First-ever TV drama screened in post-US Afghanistan

KABUL (Agencies): For the first time since the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan and the evacuation of the US-led forces, a TV drama was screened recently as a sign of promoting the cinema industry in the war-torn country.
The screening has raised hope among cinema makers that the film industry could be developed under the Taliban-led administration. “So far, we have faced no problem in shooting and preparing the serial, and I am hopeful that the situation would further improve to work better in the field,” an actor told Xinhua.
Surkh Sali, meaning Red Year, tells a love story of three personalities in contemporary Afghanistan, with its teaser on the cinema screen on the western edge of Kabul city a couple of days ago. In the serial trailer ceremony attended by 15 film cast, the onlookers lauded the TV drama, hoping that the serial could reach local television channels and mini-screens.
Satayesh Atae, who attended the ceremony, told Xinhua that she believes that the permission to shoot the TV serial is a step towards developing cinema culture in the country. Like other national institutions, Afghanistan’s cinema and film industry have been badly damaged due to over four decades of war. Although there are a handful of cinemas in Afghan cities including Kabul, there was no screening of local or foreign films, with television channels usually broadcasting Turkish- and Iranian-produced serials.
Zabihullah Mujahid, deputy minister of information and culture of the Taliban-led caretaker government, has urged filmmakers to produce films based on values of Islamic teaching and Afghan culture. Mujahid made the remarks at the screening ceremony of the first two documentaries made by Afghan filmmakers and displayed by the state-run film producing company the Afghan Film here on Sunday. “Cinema and screening films has a significant role in improving society, reconstruction and its introduction,” said Hamayon Sakhani, a film actor. He also said cinemas in Afghanistan have been badly damaged and its rehabilitation lacks investment as the society needs them more than at any time.