Prophet Joseph (TV series)

Series Description

Prophet Joseph is a Persian-language Iranian mini-series originally broadcast in 2008, which tells the story of prophet Yusuf (or Joseph) according to the Islamic tradition. Realistic depictions of everyday life are represented. Each episode in the series begins with a poly-phonic recitation of the first four verses (ayah) of the chapter (surah) on Yusuf.

The 45 episodes of the series are replete with themes on filial love, personal journey through life (within family and on one's own), personal character, submission, prayer, prophethood, idolatry, monotheism, loyalty, betrayal, carnal desires, nature of various kinds of love, separation, abandonment, slavery, social organizations at various levels, nature of political authority, governance, strategy, various ideologies (and their implications), anticipation, and finally, forgiveness and salvation.

The movie meanders through the existential lives of three principal characters (Yusuf, Zuleikha and Ya'qub) with dozens of other major and minor characters.

The story in the series starts in the south of Babylon, in the second millennium BC, depicting Ya'qub's battle against idolatry (of Ishtar) in Mesopotamia and the miraculous birth of Yusuf.

Production

The 16-DVD distribution from Soroush.tv contains a bonus, last DVD describing the making of the movie, including interviews with many of the production crew and a number of assistants to the director.

In this DVD and subsequent interviews, the director, Farajollah Salahshoor, gives his production account, as follows:

Salahshoor describes his reasons for making the movie in an interview with a Shia TV station, with a concurrent translation into English.

Distribution

The series, dubbed in English, can be viewed on Iran's iFilm movie network.

The original series, in Persian, can also be obtained in a 16-DVD, two-box set from its official distributor, Soroush Multimedia Company of Iran, Soroush.tv. First 15 DVDs contain 3 episodes each. Last DVD contains 3 episode on the making of the series.

Available Languages

The movie was filmed in Persian. The Persian is of the classical "Dastoori" kind (as opposed to the shortened and inflected vernacular). Dastoori Persian has been used in Persian poetry and prose since around the 10th century.

It has been dubbed into Arabic in Al-Kawthar and there is also another version with English subtitles, which has and is currently being broadcast on IRIB.

In Pakistan, there is an Urdu dubbing available. Its Hindi-Urdu dubbed version named "Prophet Yousuf" was telecast in India on Channel WIN, starting from 19 June 2015.

A Bengali dubbed version has also been telecast in SA TV of Bangladesh from 27 November 2016.

There is also an Azeri version for Azerbaijan.

A turkish dubbed version was aired on Kanal 7.

A reasonably dubbed version in English can also be found on YouTube.

Reception

Given that the series is quite long and the original language is in Persian, authoritative reviews in English have been scant.

The number of views of various dubbed versions indicate some popularity among viewers.

The trailer to the version of the series dubbed in English has been seen more than 350 thousand times on Youtube as of the second quarter of 2017.

The first of the series, dubbed in English, and available on YouTube shows 300 thousand views as of the second quarter of 2017. The last (45th) episode in the same version (dubbed in English) shows about 125 thousand views as of the second quarter of 2017.

Controversies

Some scholars in Egypt's Al Azhar theological school have been reported by a Saudi-owned television station to have advocated the banning of Yusuf in Egypt.

The director's daughter who grew up in a religious family criticized his father‘s work publicly, she believes that promotion of polygamy is planned by IRIB in Islamic Republic of Iran. (Iran TV.) She said, "… we are not monitoring anyone and everyone has his personal interpretation." She added, "I, as an normal audience, without considering my relation with the director, am very worried about the youths of this country and how the religion is defined for them, worried about the future of this generation, religion, morality and the Koran. What should youths choose?"

Salhashoor commented, "Polygamy had existed in past religions and theological schools. If for some reasons it has been changed is due to the modern world. The prophets and the Prophet's predecessors had second and third wives. It had been in the past and in many Islamic countries, there is still this culture though some Shiites want to revise it. There was polygamy in the past, I could not ignore the fact to please the feminists, again I emphasize that we do not promote polygamy. It is not our intention we just express a historical document."

Aftermath

Katayoun Riahi, an Iranian actress known for her role as Potiphar's wife, decided to retire from acting following her participation in this TV series. She said after experiencing the moral issues such as serenity, tolerance, respect and modesty, she could no longer endure any scene. She added: "I do not want to play anymore and I want to keep the sweetness of what experienced inside me forever."

Cast