Indian city hosts Iran’s ‘When the Moon Was Full’
Iranian filmmaker Narges Abyar joined Indian audiences at a three-day cultural event, “Screening of Iranian Films and Experience Exchange,” held from November 7 to 9 in Hyderabad, to present her award-winning drama ‘When the Moon Was Full.’
Organized by the Moving Images Society, one of Hyderabad’s oldest film clubs with over 20 years of promoting global cinema, the program offered Indian cinephiles a close look at Iran’s new generation of directors, actors, and screenwriters.
Abyar’s 2019 feature ‘When the Moon Was Full,’ based on a true story, opened the festival on Friday before a packed house that included filmmakers, members of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), diplomats, and local officials. The screening drew strong applause from the audience and praise from Hyderabad’s film community.
Viewers described Abyar’s film as “profound yet shocking,” calling her directorial touch both sensitive and fearless. Indian actor Suman Talwar said the film “not only tells a real story but delves deep into emotional and social layers that resonate with our culture.”
Speaking to local media, Abyar said she was “delighted that Iranian cinema has found a space for dialogue with Indian audiences.” She added that such encounters could “build a bridge for future collaborations between Iranian and Indian filmmakers.”
Abyar, known internationally for ‘Track 143,’ ‘Breath,’ and ‘When the Moon Was Full’ has received numerous awards for her portrayals of women and the human cost of conflict.