Director: Abbas Shabaviz

Cast: Mohammad Ali Fardin - Parvin Ghaffari - Taghi Zohori - Puri Banai - Mohammad Taghi Kahnamooi - Jahangir Ghaffari - Nematullah Pishvaeian - Giso - Mir Mohammad Tajaddad - Shahram Shokoofandeh - Ghobad - Heshmat

Moo Talaiye Shahre Maa is a 1965 Iranian drama film directed by Abbas Shabaviz, starring Mohammad Ali Fardin as Nader, a modest mechanic whose quiet life is upended when financial hardship and family loyalty force him toward a world he never wanted — the glittering, morally ambiguous nightlife of Tehran's cafes.

What is Moo Talaiye Shahre Maa about?

Nader is a working-class mechanic who shares a simple home with his uncle Mansour and younger brother Mohsen. When a woman named Leili approaches him with an offer to become a cafe singer, he turns her down without hesitation — that path does not match his values. Everything changes when Mohsen is badly injured in a road accident, leaving Nader scrambling for money to cover the medical costs. He first goes to his employer at the mechanics workshop, but is met with excuses and evasion. Cornered and desperate to protect his brother, Nader reluctantly accepts Leili's offer. The story follows what happens when a principled man is pushed to the edges of his own convictions by forces entirely beyond his control.

Cast & crew

Mohammad Ali Fardin, one of the most beloved stars of pre-revolutionary Iranian cinema, leads the film with the warmth and physical charisma that made him a household name. Parvin Ghaffari brings depth to Leili's role, and the supporting ensemble — including Taghi Zohori, Puri Banai, and Jahangir Ghaffari — grounds the story in the texture of everyday Tehran working life.

Context & significance

Made during the golden era of Iranian commercial cinema in the 1960s, this film belongs to a rich tradition of melodramas that centered the lives of ordinary working people — mechanics, factory workers, and small-time traders navigating the pressures of a rapidly modernizing city. For diaspora viewers, films from this period carry a particular emotional weight: they preserve a visual and sonic record of Tehran streets, speech patterns, and social norms that no longer exist in the same form. Watching Fardin on screen connects many Iranian families across generations, evoking memories of a country before the revolution reshaped everything.

Where & how to watch

Moo Talaiye Shahre Maa is available on K-Time in its original Persian audio. No VPN is required and there is no geo-blocking — watch on the web, your TV, or your phone. Membership can be cancelled anytime.