. The lack of attention to the musician community has inflicted heavy losses on the progress of music," Dehlavi said.
"After the long time, they promised to provide fund for performing 'Mani and Mana'. We need at least 130 musicians for the opera which calls for a huge funds. It will be a great service for the children and the young adults if I can perform it," he said.
"I have made it clear that I will never accept to omit part of the opera. I prefer to have Manuchehr Sahbaei as the conductor of the opera. A woman will also sing the role of Mana," he said. "If I cannot perform the opera in Iran, I will do it abroad," he said.

A visitor at the IntÕl Holy QurÕan Exhibit in Tehran. (IRNA Photo)

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--The first software on Nahjul Balagha, a book containing the maxims of Imam Ali (AS), the first Imam of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) infallible household, is available at the 12th International Holy Qur'an Exhibit, reported ILNA.
The software includes the full text of Nahjul Balagha, translation of 40 parts of the book in addition to 25 explanatory notes.
The software, which can be used for comparative studies of translations, includes explanatory notes and a search engine for 16,000 topics ranging from connotations of the sermons of Imam Ali (AS) in Nahjul Balagha to verses from the holy Qur'an.
The software is available in three languages: Persian, English and Arabic and the translation of every word is available via the search engine.
The event is also displaying a Kufi manuscript version of the holy Qur'an which was written by Abi Saad bin al-Hussein bin Ali four some centuries ago.
The Qur'an has been placed in the handwritten copies section of the exhibit.
The version of the holy book which is in Kufi script was written in the third century AH.
The design of the seal of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also featured in the exhibit. The design was produced in Spain and its original copy is maintained in a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
Meanwhile, a letter from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the ruler of Bahrain which is printed on an iron plate is also on display.
The first comprehensive Islamic Encyclopedia titled 'Raja' is also on display in the event. The encyclopedia lists 27,000 entries on Islamic culture and civilization. It has over 300 pictures, maps, with search engine on the web.
There are 54 reference books about Imam Mahdi (May God Hasten His Reappearance), the twelfth Imam of Shiite Muslims.
In another report, Fars news agency said that the oldest coin minted in the name of Imam Reza (AS) has also been put on public view. On one side of the coin depicting verses from the holy Qur'an has been printed and the name of Imam Reza has been printed on the other side of the same coin.
The coin was minted when Imam Reza (AS) assumed the post of heir apparent of Abbasid ruler, Ma'moun.
The exhibit is open from 10:00 hrs. to 22:00 hrs every day until the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

TEHRAN, Nov. 10--Members of the chorus music group are not being paid a fair salary and the 450,000 rials they receive monthly is only enough to pay the taxi fare to come to the office.
Expressing this view, conductor of the Chorus Orchestra Behrang Shegarfkar told the Persian daily Bonniefilm that the musicians in the choral group employed by the music center of the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guidance are being paid on the basis of the hours they work and are not entitled to any other extra benefit. "Unfortunately, the chorus music group does not enjoy any support from the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guidance," he said.
"We are paid only when we receive orders for different occasions such as the programs performed at Iran Music House and the festival of the holy Qur'an," he said.
Shegarfkar said that the Chorus Group is badly suffering from low payment.
He criticized the respective officials for their failure to help the national chorus music group overcome its financial difficulty and said that the group has not been provided with a teacher for chorus singing for the past several months. "For the past several months, we have requested a teacher, but, whenever we refer to them, they say that the matter is under consideration. This is the reply," he said.