TEHRAN -- Many artists and cultural figures passed away during the Iranian calendar year 1396 (March 21, 2017-2018) and left us amidst tears and sorrow. We retain only the happy memories of those individuals who are no longer with us. 

Aref Lorestani, actor  

Lorestani, who was mostly known for the roles he played in most of the comedy series that Mehran Modiri directed over the past two decades, died of heart failure on April 15. He was 46. 

He was introduced by Modiri in his “Miscellanea 77” in 1998. However, his skills evolved out of the portrayal of the corrupt policeman Baladolmolk in “Bitter Coffee”, the first episodes of which were released in September 2010.

Habibollah Kasesaz, film producer 

Kasesaz, the producer of box-office hits such as “The Outcast”, died of gastric cancer on July 19. He was 55. He was mostly famous for the films revolving around the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.  

Media Kashigar, writer and translator

Kashigar died of pulmonary disease at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hospital on July 29. He was 61.

“Forgotten Memories from the Future” and “Dark Room” are among the noteworthy credits of the writer.
He also translated several works by famous writers into Persian, including works by Albert Camus, Antoine de Saint-Exupйry and Eugene Ionesco.

Mahmud Jahan, folk singer
Jahan, famous for his Bandari music, which is played in southern Iranian cities, died of heart failure at a hospital in Mahshahr on July 30. He was 66.

He was suffering from heart disease for many years. His debut album was released in Tehran in 1976 and had produced 32 albums since then.

Nader Golchin, vocalist

Golchin died at 81 after a long battle with lung cancer at Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital on September 22.

Born in the northern Iranian city of Rasht, Golchin collaborated with many distinguished musicians in the traditional Iranian music such as Faramarz Payvar, Farhang Sharif, Parviz Yahaqqi, Ali-Asghar Bahari, Jahangir Malek and Jalil Shahnaz.

Ali-Ashraf Darvishian, writer 

Darvishian who was known as an advocate of justice and the poor died of pulmonary disease in his home in Karaj on October 26. He was 76.

Darvishian was born in Kermanshah in 1941. His grandmother was a wise and experienced person who knew many stories and tales by heart, some of which have been compiled in a book by Darvishian.

Habibollah Chaichian, poet

Chaichian, who was mostly famous for his compositions on Prophet Muhammad (S) and his household, died of natural causes at his home in Tehran on November 30. He was 94.

He was mostly known by his pseudonym Hesan. Two of his poems on Imam Hussein (AS), and one on Imam Reza (AS) are very popular among Iranians.

Sadeq Tabrizi, painter

Tabrizi, a pioneer of calligraphic-painting in Iran died in London on December 4. He was 79.

He was suffering from liver cancer and was in London to receive further treatment.

Tabrizi was an influential figure in the formation of the Saqqakhaneh School, a neo-traditional style of art that derives inspiration from Iranian folk art and culture.

Ali Ramaz, actor

The veteran actor of stage and screen Ramaz died of natural causes in Tehran on December 28. He was 90.

Born in Tehran, Ramaz began learning about theater as a result of his acquaintance with actors Ezzatollah Entezami and Hushang Beheshti. When he was 20, he pursued an education that included theater courses held by the celebrated stage director and playwright Abdolhossein Nushin.

RM/MMS/YAW