Director: Farrokh Ghaffari
Cast: Parviz Sayyad, Nozar Azadi, Pouri Banaei, Enayat Bakhshi, Shahnaz Tehrani
Zanburak is a 1975 Iranian comedy-history film directed by Farrokh Ghaffari, set two centuries ago in the turbulent landscapes of Qajar-era Persia. Starring Parviz Sayyad as a wandering cannoneer, the film blends slapstick misadventure with period satire in a story of unlikely alliances and comic chaos.
What is Zanburak about?
Nearly two hundred years in the past, a cannon operator barely escapes when his regiment is routed in battle. Falling into the hands of bandits, he is pressed into service against a local lord — only to switch sides again when loyalty demands it. Along the way he rescues a stranded strongman and the two cross paths with a restless young man chasing rumors of buried treasure. When the rivalry between villagers and the outlaw gang erupts into open conflict, the trio's meddling scatters the hidden gold across the earth — only for an arriving military column to claim the prize and haul all three off as prisoners.
Cast & crew
Director Farrokh Ghaffari was one of Iran's most respected auteurs of the pre-revolutionary era, known for blending folk comedy with sharp social commentary. Parviz Sayyad, one of Iranian cinema's most beloved comic actors, anchors the film with physical wit. Nozar Azadi and Enayat Bakhshi round out the central trio, supported by familiar faces including Pouri Banaei, Shahnaz Tehrani, and Jahangir Forouhar.
Context & significance
Zanburak belongs to a rich tradition of Iranian period comedy that uses historical distance to gently mock power, greed, and the misfortunes of the ordinary person caught between warring factions. Released during the height of Iranian cinema's classical era in 1975, the film reflects a moment when filmmakers could draw on Qajar-era folklore and satirize authority without fully naming it. For diaspora audiences, films like this serve as a nostalgic window into a Persian comic sensibility — broad, warm, and rooted in a storytelling culture that stretches back centuries. It is a reminder that Iranian humor has always found room for the little man navigating impossible circumstances with stubborn good cheer.
Where & how to watch
Zanburak is available on K-Time with the original Persian audio and no VPN required. Stream it on the web browser, your TV, or your phone — no extra download needed. Your subscription covers the full catalog; cancel anytime.