Filming of 'Molla Nasreddin: A Friend in Hard Days' continues in Kalbajar

Filming of the full-length feature film "Molla Nasreddin: A Friend in Hard Days" continues in the Kalbajar district. The film, through the language of cinema, reflects the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan and the collective memory of the Turkic world.

According to Report, the project contributes to the cultural revival of the liberated territories.

The film crew includes: chief producer Zaur Darabzada, scriptwriter and director – People’s Artist Vagif Mustafayev, executive producer Azer Guliyev, and an international professional team of 100 people.

Thanks to his unique style and artistic vision on social issues, Vagif Mustafayev brings high artistic value to the project. Under his direction, the film presents the image of Molla Nasreddin not only as a satirist but also as an enlightener and bearer of spiritual heritage.

“Molla Nasreddin is not only humor and satire, but also a symbol of wisdom, irony, and an artistic response to the pain of society. Bringing this figure to the screen is a great responsibility and moral duty for me. Shooting this film on Karabakh soil is a true symbol of cultural revival,” said Vagif Mustafayev.

The project is officially supported by TÜRKSOY and was approved at the 40th session of the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of TÜRKSOY member states during the 1st Turkic World Culture Forum held in October 2023 in the city of Shusha.

The film is being produced by Nasreddin Production LLC, established in 2023, with the support of the ministries of culture of TÜRKSOY member states. Filming is also taking place at the “Azerbaijanfilm” studio named after J. Jabbarli. In addition to Azerbaijan, filming will take place in Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Chief producer Zaur Darabzada stated that this project is the first feature film in the Turkic world created through the joint cooperation of all Turkic-speaking countries. “We are not only reviving the legacy of Molla Nasreddin but also building cultural bridges and establishing strong ties with renowned producers of the Turkic world. This film, shot in Karabakh, will become both a historical and spiritual legacy for future generations,” he emphasized.

It was also noted that this international project not only unites the shared cultural values of the Turkic world but also makes a significant contribution to popularizing the artistic and historical image of Karabakh through cinematography.