Director: Saman Moghadam
Cast: Hamid Farokh Nezhad-Hossein Yari-Hamid Goudarzi- Amin Hayayi-ٍElnaz Shakerdoust-Tanaz Learn to pronounce Tabatabai-Lida Abasi
Ghalbe Yakhi (Cold Heart) is a 2010 Iranian drama-comedy series directed by Saman Moghadam, following a darkly comic chain of events that begins with a gang boss's suspicious death and spirals into an unlikely prison friendship between a career criminal and a respected archaeologist.
What is Ghalbe Yakhi about?
On the tail end of a chaotic Tehran night, Attila — a feared underworld boss — plummets to his death from a rooftop under circumstances that raise immediate questions. Shahrokh, a well-known archaeologist with no apparent connection to the criminal world, finds himself arrested and charged with the killing. After a swift conviction, Shahrokh is placed in a cell with Hamed, a seasoned inmate whose world couldn't be further from academia. What unfolds is a story of two men from opposite ends of society forced to coexist, each carrying secrets that gradually surface behind bars. The series balances dark subject matter with sharp, observational humor, using the prison setting as a lens to examine class, identity, and the unpredictable turns that ordinary lives can take.
Cast & crew
The series is directed by Saman Moghadam, a filmmaker recognized for blending social commentary with accessible storytelling. The ensemble cast includes Hamid Farokh Nezhad, Hossein Yari, Hamid Goudarzi, Amin Hayayi, Elnaz Shakerdoust, Tanaz Tabatabai, and Lida Abasi — a strong mix of established Iranian television and film actors who bring credibility and warmth to the material.
Context & significance
Iranian prison dramas occupy a distinct space in Persian-language television, using confinement as a way to bring together characters who would never otherwise share space — and letting the friction between them illuminate broader social tensions. Ghalbe Yakhi sits in this tradition while leaning into comedy, making it more accessible to viewers who might find straight drama heavy. For the diaspora, the series offers a recognizable portrait of Tehran's social landscape circa 2010: its class divides, its street culture, and the resilient humor Iranians use to process difficult circumstances. It is the kind of series that travels well — the humor lands even at a distance.
Where & how to watch
Ghalbe Yakhi is available on K-Time with original Persian audio. Watch on your browser, TV, or phone — no VPN required and no geo-blocking. Start and cancel anytime.